Intensive Grazing
Between May and November, the ewes along with their lambs are raised on grass. Our ewe/lamb flock ranges between 22-30 head. They are rotated through pasture with electric fencing and mobile shelter. We move them every one to two days depending on the available food in each paddock. Intensive grazing maximizes food conversion and improves the soil.
In November, the ewes are separated from the lambs and united with the ram in the silvopasture for tupping. They remain in the silvopasture until March when they are moved to the lambing pen.
Silvopasture
We keep our ram / wether flock busy rotating them through our silvopasture. Silvopasture is an agro-foresty system which allows for enough light to permeate the canopy to grow pasture grass. A pasture with trees offers shade, water storage, and a tree yield in addition to grass and forbes for the sheep to eat. Tree yields can vary between lumber, nuts, mushroom logs, biochar stock, and tree fodder.
Lambing pen
In late winter, Ewes are taken to the lambing pen for lambing. Lambing is one of the most exciting times on the farm. Each ewe gets their own jug where they bond with their lambs. Once the lambs are old enough, they are socialized with the main flock before moving out to pasture around Memorial Day.
The lambing pen doubles as a nursery ward when we need to attend to sick or injured sheep. It also allows us to quarantine new sheep arrivals if needed. In late April or early May, we shear in the lambing pen as well.