Terrapin Gardens Farm

September 7, 2009 7:25 PM

Terrapin Gardens Farm
When I registered the domain in 2000 I had no clue I would fall in love, get married, leave DC, move to Vermont and start a sheep and llama farm with the same name. But here we are, raising heritage breed Navajo-Churro sheep—along with two guard llamas—for their beautiful fiber; nine chickens for their eggs and bug eating abilities; and two crazy Boston Terriers for companionship on cold, snowy, winter nights ... and ability to make us laugh.

A little over a year ago, I built a website for a neighbor [previously on Projects] and she asked to pay me in rare, heritage breed, Navajo-Churro Sheep. My wife and I spent all of 5 minutes discussing this offer and decided to accept. In a matter of months we built a barn, set up a paddock and electric-fence-surrounded pasture—where a year previously there had been white pines. We found a local llama farmer to provide us with guard animals, and a neighbor from whom we could pick up hay. And in July of 2008, we brought 6 breeding ewes to our land ... and became farmers.

Now our first batch of yarn, spun from our very sheep and llamas is available in skeins and cones for sale on our site. We also sell high-quality, luxurious, pure llama yarn, and plan to add more items soon.

posted by terrapin (16 comments total)

It's been so cool to follow everything coming together - the yarn looks fabulous! I wish I could knit.
posted by gomichild at 9:28 PM on September 7

This is wonderful. What an idyllic lifestyle!
posted by goshling at 4:22 AM on September 8

Pretty darn awesome, terrapin!
posted by Stewriffic at 7:24 AM on September 8

What a great site! If you decide to expand your flock, burros also make excellent guard animals.
posted by orrnyereg at 7:34 AM on September 8

Now I have to come visit again so I can meet all the animals!
posted by bluishorange at 12:47 PM on September 8

You are ALWAYS welcome, Bluishorange!
posted by terrapin at 6:30 AM on September 9

Give us more llamas. You really can't get enough of those. Giant photo galleries of llamas. Please.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:08 AM on September 9

I would like to know more about these llamas and how they guard.
posted by Greg Nog at 6:58 PM on September 9

Greg, my wife, turtlegirl, just updated the section on the llamas if you are curious.
posted by terrapin at 5:45 AM on September 11

Yay! Thank you!
posted by Greg Nog at 10:27 AM on September 11

Llama videos! Maybe we can get a picture of cortex with a llama!
posted by jessamyn at 5:45 PM on September 11

You should totally sell roving for needle felting lovers. I would buy some.
posted by Alison at 8:59 PM on September 13

We will sell roving when we have some. The sheep are being shorn next week. I'll try to remember to let you know, Alison. Thanks.
posted by terrapin at 6:54 PM on September 17

Don't neglect us spinners!!
posted by Lou Stuells at 5:57 PM on September 23

Yay! Nice work and congrats on the year's harvest!
posted by Jofus at 11:34 PM on September 23

Lou: Email us if you are interested in roving.

We sheared the girls yesterday and the fleeces look beautiful! We are going to bring the grease fleece to the VT Sheep & Wool festival this weekend in case anyone is interested. The ones that aren't sold will be skirted, washed and carded. Then we will probably have to wait until the spring to see if we get enough in that shearing to send off for yarn. Please contact us if you need any wool in these various stages!
posted by terrapin at 8:48 AM on September 27