Kelly Bell

Ted Abbey wrote:Rejecting negativity, and promoting positivity in word and deed is how we will survive, if not defeat, the current state of affairs. We are our own (and each other’s) best hope, so to quote  Mahatma Ghandi.. “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

Love always..

Yes, THIS ☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼  👊🏼

🙌🏼

Romney, imho. Though I am biased, being a a Romney breeder. However I say that for the following reasons:
- staple length (4-9 inches, depending on if you shear once or twice a year)
- low grease (easy to clean compared to fine-wool breeds)
- easy to felt (compared to medium-wool breeds)
- great temperament and mothering abilities are part of the breed standard (American Romney Breed Association)
- 8-12 lb fleeces are common at shearing (raw weight)
- easy to spin (Romney wool is commonly referred to as amongst the easiest wool to spin, and can be spun woolen or worsted and is extremely versatile, though not as versatile as a primitive / double-coated (Shetland, Icelandic, etc) fleece).
- makes a gorgeous yarn from every put-up
- will make a next-to-skin soft yarn in the hands of a skilled spinner

I adore Shetlands and they’re the “sheep for all seasons”, but as noted elsewhere they’re very lean and if you would like a dual-purpose breed you won’t get much meat from them. But what you get will be tasty. Suggest you avoid feeding grain - stick to grass and hay, whatever breed you choose, and only worm when you see evidence of parasites and not “prophylactically”, and that you select animals from a management program with minimal inputs. You’ll have far fewer headaches, lower vet bills and hardier sheep!

Good luck!
Kelly Bell
Ovis Aries Farm
Mossyrock, WA

I followed the links to donate to the org, and I got a 404 error. They apparently use classy to handle donations, like a payment gateway. Anyone know what’s up with that?

I say, the more parts of society we can model on the Open Source Software model, the better! Count me in!

I don’t have any direct experience but I’m VERY excited about the possibilities! If I could look over your shoulder and read about your adventures as you travel it would be awesome. I found out about SDR through one of Cory Doctorow’s fiction books and also though some P2P mesh networking groups I’m a part of, and as a solution for wirecutting away from the evil Comcast and co it’s really one of the few viable techs available. I can’t wait to hear how you go!!

What a generous post thread! If there are any left, I would love to have some of whatever y’all have going, for planting next spring? I’m just getting started here with a garden, so I can’t promise they’ll live. But I’ll sure try my best!
Ovis Aries Farm
129 Naylor Rd
Mossyrock WA 98564

Sue Monroe wrote:I live just over the border in Thurston County.  I would strongly suggest you rent for a year before you buy.  The people there aren't the friendliest.  The nearest medical care is dodgy, to say the least.  Even the nearest Walmart is 1.5 hours away, and any major shopping area is 2 hrs (one way).

FWIW, I live about 30 miles west of Packwood, in Mossyrock, and the people here have been wonderful to me. I’m new to the area, having started my farm first on leased land in Portland OR, then in Olympia, WA (which is in Thurston County, where Sue mentioned in her post). I’ve been here in Mossyrock for a little over two years, and the locals couldn’t have been friendlier or more welcoming to me. It can’t possibly all be down to my “winning personality” lol!

Having said that though, it’s always a good idea to give a new place a trial stay if possible, before committing to purchase. I have a contract for a quit claim deed on half of my 20 acres, and had that been an option for me I would’ve welcomed it. OTOH, moving a farm really sucks! So it would suck to have to move twice. I guess it really depends on how much stuff you have and how heavily invested in developing your farm that first year. I have lived on my land for over 2 years in a 35-yo RV with no running or hot water, toilet, stove (microwave only), heat or AC. I just dug a well (295 ft w/25 GPM, location also witched prior to drilling) so we finally have water, but it’s been a pretty challenging couple of years. Permanent housing coming soon (knock on wood)! No question it would’ve been hell if not for the kindness of strangers (now neighbors!).

Also, it’s more than possible that Packwood isn’t as overrun by tourists in the summers as Mossyrock is, and so maybe they don’t take as kindly to strangers. I haven’t been here very long either, so either way I would never advise distrusting Sue’s assessment: no doubt she’s been here a lot longer than I have! I’m just pitching in my (limited, brief) perspective of the “natives” and terroir

One thing is for SURE: it’s a long way to the nearest Costco!

Overall, its a beautiful part of the US to live in: I’m thankful every single day for my land and my neighbors, despite the hardships. As I often hear from the locals, “it’s another beautiful day in Paradise!”

Jay Angler wrote:The list mentions upholstered furniture. We were just cleaning out my mother's room at the nursing home (she was done - her passing is a relief for her) and the Personal Care Workers were shocked when I said that the small bookshelf we'd put there for her use was made by my grandfather for my room as a child. Yes, it's at least 50 years old, and still does its job! So... that makes me think that some sort of PEP badge for refinishing/repainting a piece of furniture and reupholstering a simple piece such as a chair or bench, might be really good. I told the Workers that if I had to buy furniture, I would look for quality second hand that's made from real wood and not buy the compressed sawdust crap that doesn't last. This sort of fits in with the whole re-use, ungarbage thing also.

Maybe a BB for an advanced badge could be caning a wooden chair seat? This skill combines knowledge of fibers, furniture making, woodworking and advanced basketweaving techniques. In some methods knot- and rope-making skills are also required.