April 3, 2017
In Northeast Ohio, spring is generally eagerly awaited as a signal that the cold weather will be ending soon. The days grow steadily longer, and trees and plants will begin to sprout new growth.
Around here, March also means shearing time. The sheep are only shorn once a year, so this is an exciting time. Many farms have professional shearers come to the farm to shear their sheep. I decided to do my shearing this year because it was just not cost-effective to pay the shearers to come for only 7 sheep. So, with the help of Dave from Wee Middlebranch Farm, we managed to successfully shear 5 of these guys in time to get the fleeces sent to meet the processor at Black Swamp Spinners Guild Market Day and Fiber Fair.
Twenty-one pounds of fine white Cormo/Shetland cross fleece was sent to be processed into combed top. The fiber is expected to be returned Memorial Day Weekend.
I also ended up with 4.4 pounds of this lovely black Shetland/Cormo cross fleece that I am planning to blend with Alpaca, but the alpacas have not been shorn yet. Alpacas are generally not shorn until May in this area, so these guys should have another month or so to grow out their fleeces.
I was out in the yard today enjoying the beautiful spring weather and came across this little lady: 
I don’t usually see many honey bees anymore. I remember when it seemed like you could barely take a step in the backyard without stepping on a bee. In an effort to help the honeybees and increase pollinators for my garden and fruit trees, I have ordered a package of bees. I am anticipating the arrival of a new Warre honey bee hive later this month, and the bees are supposed to arrive May 6th.
I am hoping to create a small orchard with peach, apple and cherry trees, blueberry and raspberry bushes, grapes and anything else I can find. I started planting some trees last fall, but a hungry rabbit decided that they were pretty tasty. I only have one surviving tree, it is a Belle of Georgia Peach, and it appears to be very happy and is budding up nicely. I am planning to be more proactive and protect everything I plant this year with wire so that the rabbit doesn’t eat it.
