Advertise on podcast: Beginning with Sheep

Sisters Kathy and Val catch up on a late-October visit to Parker Farm Jacobs: skirting and sorting fleeces, meeting the adorable new ram Bruce, and preparing for an expected lambing. They discuss predators and trail-camera sightings of coyotes, the role of their livestock guardian dog Sammy (a Komondor), fencing and water challenges, and plans for future wool and farm projects.

Hosts sisters Kathy and Val share a farm update from September 20, 2026: rainy weather during a moderate drought, moving sheep into breeding groups (including a three-generation family group with ram Rocco), and early signs of covers. They discuss preparing for a five-day trip with pet and livestock care arranged, progress trimming hooves (successful first attempts on several sheep), tips for handling sheep calmly, and lessons learned about using a stand. They also chat about discovering Angora goats and mohair, community caregiving for the farm, and may skip a week while traveling. Thanks to listeners and YouTube viewers for their support.

In this episode sisters Kathy and Val share a Parker Farm update: rain has delayed sheep shearing, hay cuts look uncertain due to drought, and a chicken flock was treated for suspected coccidiosis with a positive recovery. They also recap Duck Race Day — a local fair where Kathy taught drop-spindle spinning, showcased different wools, discussed future plans to mill and sell yarn, and urged community volunteering for events.

Hosts Kathy and Val catch up on farm life: correcting sheep terminology, waiting to try a new shearing kit, and dealing with their Komondor puppy’s matting—leading to a practical clip-and-scissor solution. They share a porcupine quill scare and quick home vet fixes, discuss bear activity and livestock security, and geek out over Japanese K-trucks as affordable, useful farm vehicles. Short, candid, and full of practical tips, this episode blends everyday farm challenges with small victories and plans for future projects.

Hosts Kathy and Val give a farm update on separating sheep into breeding flocks, mapping paddocks, and simplifying care while they attend a destination wedding. They discuss hay nutrition concerns, fencing choices for rambunctious rams, and arrangements for a guardian dog. Kathy shares her decision to move some sheep to fall shearing, her purchase of a corded Heinegger clipper kit, and her plan to train by shearing calmer sheep first. She covers safety, blade replacement concerns, and expectations for learning the New Zealand-style handling technique. The episode closes with excitement about the upcoming Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival, a humorous spicy-romance book find with sheep on the cover, and an invitation for listeners to share resources and advice as she continues learning.

Hosts Kathy and Val discuss genetic testing options for sheep, including parentage testing, free martin screening, spider-lamb testing, and other hereditary or infectious concerns like OPP and scrapie. They explain sample methods (hair with roots or blood), approximate costs and turnaround times, and why testing and proper scrapie tagging matter. The episode also covers a recent scrapie detection at a slaughter facility, the implications for traceability and quarantine, and practical advice to separate breeding groups, tag animals, and consider targeted testing to protect your flock.

Sisters Kathy and Val give a brief farm update: accidental merging of chicks with the hen flock, Walt building a pergola for Sammy, and Kathy installing a night-vision barn camera. They also discuss the Cyclospora lettuce outbreak, its effects on farmers and shoppers, and suggest buying local produce or starting a small garden as safer alternatives.

Hosts Kathy and Val share a farm update: rotating sheep, merging chicken flocks, a surprise rooster that may stay, 175 hay bales stored, and plans for breeding groups and a barn camera. They also swap stories about rooster trauma and naming newborns like “Bruce Wayne.” They then revisit their discussion of Food, Inc., respond to listener feedback, and outline practical steps people can take—reading legislation, supporting local farms, and finding resources to get involved—while stressing they don’t intend to shame anyone who has limited options.

Hosts Kathy and Val catch up on life at the farm: Sammy the livestock guardian dog gets quilled by a porcupine and visits the ER, a juvenile porcupine is spotted near the sheep barn, nine growing chicks are thriving, and Kathy shares her first hoof‑trimming experiences plus updates on a new lamb and ram. The episode also reflects on the documentary Food Inc., discussing industrial food practices, the challenge of affordable healthy food, and the value of sourcing local, responsibly raised meat and produce.

Hosts Kathy and Val share a relaxed farm update: recent rain, a one-week-old hybrid lamb (castration and naming dilemmas), horn injuries, and a new ram settling in. Kathy outlines her plan to learn hoof trimming—tools, harnessing, and safety tips—while they swap tips for handling horned sheep. They also discuss routine chores: mucking stalls (now easier with the tractor), guardian dog Sammy keeping predators away, hayfield weed issues including poisonous milkweed, and other ongoing tasks like skirting fleece and getting pelts tanned.

Hosts Kathy and Val discuss recent extreme weather in New England, ongoing drought concerns, and progress on hay and pasture management. They share updates from the farm, including a skunked livestock guardian dog and improvements to electric fencing. The episode also covers livestock news: a six-hour ram swap bringing in a new horned ram named Rocco, the arrival of a new ewe that surprised them with a lamb, decisions about castration and breeding, and a cost-effective DIY livestock trailer built for transporting sheep.

In this episode Kathy recounts a recent fox attack that killed four chickens, injured one, and exposed weaknesses in their electric fencing. She explains how they treated the wounded hen, secured the remaining birds, and are upgrading to a stronger energizer and hardware mesh to prevent digging and biting through the fence. The conversation covers options for dealing with the fox (shooting rules, licensed trappers), training their young livestock guardian dog Sammy, and the emotional ups and downs of farm life — including ordering replacement chicks and planning improvements to keep the flock safe.

In this episode Kathy and Val discuss managing pastures for sheep, including dealing with toxic plants like milkweed and tower mustard, soil amendments such as liming, overseeding strategies, and practical pasture maintenance. They also cover livestock and dog health concerns, especially a severe tick problem in their area, and share tips for tick checks and removal. Along the way they touch on composting, using sheep manure as fertilizer, chick updates, and everyday farm priorities that shift as immediate problems arise.

Hosts Kathy and Val talk farm updates — Kathy sold her first Jacob sheep and is waiting on more lambs — and recap the New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival. They cover fiber mills, shearing methods (blades vs clippers), tipping practice, hoof trimming, FAMACHA scoring, and practical tools like stethoscopes and cameras for lambing. The episode also discusses pasture management, deworming strategies and resistance concerns, predator and tick issues, vaccination reminders (including rabies), and helpful tips for new shepherds.

On May 2, 2026, Kathy and Val share a farm update covering flock management, a successful merger of most sheep into the main flock, and plans for a ram swap that’s hit a few logistical snags with trailer rentals. They discuss quarantine plans, pasture rotations, and ongoing fencing work. They also prepare to sell and register a ram—covering weighing and an oral deworming (drench) procedure—and chat about livestock guardian dog Sammy, chicken and chick care, a dramatic hawk encounter, and a pending grant application.