HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-10-09, Page 57THIS URI(,INAL. DOl'IIMVN''F IS IN VI'IY POOR CONI11'1'1UN
Distributed with The Goderich Signal Star, Clinton News Record, Mitchell Advocate, Seeforth Huron Expositor,
Exeter Times -Advocate, St. Marys Journal -Argus, Parkhill Gazette and Strathroy Age -Dispatch, Wednesday,
October 9.
It's a reedy woolly plaee
Willow Bend Farm is an ar-
tist's delight. Shaded by the
uge willow trees which
llow the meandering Med-
way Creek through its 100
acres, it is a pastoral scene
which prompts visitors to
take a deep breath and soak
in the serenity of the rolling
terrain.
Sheep escape the heat in the
brambling branches along the
stream; cattle munch con-
tentedly on the slopes of the
pasture and thoroughbred
horses gambol in their playful
games of follow the leader.
A log cabin stands against
a backdrop of huge
evergreens and two large
steel barns glisten in the
afternoon sun's cat and
mouse game which paints an
ever-changing landscape
through the alfalfa and gram
fields.
It appears to be a place
where one could pull up a
GtG1�ngg
�eb Ne�‘c•
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chair, set a leg upon a near-
by stump and sit and watch
the world go by.
That those first impressions
can be deceiving is amply
evidenced by following the
owner of Willow Bend through
any given day.
Barbara Morrow needs no
alarm clock. The bleating
sheep advise when the sun
has crept over the eastern hill
on the London Township farm
to signal their breakfast time.
Sleep is difficult for anyone
eager to know what new ar-
rivals have joined the lamb-
ing pen; totally impossible for
anyone who knows that one of
those new arrivals irhay need
a helping hand to make its
final trek into the world.
Willow Bend is one of the
largest sheep farms in
Western Ontario and in recent
years the flock at Willow
Bend has not only expanded
in numbers to over •300
breeding ewes, but has also
taken on a kaleidescope of
size and colour.
High quality
Barbara has contined to
develop her own "wool
shurep" which spinners from
throughout Western Ontario
have put high on their list for
its softness and lustre.
Now there are no less than
10 purebred breeds on the
farm as well to satisfy the
most discriminating spinner
and weaver. The list includes:
Romney, Leicester, Lincoln,
Columbia, Dorset, Hamp-
shire, Corriedale, Suffolk,
Pixies and Coopworth.
Willow Bend has the only
Cooperworth in Western On-
tario, having acquired four of
the original animals which
made up the initital small
shipment of these dual-
purpose sheep from New
Zealand. The Pixies are a col-
oured cross developed by a
University of Gueipn pro-
fessor using Dorsets and
Finns.
Advertising for Willow
Bend notes that wool is
available from all thes.e
breeds, as well as' `every im-
agineable combination and
color thereof". Offspring
from the wool and purebred
flocks are also sold.
Unlike many shepherds,
Barbara raises sheep with an
eye to the wool production as
well as its care and condition.
It is not merely a "necessary
evil" that is part of the
philosophy on many sheep
farms.
To Barbara, the wool is the
prime product, although for
economic reasons, she can
not lose sight of the need to
produce fast -gaining lambs
which satisfy the palate of a
large number of people who
have .come to know Willow
Bend as an excellent source of
DISPLAYS TALENT - Barbara Morrow demonstrates
the act of spinning at several fairs and special events
in the area. The wool comes from her flock of 300 ewes
at Willow Bend Farm in London Township. A Thanksgiv-
ing weekend open house will be held at the 130 -year-
old log cabin at the farm where Barbara prepares wool
for spinners; knitters and weavers.
to the 125 -year-old log cabin
which was moved onto the
farm four years ago to pro-
vide a suitable place for
washing, dyeing, carding,
spinning and eventually
retailing the well-known
Please turn to page 13
freezer lambs over the years.
The reason for Barbara's
care and attention to the wool
her sheep produce is the fact
she is her own best customer.
A large quantity of the wool
that is sheared from her
growing dock finds its way in-
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