The Citizen, 2005-03-17, Page 36THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2005. PAGE A11.
Spinning drives woman to purchase sheep
That comes from woad.
Prior to dying the yam, Hislop uses
mordant to hold the colour, then it is
placed into the dye for as long as it
takes to achieve the colour she’s
looking for. “The thing with herb
dyes is that you can’t be exactly sure
what colour you will get. Like the
sheep when they’re bom, you never
know colours they will be.”
In keeping with their full circle
approach to farming, Hislop and
Langford also sell the lambskins and
the meat, which they describe as
“very mild.’’
“We have had good comments from
our customers. They say it has a
different taste, less strong than some
other types of lamb.”
Lambs are butchered no later than
six months of age. “We do not force
feed them. They are just naturally,
feeding on everything from pasture to
leftover pumpkins, raised then
shipped off,” says Hislop.
“Because 1 have them butchered, I
also feel 1 should use the skins.”
These she has tanned at Blyth. “They
gave me their lives, I have to make
them count to the fullest extent.”
A member of the rare breed
association, Hislop though
sentimental about her sheep is no less
practical. “Rare breeds certainly have
their place. But these animals are
good on a farm, whether it’s for meat
or wool. They have to pay for
themselves. I don't have them just for
their looks.” /
Shepherds
Roy Langford and Nancy Hislop of Taste of Herbs Farm have
incorporated every aspect of their farm to work in sync. (Bonnie
Gropp photo)
Continued from A10
organic farm because they’ve had a
health problem or have made a
conscious decision to change their
lifestyle.”.
“Everyone knows it’s better for
them, but it does take a little work. I
come from a farming background,
and I feel better knowing I can
produce this food myself,” says
Hislop.
Equally important is educating
others. “Our grandson helps me plant
and pick. He has seen lambs being
bom. He may never want to farm, but
he actually knows where his food
comes from.”
Though Hislop retails most of her
herbs and heirloom vegetables at the
St. Marys market she does do some
farm gate sales as well. “People come
here because they can ask the
questions. They can ask what we use
in our gardens.”
She also has many people inquiring
about the fleece from her sheep. And
she’s only to happy to answer. “I love
sheep. If it came to giving up a few
rows in the garden or the sheep, it’s
no contest. The sheep come first.”
It was the fact that she did spinning
that prompted Hislop to first consider
a sheep farm. “I knew about Navajo-
Churro and knew I wanted some but I
thought they’d be out of my price
range.”
In the spring she noticed a for sale
ad for a flock of Navajo and made the
call. “She told me she needed to have
the sheep gone by May, so I called
Ray at work and asked him how fast
he could get a fence up and a bam
ready. That’s how I got my flock. It
was instant.”
The rare breed was touted as being
ROSEBANK
SEED FARMS LTD
disease resistant, good mothers, and
good at taking pasture. Tender meat
was another benefit.
“And we’ve found it all to be true.
Everything I’ve read.”
The fleece is variegated, and in
some cases, soft enough to wear next
to the skin. The animals are also
smaller than other breeds. “Thirty in
our little bam was perfect. I love
Navajo for their size and attitude,”
says Hislop of the calm breed. “They
are productive for milking and live
quite well as far as pasture animals.”
Hislop sends the fleece to be made
into yarn and roving (for hand
spinning) which they sell. She uses
her herbs to dye them. “There are
many you can use from carrot tops to
tomato vines. You know the blue that
the Celts wore on their faces in battle,
SOYBEAN INOCULANT
Hello!
This blue-eyed Navajo-Churro
isn’t the least bit timid about
coming over to check out the
new person in the barn. (Bonnie
Gropp photo)
7340 Perth Line 24, R.R.#2 Staffa, Ontario
1-888-289-9934
519-345-2697 Fax 519-345-9930
Top Quality
k w ■■ ]Seeds
OF CANADA
PRO Seeds Soybeans
Conventional
PRO 25-53 - 2550 HU
PRO 26-03 - 2600 HU
OAC Clinton - 2600 HU
OAC Champion - 2650 HU
PRO 275 - 2750 HU
Round Up Ready
Primo RR - 2550 HU
PRO 2690R - 2650 HU
PRO 2790R - 2775 HU
*EXP 2700RR - 2750 HU
*EXP 2800RR - 2825 HU
IP Programs are available for OAC Champion and PRO 275. Call for
details.
Registration Pending
- Pulse “R’’ Hp-Powder Peat
- Apex - Liquid
the Seeds of u Successful Future
We Carry a Complete Line-Up of Seed
For All your Planting Needs
BARLEY - AC Vision, OAC Baxter, OAC Staffa, Prosper
\/" Your building and hardware store
OATS - OAC Markdale, AC Rigodon, Manotick
Whether renovating or starting new
see us for all your building needs
HULLESS OATS Navan
SOYBEANS - OAC Bayfield, RCAT Bobcat, OAC Kent
PEAS - Eclipse, 40-10
SPRING WHEAT - AC Superb, Quantum
MIXED GRAIN - Available in 50%-50%, 65%-35%, 30%-70%
- Three Way Mix (Oat / Barley / Wheat)
- Oats and Pea Mixture
GRASS SEED Single & Double Cut Clover as well as a full line of
alfalfa and other grass seeds
Blyth Building
Supplies Ltd.
SEED CORN COMMODITY PRICE RELIEF Program
Buy 10 bags of com and Get 3 Free Bags...AND Don’t Pay
Until After Harvest! (Offer ends March 31,2005)
^3
DIRECT -
SEEDS
Early Pick-Up and Cash Discounts
in Effect Until March 25, 2005
______________________\_______________