Claim OwnershipBeginning with Sheep
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Description
For years I’ve wanted to have my own flock of sheep and now I have them! Follow me for the next year as I learn to raise Jacob Sheep. As a new shepherdess, I am not an expert and I will make mistakes. The goal of this podcast is to bring my family and friends along on this adventure.
25 Episodes
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Kathy and Val recap a hectic week on the farm: the vet sedates and trims ram Sir Archer’s horns, a first-time ewe unexpectedly births a tiny ram lamb who needs bottle feeding, and Kathy frost-seeds a new field to improve pasture.
They also prepare for an incoming nor’easter, discuss long-term soil and grazing plans, and celebrate registering Parker Farm Jacobs LLC.
Hosts Kathy and Val give a farm update from a bitter cold, snowy weekend and share their lambing preparations. No lambs yet, but they discuss barn insulation, animal safety, and recent on‑farm dramas including a cat emergency.
They walk through a practical lambing kit—OB gloves, lube, molasses, tubing and powdered colostrum, iodine, towels, jackets, tail docking/castration tools, and vet contacts—and talk breeding strategies, ram fertility, and managing a growing flock.
Hosts Kathy and Val chat about a record winter freeze and how it’s affecting plants and animals, share updates on puppy training and livestock protection, and celebrate a delicious home-raised lamb meal. They also discuss processing chickens, pasture management, and the tradeoffs of different farm vehicles—from side-by-sides to Subaru Foresters to Japanese mini trucks—for hauling water, moving sheep, and everyday farm work.
The episode mixes practical farm planning (handling systems, fencing, virtual fences) with personal stories about food, gear, and life on a small farm as they decide priorities and budget for equipment while staying warm through the cold snap.
Kathy and Val discuss this week’s farm update: a brutal cold snap and an incoming snowstorm, prepping sheep and chickens, and Kathy’s decision to butcher ram lamb Patrick — yielding 41.2 pounds of vacuum‑sealed meat.
The episode then explores handling equipment for small flocks, from basic single‑file chutes to head gates and squeeze systems, costs and compatibility with horned sheep, and future plans for farm vehicles and gear.
Hosts Kathy and Val share a warm farm update: heavy snow, a growing dog, lambs on the way, and difficult decisions about selling or butchering rams (including Patrick and Archer), plus vet care for horn trimming and the realities of farm losses.
They also discuss marketing strategies for a small heritage sheep farm—finding your audience, using social media and local channels, defining your product (meat, wool, or education), and crafting a clear story to grow sustainably.
Welcome, everyone, to Beginning with Sheep, Season 2, Episode 1, January 2026. Hosts Kathy and Val catch up on farm life, celebrating hens that have started laying and an unusual January thaw that has made the fields muddy.
Kathy gives a farm update—several ewes may be pregnant and lambing could start early, she’s registering her first Jacob sheep, weighing options for selling or butchering excess rams, and preparing her lambing kit and tags.
They also discuss homestead tools and tech: wool combs for processing fleece and a Halo GPS electronic collar and virtual fence for their guardian dog, plus training, boundary setup, and the peace of mind the system provides.
The episode closes with personal updates, social media plans for the farm, and excitement for Year 2 of Beginning with Sheep.
Hosts Kathy and Val share a cozy farm update—cold weather, the first snowfall, playful lambs, and Kathy’s recovery progress—then dive into a beginner-friendly wool-washing experiment inspired by Mary Egbert’s book, “The Art of Washing Wool, Mohair & Alpaca.”
The episode covers practical tips for skirting, water temperature and pH, soap-to-water ratios, avoiding agitation to prevent felting, and Kathy’s successful small-batch wash using "Unicorn Power Scour," plus next steps for removing vegetable matter and preparing fiber for spinning.
Hosts Kathy and Val recap a Jacob Sheep Breeders Association webinar with the Livestock Conservancy, covering what defines a breed, differences between U.S. and U.K. Jacob lines, conservation-minded breeding strategies (line-breeding vs. outcrossing), and the importance of registration and monitoring inbreeding coefficients.
They also share farm updates — managing rams, a growing livestock guardian puppy, chicken care questions, and upcoming plans to skirt and wash fleeces while exploring the science behind fiber washing.
In this episode we share a wintry New England farm update: Jubilee is in heat, rams caused barn damage trying to reach her, and the team is rearranging pens and planning repairs while monitoring whether she’s been bred.
We discuss seven-week-old ram lambs due for vaccinations, limited hay and pasture management, a growing puppy, arriving rat boxes, and upcoming educational events and product plans like wool dryer balls.
Lots of holiday busyness, learning-by-doing, and the theme of progress-not-perfection as the shepherds navigate breeding decisions, farm logistics, and future sales possibilities.
Hosts Val and Kathy share a quick farm update: early snow on the mountains, a finished electrified pasture, tagged lambs, and a new dryer-ball DIY project made from fleece. They also discuss shearing plans and upcoming Jacob Sheep Breeders events.
The episode focuses heavily on tick problems and solutions — from plant-based repellents and safety for dogs to local tick-borne diseases like Powassan and the newer alpha-gal meat allergy — plus practical advice on tick checks and quick antibiotic treatment after bites.
They wrap up with notes on online fiber classes, concerns about guardian dog coat care, supply delays for rat boxes, and where to follow or contact the farm for more info.
Hosts Kathy and Val catch up on farm life, sharing light-hearted updates about a new guardian puppy, fencing progress, and the everyday rhythms of sheep and chickens.
They discuss tick prevention, pasture and ram-lamb decisions (including Hescock-line Jacobs), shearing concerns, and the practical joys and challenges of keeping a small flock.
Episode 14 brings a concise farm update: a Komondor livestock guardian pup is thriving, lambs are enjoying their first time out, and the Blue Cochins won’t start laying until next year. The hosts discuss ram safety concerns, plans for a ram shield or rehoming, and arranging butchering and transport.
Predator pressure is a major theme — bears, coyotes and bobcats have been active — so the episode covers electric fencing, deterrents (strobe lights, alarms, peanut-butter baiting), securing barn access, critter cams and other practical steps to protect the flock. The show closes with notes on gear, trailer options, and the host’s recovery progress.
Episode 13 covers a week on the farm: weather and pasture struggles, a new guardian puppy learning to signal, broody hens, and fence work to separate rams and ewes. Kathy also updates listeners on two three-week-old ram lambs (including one with fused horns) and managing them in the flock.
The main topic is CD&T vaccination: what the vaccine protects against, typical dosing schedules, and updated recommendations when dams were not pre-vaccinated. The hosts also discuss ram shields, cast care tips, and plans for future episodes on rats and ram behavior.
Episode 12 brings a full farm update: the host is healing from a broken ankle with help from friends, expecting the first eggs soon, dealing with a rat problem (considering rat boxes), and babysitting a playful puppy. On the sheep front, ram lamb Patrick is being aggressive and may be sent for processing, Jubilee's twins are thriving and receiving CD&T shots, and the host considers options for castration, shearing, and tanning hides.
The episode also covers sheep reproduction basics: estrus lasts 15–45 hours (commonly 24–36), the estrous cycle averages about 17 days, breeding typically occurs before ovulation, sperm can survive ~30 hours, and ovulation happens ~24–27 hours after heat starts. Seasonal breeding, out-of-season breeding techniques, and breed and condition factors affecting fertility are also discussed.
Today’s episode covers a full farm update: a finished roof with skylights, reopening stalls, and plans to install feeders and waterers after construction.
Kathy describes a surprise set of twin lambs — one healthy and one possibly blind — including emergency tube-feeding, concerns about missed vaccinations, and decisions about docking and castrating.
We also hear about puppy training and messy adventures, a fleece workshop with spinning notes, plans to wash and skirt fleeces, and ideas for making DIY dryer balls and learning brioche knitting.
In Episode 10 Kathy and Val catch up on life at the farm: introducing Sam, a growing livestock guardian puppy undergoing training, ongoing barn roof repairs and new breeding flocks, and concerns about regional drought and hay supplies.
They also discuss watching Common Ground, a documentary on regenerative agriculture, and reflect on practical farm challenges and solutions.
Host Kathy shares a lively farm update: bringing home a new Komondor guardian puppy, progress on barn roof repairs, and daily life with free-range chickens.
She also explains her breeding program for endangered Jacob sheep, how the approved conservation breeding plan works, the challenges of sourcing genetics, and the importance of preserving hardy heritage breeds.
Kathy gives a brief solo farm update: increased coyote activity led to ordering a livestock guardian puppy, she hosted a busy spinning demonstration at the town fair, and barn roof repairs are underway after finding more rot than expected.
She also reports a smaller second hay cutting, chickens with upset stomachs from too many cucumbers, and teases next week's episode with Val to discuss breeding plans and adding new genetics like a lilac ewe lamb.
The hosts share a weekend farm update covering roof repairs, recent predator activity after losing a dog, and decisions about getting a livestock guardian dog. They discuss sheep care—shearing schedules, a ram whose horns need trimming, and calling the vet for safety.
They also touch on Jacob sheep genetics, wool color, and long-term breeding plans. The conversation broadens to industry issues: limited regional mills, efforts like FiberShed to rebuild local fiber systems, and how tariffs and canceled grants are hurting small farms and indie yarn dyers.
The episode closes with practical advice to support local farmers and thoughts on future episodes about selecting rams and breeding programs.
This episode covers a busy week on the farm: stripping a leaky barn roof, a red-tailed hawk attack that the sheep miraculously thwarted, plans for a covered chicken run, and worries about drought and repairs.
We also chat about learning soil science, the quirks of multi-horned sheep, small-farm markets, and the excitement of launching limited-run podcast merchandise.
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