Turtle Valley Farms

06/12/2024

Nature’s Cruelty and Beauty, all at once. The swan pair is now a single swan who bears a neck wound suggesting they encountered coyotes during the night, with one not making it through. And yet a new family of wood ducks, 12 new ducklings on the pond joining the five that are growing fast. We get used to juggling these opposite emotions on the farm.

06/08/2024

Welcome, June.

05/28/2024

A beautiful sky this evening.

05/27/2024

It’s a special thrill to be waiting on the first calf of an endangered breed heifer (Kerry). Her udder is growing and getting ready. I think we have a few weeks yet, but Lizzy looks like the first of the season for us. From pain in the ass adolescent to almost mother.

04/14/2024

I’m preparing Gotland lamb parfaits with 3 delicious flavors. Samplers for the Fiber Expo next week.

04/14/2024

I know that sheep would grow these colors if they could.

04/12/2024

I’m getting a kick out of dyeing experiments with Rambouillet top. Had to confirm that it spins nicely after the processing and I’m pleased. Lots of color coming to Fiber Expo next weekend and eventually in the online shop.

04/09/2024

Fiber Expo is coming April 20 to Ann Arbor (Farm Council grounds) and we will be there this Spring. Getting ready with some Gotland and Alpaca soup. I don’t want to be so monochromatic this year. Hope to see you there- stop and say hi.

03/25/2024

We have been out of sock yarn for over a year. Happy to finally have new stock. The fi*****ng weight options will include a preparation with nylon added for extra durability, but also a pure Gotland wool. We will have 400 yard skeins or 2 pound cones (for sock machines, weaving, etc). This natural light grey will be great for taking dye color too.

03/25/2024

Exciting! After waiting forever, finally have the Gotland wool yarns and roving from the mill. These are worsted spun, so sleek and shiny. The lamb wool rovings are buttery soft. They will debut at the Fiber Expo in Saline, Michigan on April 20, but I will work with them to list them in the Etsy shop as soon as I can. They are superb!

03/03/2024

I posted my recently completed sweater made from the Turtle Valley Farm Gotland sport weight yarn. Many hundreds of reactions from all over the world in my Japanese lace group! Ok keep those needles clacking. More demonstrations of Gotland yarn’s versatility to come. I have miles of yarn to share.

02/09/2024

A hint of the Spring yet to come.

02/06/2024

2024 is dedicated to exploring the amazing versatility of Gotland wool. To start the year:
…. Light grey Gotland paired with a strand of blue suri alpaca for a cozy bulky cardigan,
…. Charcoal Gotland as a contrast in a Norwegian patterned hand spun CVM jumper,
…. A Japanese lace inspired yoked pullover with light colored Gotland and kid mohair held together

11/18/2023

10/11/2023

Up before dawn to head to Lake Huron where trainers and some patient Holstein cows trained me to do cow artificial insemination. A lot of the day spent with my arm in a cow re**um.

05/07/2023

I went up to the barn to see what the terrible noise was all about. These normally quiet cattle were bellowing like torture. If you zoom this video up you will see that they were extremely agitated about a turtle in the pasture.

04/27/2023

I’m having an obsession with roses this year. Hoping for survival (I mean roses, not me, im pretty sure I’ll be here) as well as patience, since the full effect will take a few years. And hoping for restraint, since I kinda want about 100 more varieties.

04/21/2023

Spring has magic. Renewal. Promise. Kerry cattle grazing.

03/14/2023

Winter has been pretty kind this year. Calves are growing. All waiting for grass and had enough mud, but looking forward to breeding season to keep this terrific breed going.

03/02/2023

This pair has been visiting this week. It’s nice to have them here.

12/27/2022

We are delighted with the arrival of another Kerry heifer this morning.

11/03/2022

Fun to see the farm through daughter Odessa’s eyes. Featuring mom’s cowboy boots….

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“Gore” - Farmhouse This sereis of hand sculptured art is titled “GORE,” a story told in two parts, Cinema and Farmhouse. Artist Odessa channels Fall’s favorite seasonal items and Holiday fun into her sculptured handbags. Artist Odessa produces and creative directs Gore - “Farmhouse” wi...

10/19/2022

Our first Kerry calf! So excited! A heifer, so she will be staying with us. We are working on names- suggest Irish girls’ names.

10/01/2022

We have some new Gotland yarn options listed in the Etsy shop. All natural colors, multiple shades and yarn weights. They will make their debut at FiberExpo in Chelsea, Mi next weekend.

09/10/2022

I’m getting some new Gotland yarns ready for the Etsy shop.

08/21/2022

I knitted some samples with the new worsted weight and sport weight yarns (100% Gotland). Once they dry, I’ll measure gauge and get the posted in the Etsy shop. They join the DK weight yarns from before for a great range of natural shades and yarn weights.

08/08/2022

No doubt, vegetables are entertaining. The tomatillo with its paper lantern shell and the exotic promise of salsa verde. BUT nothing beats the joy of pumpkins. Is it the Cinderella effect?

07/17/2022

The garden loves sheep manure.

07/17/2022

I just picked up almost 200 pounds of Gotland yarn from the mill. Different shades of grey, different weights. But I’m still prepping another several hundred pounds. Some just call out to save as raw fleeces for hand spinners.

07/08/2022

The Kerry cattle are settling in. Expecting the first calf pretty soon.