Road Trip #1

My first road trip was off to Wrightstown, NJ- about a 2 hour drive.  I was off to visit Apple Rose Farm owned and operated by Elizabeth Ferraro and her son Leonard.  Driving to the area was quite easy- taking the PA turnpike to NJ turnpike, then down 206 & 68 to Monmouth Road.  Check out the website:

 

http://www.applerose.com/  A beautiful drive and a gorgeous day- Lots of farms from vegetable to horses to sheep!  The purpose of this first trip was to buy a California Red fleece (wool) 
(when the plants are ready for harvest I will need a natural fiber to dye soI have chosen this fiber as it takes dye well and is a very versitile wool fiber.  It doesnt have much lanolin, cleans well and easy to prepare.)

When I visited the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, I had seen "Deisel" a male California Red sheep on one of the exhibition sheep barns.  I left a note that when he was sheared- I sure would like to buy his fleece. So Elizabeth called me last week and I got my fleece and met Deisel!  She said they hand shear- that means very little second cuts (short fibers) His fleece is about 28-30 microns and 4-6" lengths. As you can see, Deisel has a coat on- that's not because he lost his coat!  She covers many of the sheep so the fleece stays clean with little vegetation.  The characteristic of the CA Red is the face and legs have a beautiful reddish color with a creamy fleece. Sometimes the red hairs are mixed in giving the fleece a heathery effect.
This breed was developed in CA - by an extension specialist at Univ. of CA, Davis in 1970s.  (I use a new book, The Fleece & Fiber sourcebook for lots of good info on fibers & breeds)
Elizabeth also raises Cormo sheep (another of my fav fibers) and Angora goats.  She sell fleece and dyes much of it herself- she is also a felter.  A most interesting woman, a doctorate degree from Columbia Univ in education, a long a unique career and then at 65 started her venture in fiber animals- settling on sheep, a 51 acre farm in NJ with lots of gardening too.  Thanks Elizabeth- my day was fantastic and so enjoyable meeting you and hearing about your journey and careers. An inspiration!!!!

Angora goats- 2 new babies

Cormo sheep(white) next to CA Red