Facebook, the great connector! Have you ever just typed in the community you live in, just to see what comes up? Well, I did. And that’s actually how Shirley and I met! I found this garden group and I asked to join. Shirley was the one who approved the request and so I PM’d (private message) her and we instantly became friends. One topic led to another and before long, we decided we must meet!
Shirley raises Shetland Sheep. She breeds her sheep specifically for their fiber. She has black sheep (no pun intended :)), grey sheep, brownish/red sheep and cream sheep. And, if she wants a color of wool that the sheep don’t produce, well, she can dye her wool to any color she wants 🙂
Here you see the only goat at Peaceful Mountain Shetland Sheep. A colorful rooster also makes the farm his home. After a tour of the farm and meeting all of the animals, we enjoyed a cup of tea. I learned about Shirley’s passion for weaving and spinning. I am remiss for not taking pictures of her looms. She has three, all different sizes. Most intriguing!
As I see how talented Shirley is, I begin to wonder who, in this valley/mountain community, knows of her work. She is expecting 1 to 6 lambs from her flock in the Spring. She also makes soaps and tinctures. Who knows Shirley is the local source for wool, soap and lamb? Who knows that Shirley, by her own right, is a fiber artist and weaves, spins and dyes wool/yarn? Are there people locally who would want to learn how to do that? Is it possible to create and develop a local economy amongst all of the producers instead of travelling 20+ miles (one way) to the nearest town? If one is FRN (federal reserve notes; aka dollars) constrained, then it’s 40+ miles, one way.
Strat and I continue to be about building community where everyone is thriving, not just sustaining or subsisting. I know there is a way, we just haven’t put all of the pieces together.  It has something to do with getting to know what everyone is doing, what their talents are and what they are passionate about. Then, a medium to share and market that information with the local townspeople. To bring in an influx of FRNs to the area, will require attracting people from economically thriving areas that perhaps, just want to get away from it all.
In closing, I remain hopeful and encouraged as I continue to learn people are looking for what Strat and I envision. Now, how to pull it all together?
Until next time,
Angel
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