Saturday, August 30, 2014

Media Mention in Spinningdaily

Wow!  It is always exciting to get a little press coverage.  The article below is a review of the Uniquities Fiber Farmers Market and the publisher is Interweave.  I just adore Caroline Hockenberry who is being interviewed for the article.  My mention is actually the top photo.  It is a picture of Suzanne who was in my previous blog entry "Project Idea."  Suzanne is wearing a artistic multi-textured, mulit-fiber hand spun and hand knit sweater that is made with my roving and hand dyed silk.  And, she is standing in my booth at the show.  So, we are in the caption together.  Very Cool!


Interweave article:
http://www.spinningdaily.com/blogs/connection/archive/2014/08/29/virginia-fiber-farmer-s-market.aspx

Uniquities Fiber Farmers Market information can be found at the Shop site:
http://uniquitiesyarnshop.com/


Sunday, August 3, 2014

Parasites and pasture management, Don't be foold by weather.


I think there are some things that are true no matter where you live.  For example, you need to assume that the parasites indigenous to your region have adapted to your climate.  And, there are things that change geographically; for example, this dewormer doesn’t work here, but it may there.

The weather can play a role in quantitative calculations of your pasture, but never think it can cure or clean your pasture.  There are some parasites that are just fine in hot, dry conditions.  There are plenty that like cold, wet or hot, wet conditions.  I think there can be a huge underestimation about cold weather cleaning up your pasture – it really doesn’t do that.  Your climate has an average snow fall and frost line.  Nearly any seed store will have a map and they are on line.  You can look up your average depth of frost line (farmers, construction workers, and landscapers know them well).  Parasites will follow a pretty predictable survival plan.  For example, if you average frost depth is 1-3 or 2-4 inches, you can bet parasites in your area go below the surface 3-5 and 4-6 inches respectively – and so on.   

In order for the cold to “kill” the parasites several conditions must be met:  The parasites must move up above their normal area to lay dormant, so they are hit by the freeze.  And, the freeze must be hard and long enough to get them.  Sometimes, a snow can favor the opposite, as snow can be a thermal insulator of the ground which would help them not hurt them.  However, I know of two situations where you could see some reduction in parasites from cold weather.  First, if you have a lot of warm days in late winter/early spring that will fool them to start coming out, then you have a deep enough, significant enough freeze to harm them.  One such occasion, would probably make no noticeable difference, but if it did the several times in a spring – you might see some pasture quantity reduction.  Second, would be a winter that was out of the norm; cold enough to have the frost line significantly deeper and stronger than average.  However, one winter like this, also, may not make a noticeable difference. 

Oddly, tilling and burn off, do not guarantee change either- they have been studied as well.  There was a time that it was thought if you till a pasture under and replant it you would see improvement.  It turns out to be non co-relational data.  Usually if you till a field under and replant it takes several years before it is dense enough to re-graze.  The fallow time was in the end more helpful than the tilling.  Also, it was thought that the heat from a burn-off would fix things--again with the same incorrect correlations.  It was the fallow time that was more helpful than the heat.  Dirt can be a pretty good insulator too, so parasites can survive –even if not thrive – in a burn off, especially if the burn off was fast.  Lastly and most unfortunately, studies are showing increasing lengths of fallow time as necessary for seeing improvement.  A decade ago, it was fashionable to do quick rotational grazing with fallow time of only 2 to 3 months; today, it seems that there are increasing instances where 5 years is still not enough fallow time.  I believe that is why there is such a trend now to study cross species grazing for parasite management.  (Using a species unaffected or less affected by a problematic parasite in a pasture to graze during or just after the control group, for example cows after goats.)  

Believe you me, I have badly wanted and prayed for the weather to help me fight the parasites!  Even though it is very bleak to read what I’ve stated here – I think you are better off to not rely on Jack Frost and winter sprites to fix the pasture.  There are some actions you can take--

One of the best things I did to help my pastures was keep my animals off areas where they could graze for 12-24 hours post deworming them (I use a water soluble dewormer, so it is done when they digest and uriate it out).  Immediately post deworming is when they will shed the most wicked poop ie., dense with parasites likely to outsmart your deworming-drug.  You don’t want that fecal matter in your fields.  If the parasites hit the ground where the goats eat the cycle is complete.  So, the most hopeful part of what I’m saying is at least your management practices can make a difference even if you can’t count on the weather.  My reading and listening sources were from publications and people from the University of Maryland, School of Ag. Extension Svs. and Ohio State University, Ag. Dept.  Please remember this is an opinion piece from a fiber farmer.  I am not a scientist nor an expert.  Please consult your veterinarian and Agriculture Extension Agent in your own area for best practices for healthy fiber animals.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Project Idea for Camelot Silk Roving


A "soup to nuts" project!
It was back in March at the last Uniquities Fiber Farmer's Market that a lovely customer of mine, Suzanne, came up and said "Hi Karen, look I am wearing Avalon Springs Farm today!"  I said, "Do tell."  And, I was so inspired and complimented by her creativity and work, that now I must tell you.
 

So Suzanne started out with a roving she liked; a color way called The Vineyard.  This roving was mostly different shades of purple, a little natural chocolate alpaca and a hint of blue.  She spun that up as a single.  In order to recreate it I would try a twist ratio of 6:1, remembering that you will eventually ply this.  So, I think the wraps per inch for the finished two ply will be about two thirds of the single.  In other words if the finished two ply is a worsted around 11 or 12 WPI, then the single will be perhaps 17 or 18 WPI.


Then she bought a similarly colored package of Camelot silk roving.  She then spun the silk roving and plied the two together.  The resulting yarn is what makes the multi-colored and multi-textured middle section of the sweater.

The darker blue is some pure Alpaca spun as thicker (Aran) single.  It really adds to the entire garment as an artful piece.  I love the different visual effects of the different fibers, tied together by their color connection, and then spun in different ways for texture variety too.


If you are local I would check out the classes at Uniquities Yarn Shop, Vienna VA.
http://uniquitiesyarnshop.com/
The spinning techniques for this project came from a class that Suzanne took at the shop.
Caroline Hockenberry is the fiber art educator there.  The class is called Bubble Crepe.
Check out some of Caroline's work on Ravelry at: DailyFiber.
And a little more about the entire project on Ravelry from Suzanne at:
the-road-to-gimmerton


Thank you Suzanne!  You are a most awesome fiber artist!

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Summer Savings for Sea Side Knitters!

Come join my new Facebook Group called: 
Avalon Springs Farm, Round Table

This group community is for folks who like:
Fiber Art and Yarn
Fiber Animals and Farming
Facebook & Blog Friends and Follwers

I promise to:
Converse about ASF
Both answer and ask questions
Post special group promotions

 See You There!
Look for my Summer Promo Code Just listed!

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Fiber Farmers Market - Review

This past weekend I did a show called the Uniquities, Fiber Farmers Market.  It is in Vienna, Virginia.  A group of the vendors participating in this show are contributors to the Uniquities Yarn Shop.  However, it is so much more than just a yarn shop -- of course they have all things knitting and crochet, but also much in the fiber arts.  Lots of  specialty spinning classes and fiber art techniques for both wearable and artistic projects.
http://uniquitiesyarnshop.com/

The spinning circle with center harpist (past show).
Twice a year in March and July they do a Fiber Farmers Market show at the Vienna Community Center.
http://www.viennava.gov/CommunityCenter

Excalibur Yarn from Avalon Springs Farm.
It is a small show in size, but a big one in "Wow"!  I think I like it so well because it is truly a community based show -- local and loyal folks of Uniquities.  As one of a select group of vendors I think we are chosen with some forethought, instead of a dizzying amount of just wool or just alpaca, there is good variety - many different breeds and fiber farms represented, some finished things, all the hardware you need (carders & winders etc.), both all natural and hugely colorful are present, a mill or two, gift things, art things, much in yarn, and KnitWell is there fundraising with refreshments!  Everyone needs refreshments.  It is never too crowded, but it is also always busy!  There is a wonderful spinning circle with a focal point of a harpist that sets the calm and flowing mood for the day.

Slightly fuzzy picture of the harp.

A spinning shopper and my roving.

My wonderful but tired husband; we are not quite finished setting up.
Avalon Springs Farm, Merlin yarn.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Thank you Xiane!

I sent the link below to my family, of course.  The first line in the email was...
"Toot toot of my own horn!"
I was just delighted with the write up I received from Christiane Knight, Three Ravens Fiber Studio in Baltimore - or simply, Xiane.

It was a fun day.  I loved all the conversation and spinning. My little bottle baby goat, Lucky Star has asked if you could come back and dine with her again, Xiane!

Thanks for a super blog article.  I think the pictures in the article are great too!
Three Ravens Blog, article on Avalon Springs Farm

Monday, March 17, 2014

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Gracie says:  Why do I run in the snow?  Well, because it is fun!
Luna says:  Take my picture!  Take my picture!

This hay tastes like.... More please!

It's so pretty out here. I just have no interest in going in the barn.
Happy St. Patrick's Day from Avalon Springs Farm!

Monday, February 17, 2014

Snow Storm PAX from the Goat's Persective

This is a small collection of pictures from when I was out at the barn during the PAX snow storm.  Admittedly this is not the worst part of the storm, as I was hardly in the mood to take too many photos - the worse it got the more it was a matter of chores and is everybody okay.
In this one the goats definitely realize it has started snowing.
This is Lucky Star.  She was born in negative 8 degrees.  With her little coat (old sweater sleeve) she is marching on...
This one's color is "blue".  Against the snow you can really see the shades.  Her father is from Texas.  Doesn't it look as if she is ready to look up some paternal relatives.
Here is another girl from the same sire, Ellwood STAG.  However, this is a much more silly approach to the snow - with the uni-brow and beard.  I am sure some face-planting into a snow bank has just occurred!  :)
We had to dig a trench to their water trough -- the one that reaches electricity so it can have a defroster running all the time.  We dug this path out over and over and the snow kept falling.
Meanwhile, inside the barn the kids are playing.  They say, "go on Mom, get a drink out there, I'll have some warm milk when you get in!!"
I kind of wish these photos were a little more clear.  I need to work on my photography in motion.  They are so cute - hopping all around, playing king of the step, bewildering the chickens behind them.  Stay warm and have fun baby goats!


Saturday, February 15, 2014

PAX Snow Storm

The Valentines and Presidents Day week and weekend was a memorable one.  It began with the very drammatic 19-20 inches of snow on Wednesday night to Thursday night, but there was also a Friday snow and a Saturday snow -- it just wont quit.  I keep trying to remind the sky this is Maryland and not Maine.
The beginning of the snow looked like this out the front door....
Getting food and water to the animals was often a chilly chore, but they sure appreciated it.
The gates and fences are all showing two feet at the bottom missing as they are submerged in snow.
Luna, our guard llama, never quit doing her job of patrolling the grounds.  She made narrow paths all over the place.
There was a sunny moment on Friday when everyone came out of the barns to see the world and get some sunshine.
That was also when my husband, Larry went out to shovel the barn roof.   Well, we all did a lot of shoveling, plowing, bringing wood in, putting hay out.

and it is still not over....
So I am inside ... spinning and dyeing and doing many fiber things!