Babydoll and Finn x Babydoll Lambs Ready For New Pastures

All of the lambs have been born – with a total of 51 skipping around the farm! They are eating well from the creep feed and have even been out on pasture. All but the very youngest will be ready to go with hoof trims and both CD&T vaccinations (and castrations, where appropriate), by Memorial Day weekend. Some of the older lambs before then. I will also be reducing my Finn X Doll flock a bit so some adult ewes will also be for sale as well (with their multiple births they quickly outnumber my Babydolls). The Babydolls will be registerable with NABSSAR. I can offer breeding groups with the Finn X Dolls (Babydolls don’t get bred their first year so most folks don’t buy ram right away.)

Check out these website links for how to reserve sheep, pictures of available lambs, information on the parents and what they bring to the genetic pool, and the information about the wonderful wool of both groups. I enjoy mentoring individuals new to shepherding so try to be available to answer many of the questions that arise. I hope I can help you discover the fun of sheep ownership and/or add new genetics to your existing flock!

Easiest reached by texting 715.220.1183 or emailing swiegrefe@sbcglobal.net.

Hybrid Hazel Seeds & Seedlings For Sale

Oct29

The harvest is in and I was gratified to see that 5 of the 6 plants I selected last year as seed sources were again in the top 8 producers. (The 6th had extenuating circumstances of severe crowding). This consistency between years indicates these lines are not prone to biennial bearing (i.e., alternating boom and bust production). The top 4 all produced 5 or more pounds of husked (dehusked?) nuts (moisture content not standardized. Data collected after 7 – 10 days of drying). I was especially impressed with the top producer, E027, who was also last year’s top producer. It went from 13.7 pounds in 2022 to 6.7 pounds but was still ahead of the second highest producer by almost a pound.

Some of you will know that here in southeastern Minnesota we were in extreme drought for a number of weeks this summer. I irrigated just 3 times and feel it did help fill nuts and preserve the health of the plants. The above data are more impressive when you understand that there were a larger number of blank/empty nuts this season. This is the plants’ damage-control mechanism when it senses it cannot fulfill its commitment to fill all the nuts it has started. Thus, many more nuts were initiated but tossed out in the post-harvest processing. In a “normal” year those blank nuts would have been filled – resulting in even greater yields. And most of these are only in their 3rd year of bearing – there are greater yields ahead!!!

Below are photos of the 6 seed lots being offered this year (grid = 1/4″) and a couple of the planting. At the end are links to the order forms. ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FEBRUARY 15th! I have limited space and only grow on a pre-order basis, not on speculation that I can find buyers once they are started.

I hope I can help improve your planting’s genetics/production. Thanks!

D114 plant and harvest. Not all fit in a 3/4 bushel trug

Seed Order Form

Plant Order Form

Updated 1/25/24

Pasture Preservation/ Wool Sheep

Jul23

We’ve had a serious shortage of rain over the last 2 months in southeastern Minnesota and my pastures are not growing back fast enough to support the flock. I’d like to see these 2023 lambs off to greener pastures within the next few weeks, so am willing to take a hit. Better that than the alternative for these young’uns. Friendly Babydoll X Finnsheep lambs bred with fiber in mind, of multiple colors and percentages Finn. Finn heritage makes the fiber lock-like, soft, and long. Babydoll component contributes loftiness and reduced tendency to well felt/shrink (and reduces tendency towards out-of-season breeding, browsing trees & shrubs, and bottle babies from too many lambs for momma to care for). Multiple options for breeding pairs/sets. UPDATE 10/29/23 all animals have found new homes.

Pricing replaces previously posted pricing, including quantity discount. Call or text me (715-220-1183) or email to swiegrefe@sbcglobal.net with questions or to start reservation process. Because of the pasture issue, prompt pick-up (before mid-August). Later pick up possible, but hay feeding premium may be necessary. PayPal payment is an option with additional 3% convenience charge.

Cute, sweet, and useful – Finn x Doll lambs available for sale as pets, lawnmowers, & wool producers

Apr20

Lambing is complete for the spring season and I have an abundance of lovely lambs available to new homes. There are blacks, whites, browns and some with HST (Head-Socks-Tail) patterns and some with extra spots elsewhere (piebald). There are multiple percentages of Finnsheep versus Babydoll Southdown to choose from – depending on your desired wool traits. The offspring of my 2 rams used this year can be bred to each other without inbreeding issues. I’m especially interested in seeing my bottle babies find new homes. They are THE BEST!!!! Below is a chart of the lambs sorted by color and sire (dad). At the end is a link back to the lamb page for additional information about their moms, siblings, etc.

These are just a few of the 39 Finn X Doll lambs. If you are interested in a particular color/pattern/%Finn/sex combination, let me know and I can send additional photos. Also click HERE to see baby pictures.

UPDATE: SEED SALES SUSPENDED FOR THE SEASON as of May 1st. CHECK BACK NEXT OCTOBER FOR NEXT SEASONS OFFERINGS! Advanced Genetics Hazel Seeds for Sale!

Oct11

The seed sales permit just arrived! The seeds I’ve harvested, husked and tended are available for sale. I have some real winners and am excited to share these with others working to build the hazelnut industry – especially in the upper Midwest. Seed will be available by 10s, 50s, and hundreds of seed. Pricing will reflect the relative value that I perceive based on 12 years of working with these hazels (and a Ph. D. in Plant Breeding & Plant Genetics/ UW-Madison), first at Badgersett Research Corporation and then on my farm.

Harvest Hill Acres Fall Festival this weekend!

Sep29

I will be vending my wool and fruit preserves at the North Star Farm Tour booth this weekend at Harvest Hill Acres near Dennison, MN. Newly shorn fleeces from jet black through grays, tawny browns to dazzling white from my Finn x Babydoll flock will be available for reservation for later shipping. The sheep were originally purchased to maintain the orchard, so I like combining the fruit items with the wool at events like this. In addition to the skirted fleeces above, I will have rovings and a few precious skeins of the sock yarn I had made from my flock’s fleeces. There will be multi-species cozy socks (a.k.a. 6Farm Socks) for sale and many activities besides an abundance of wares for your fall shopping pleasure. The weather forecast looks to be perfect, so plan to take a ride and come visit!

Great Fiber Flock Animals Available!

Jun28

UPDATE: As of December 3, 2022 I have a limited selection of Finn x Babydolls available for new homes. Of the animals described in the following post from 6/28/22, just Judi and Francesca are available. Currently accepting reservations for spring 2023 lambs.

These hybrid sheep grow fleece that is wonderful to spin, knit and wear. It is next to the skin soft, lovely natural colors (and takes dye well) and beautifully crimped. They can be shorn once or twice a year depending on the wool fiber length desired. The animals themselves are very friendly. (Note: rams are potentially dangerous and not recommended as “pets”!)

I have 2 rams left from different fathers and they can be bred to the sisters of the other. I have images posted below with the rams first, their potential ladies next, and the wethers and a couple of adult ewes last as they could join any flock. Some fiber farmers don’t bother with the rams and lambs part and have flocks made up of just ewes and/or wethers. They can all be shorn once or twice a year depending on your desired wool length. Animals below are various percentages of Finn & Babydoll. The 62% Finns are expected to produce about 5″/year and the 82% Finns closer to 6.5″.

Yet to be posted: Josie (WHI, Triplet, 75% Finn)

Yet to be posted… Janey (WHI, Quint, 75% Finn);

Extras to mix and match…

Jasper (wether, BRN/HST, Twin, 63% Finn)

2022 Shepherds Harvest

May6

Shepherds Harvest is back this weekend (May 7 & 8) at the Washington County fairgrounds in Lake Elmo, MN – just east of the Twin Cities. I’ll be there vending wool products from my Babydolls and Finn crosses! I recently got in a shipment of processed rovings to add to sock yarn and skirted fleeces. The sock yarn is a new addition – combining machine washable Babydoll X Finnsheep wool and nylon for strength. I will also be selling North Star Farm Tour 6Farm Socks, a blend of fibers from 6 farms, including 2 types of alpaca, 2 breeds of sheep, yak and Angora goats. I plan on entering at least one of my Finn x Doll fleeces in the fleece competition. Becka’s fleece should place well with it’s lovely hand feel and freedom from particle contamination. I look forward to seeing lots of returning customers as well as meeting a whole new slew of fiber fanatics!

Updates to 2022 lamb availability & shearing

Feb12

Shearing has been scheduled for the morning of March 20th, a Sunday, with shearer arriving around 9:30. Individuals interested in learning about shearing and associated animal & wool handling are invited. Please RSVP to 715-220-1183 with text or call.

Eleven purebred Babydoll ewes have been reserved, which is 50% of the expected lamb crop. If you wish to be put on a waiting list for any bonus girls, let me know – no deposit would be expected at this time or probably until Estelle lambs in 3rd week in April. On the male side, 6 potential ram lambs are still available intact or wethered (i. e. castrated – with pain relief).

Time is getting close for the arrival of the cute, friendly, and beautifully-fleeced Finn x Doll lambs. There are likely to be a number of bottle babies among them…. watch for pictures! A good selection is still available for adoption.

2022 Lamb Reservations Open

Dec24

The ewes are almost all bred – awaiting confirmation and assistance with lambing dates in about a week of the final four to breed. There will be around 43 Finn x Babydolls to choose from and around 20 purebred Babydolls. Most will be available to travel to their new homes third week in May or early June.

I’ve created separate pages with a complete list of the breeding pairs and their expected offspring and guidance in reserving lambs. I’d love to help you add the joy of sheep to your farm lives in 2022!

Picture is of Brea with her threesome in spring of 2021.

Prairie Plum Farm

Sustainably produced food and fiber.