Field Trip and Farm Research

We made Saturday a road trip outing!  We drove up to Rainier, just on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, West of Astoria about an hour's drive.  We met up with some lovely farm owners; a man and his daughter and granddaughter living on an 18 acre farm.  Like us, they kind of jumped into this farm venture raising sheep, chickens, pigs, and meat rabbits.  They had lived there about 4 years learning as they go, growing and raising things organically as much as they can, using herbs and natural remedies, shearing and spinning wool, gardening, etc..  It was a pleasure to visit with them and the children loved playing in the fields (except when Sawyer got nudged by a hog snout and a sharp tooth that left a nice deep bruise in his leg).  

We were mostly there to find out more about Jacob sheep.  It is an ancient breed originating in Syria about 3,000 years or so ago and is thought to be the same breed of sheep that is mentioned in the accounts of Jacob (and Laban) in the Old Testament.  It is on the conservation list so it is a rare breed. These sheep are used for both wool and meat.  They are easy keepers because they have a high resistance to parasites and foot issues, the moms birth easily without assistance and the babies are good nursers from the start, and they don't need the same kind of supplemental care that other sheep may need.  They are very "ornamental" sheep because they can have 2-6 horns and interesting markings.

The spotted sheep are the Jacobs, the other ones are merinos, and there is a milk sheep (Friesian) as well in the field.  


This is the ram, Abraham.

The one in the front is a pregnant Ewe, the one in the back had her babies a little earlier than they were expecting.






Getting a grain treat.  The three spotted Jacobs in this pictures are the ones we were particularly interested in learning more about.


Phil made a friend with this milk sheep.  

The best part of the experience for the children was playing in the creek, looking for frog eggs, jumping from bank to bank, trying to find crawdads, etc..  Both the boys were soaking wet and had to ride home in their underwear.


Rocking out on the way home (air guitars, drums, and microphones).  Jubilee was not amused by the choice of music or the "air" band.



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