In conversation with Tim Young of the Small Farm Nation podcast, Sarah shares stories of getting started with sheep and what drew us to starting the first organic, commercial tannery in the USA.
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Sarah was interviewed for the Fibershed blog recently! If you’re not familiar with Fibershed, they’re a grassroots non-profit supporting fiber farmers who commit to sustainable and carbon-sequestering farming practices. Read more about Fibershed’s mission.
Continue reading »Farming is seasonal, and so is sheepskin production. Sheep also grow seasonally, from their muscle mass and overall weight, to the way they grow a new fleece each year. It is important to be aware of these factors and plan your calendar accordingly for the best possible end-products. This calendar represents the most common production
Continue reading »“When will my sheepskins be ready?” This is the question we get most often from our custom tanning clients, and we understand why! The answer is that this is a seasonal business so the turnaround times will vary during the year. August – September This is our slow season for tanning while we’re preparing for
Continue reading »This past weekend was the Vermont Renaissance Faire, held in Stowe, VT. It was the first time a Renaissance-themed festival had been offered in the state since 2008, and the first that we had ever attended, either as participants or vendors. Fortunately we were able to pull together some circa-1580’s costumes without too much trouble, and I
Continue reading »We’re excited to share the spotlight article that Local Banquet recently published on our natural tannery. Vermont readers can pick up a copy for free at your local market.
Continue reading »We were delighted to do an interview with Tim Calabro, owner of The Randolph Herald, our local paper. You can read the article online.
Continue reading »Did you know that, like their ancient cousins, today’s domestic sheep and goats also molt? Although many breeds do not shed their fleece, the fibers are released or weakened at this molting point, which can create problems during tanning. In a skin from a sheep that has molted, the loose wool from the older fleece felts
Continue reading »We often get questions about how best to preserve skins after slaughter, to keep them stabilized before they can be tanned. We prefer receiving salted skins. First remove the skin with care: Immediately after slaughter, carefully remove the skin from the carcass. It is best to pull the skin rather than using a knife, to avoid punctures
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