Farmington Sheep Give the Wool off Their Backs

A working farm in the early 1900s, for the past six years Hill-Stead Museum’s 152 acres have been the summer home of about 27 much admired sheep, counting the three born this weekend. Fifteen of the ewes are about to deliver another 20 or so sheep to the flock any day now.

 The sheep were brought to the museum grounds in an attempt to clear some of the overgrown fields in a natural way.

“We fell in love with the Hill-Stead property and went out and purchased sheep for them,” explained Bobbi Emery, owner, with Anne Foss, of nearby Clatter Ridge Farm. “Having the sheep grazing Hill-Stead fields is reminiscent of the days when sheep and other farm animals, including pigs, chickens, horses and prize winning cows were a centerpiece in Theodate’s vision of a working farm. The animals were not only a source of sustenance for the family but also provided the basis for Theodate to support and demonstrate the latest in agrarian technology and animal husbandry. Today’s Shetland and Icelandic flock are heritage breeds known for their hardiness and self-sufficiency.”

“Luckily they seem to like to eat the invasive species the most, so they do keep the fields clear,” she said. “The first year they were at the Hill-Stead they cleared the old sheep pasture within six weeks which exposed the most beautiful of the stone walls, then went on to clear the area around the Sunken Garden.”

“At least once during the season the sheep are sheared,” Foss said. “The raw yarn is made into wool locally by Still River Mill. Clatter Ridge Farm sells roving, skeins of yarn, hand woven lamb’s wool scarves, rugs, socks and blankets exclusively at the museum shop.  The sale of these items covers the cost of keeping the sheep, such as hay in winter and veterinarian bills.”

Display bins in the shop are labeled with the name of the sheep the wool came from. Labels on products read “100% Shetland Wool off the back of” and the name of the sheep.

“Knitters and weavers will ask for the wool from a specific sheep,” Foss added. “We also take custom orders for products from the wool of a certain sheep.”

The cute factor of the sheep is a huge draw for visitors to the museum. The Fleece Book Class of 2010, available in the museum shop, has a biography for each sheep, with descriptions such as:

• Swift River Lil   A 7-year-old ewe with a grey fleece, Lil is the oldest member of the flock. She spent an inordinate amount of time this summer staring into space, either deep in thought or trying to remember where she was.”
• Swift River Juliana   A 6-year-old ewe with a brown fleece. Nicknamed “Howard the female sheep,” Howard continues to be the superstar of Hill-Stead’s summer camp. Her love for children is surpassed only by her love of stealing the food the children carry. 
• Clatter Ridge Emma Emma’s love of walking on top of stone walls earned her another summer safely sequestered at the stonewall-less pastures by the barns. 
• Clatter Ridge Rhubarb While most lambs grow out of their disregard for electric fencing, 2-year-old Rhubarb has just become more clever. Her matted coat serves as a scrap book of all the places she snuck off to this summer. If brambles and burdocks ever become the rage in the fashion world, Rhubarb’s wool will be very valuable.

Diane Tucker, Estate Naturalist and Nature Blogger describes the sheep’s life on the hill: “Our Shetland Sheep spend the summer eating the poison ivy and listening to poetry every other Wednesday night during the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival.  They seem to like poetry, and baa now and again during the readings.” 

Contact Clatter Ridge Farm, “Home of the Certifiably Indulged,” at 860.676-1663, or email ClatterRidgeFarm@yahoo.com.