I’m so sorry about your precarious position, and that you’re not being supported by our institutions in the first place. it’s all so maddening. I’ve shared and hope to be able to donate soon.
part of my work is resolidifying the mother-baby dyad that has been lost within our industrialised culture, and I found myself disturbed by the separation of the young lambs from their mothers, as he obviously yearns to be with her (and I’m sure her with him). you’re working to essentially recreate natural grazing processes on the land, but I can’t imagine this type of forced split naturally occurred within herds? can you explain this a bit more? I’m interested in the reasoning behind it and what the purpose is.
Finnsheep are one of the few breeds who will reproduce twice annually. The rams become viable by 6 months of age, if not sooner. I have neither the energy nor resources to contend with lambing season more than once annually. Especially since I'm already struggling to maintain the flock. A second round of lambs would mean I'd need more winter hay and more space in their winter accommodations that I do not have. We can overwinter only about 10-12 sheep comfortably, so it's imperative to keep the rams separated from the girls. Also, each pregnancy decreases the mom's body condition; just like humans, it takes a lot from the body to produce babies. To preserve the health of my ewes, i prefer not to breed more than once a year. It's not normally such a dramatic separation, lol (it's just in Taz's personality, I guess) but it is necessary. It's not easy for me to listen to them cry, either, but it does pass.
thank you for this! I had assumed it was for meat harvesting. I never considered that, duh, they’d be likely to reproduce and consume more resource—which wouldn’t matter at all in their natural, pre-domesticated life considering everything was freely and abundantly available, and native predators would keep their numbers balanced.
I can’t even imagine how heartbreaking it was for you! but it sounds like Taz is becoming your spokesperson with a message: more sheep! more land! more resource!
Samantha, my heart aches for all the tasks you need to keep up with! And yet you do what is required. Not just skillful wielding of pliers but more skilled noggin wielding! Maybe you could round up a social media influencer that wants to put on her lady-farmer hat? The experience might help shed light on the sub-minimum wage that you and other good hearted folks earn from all your efforts! I see doing so as far more beneficial to the influencer than hanging off a cliff over a 1000 foot drop. Excess adrenaline isn’t requisite for brain power development. ;-)
Thank you for that! I just had a run-in with a lady on fb who couldn't seem to see the value the sheep bring to our community. She said: "I guess you are just raising money for your bills." Sigh...if you can't see it, there's nothing I can say to change that unfortunately. But mostly the response to my crowdfunding campaign has been overwhelmingly supportive. It's been a difficult year, so I really needed the validation, too, lol.
And I’m not planning to go anywhere, Sam. At least deliberately. Eckart Tolle wrote “The Power of Now.” That’s where I try to be most days. You help me do that!
and?? so what if you’re just raising money for your bills? (which you are!) it doesn’t cheapen your cause or change the fact that you’re in need of help from your fellow humans—not to mention that her taxes are subsidising a whole lot of farmers’ bills she probably doesn’t know about!!
hi Sam—
I’m so sorry about your precarious position, and that you’re not being supported by our institutions in the first place. it’s all so maddening. I’ve shared and hope to be able to donate soon.
part of my work is resolidifying the mother-baby dyad that has been lost within our industrialised culture, and I found myself disturbed by the separation of the young lambs from their mothers, as he obviously yearns to be with her (and I’m sure her with him). you’re working to essentially recreate natural grazing processes on the land, but I can’t imagine this type of forced split naturally occurred within herds? can you explain this a bit more? I’m interested in the reasoning behind it and what the purpose is.
thank you ahead of time! xx j
Hi Jennivive!
Finnsheep are one of the few breeds who will reproduce twice annually. The rams become viable by 6 months of age, if not sooner. I have neither the energy nor resources to contend with lambing season more than once annually. Especially since I'm already struggling to maintain the flock. A second round of lambs would mean I'd need more winter hay and more space in their winter accommodations that I do not have. We can overwinter only about 10-12 sheep comfortably, so it's imperative to keep the rams separated from the girls. Also, each pregnancy decreases the mom's body condition; just like humans, it takes a lot from the body to produce babies. To preserve the health of my ewes, i prefer not to breed more than once a year. It's not normally such a dramatic separation, lol (it's just in Taz's personality, I guess) but it is necessary. It's not easy for me to listen to them cry, either, but it does pass.
thank you for this! I had assumed it was for meat harvesting. I never considered that, duh, they’d be likely to reproduce and consume more resource—which wouldn’t matter at all in their natural, pre-domesticated life considering everything was freely and abundantly available, and native predators would keep their numbers balanced.
I can’t even imagine how heartbreaking it was for you! but it sounds like Taz is becoming your spokesperson with a message: more sheep! more land! more resource!
sounds like he believes in Runamuk🐑
Samantha, my heart aches for all the tasks you need to keep up with! And yet you do what is required. Not just skillful wielding of pliers but more skilled noggin wielding! Maybe you could round up a social media influencer that wants to put on her lady-farmer hat? The experience might help shed light on the sub-minimum wage that you and other good hearted folks earn from all your efforts! I see doing so as far more beneficial to the influencer than hanging off a cliff over a 1000 foot drop. Excess adrenaline isn’t requisite for brain power development. ;-)
Thank you for that! I just had a run-in with a lady on fb who couldn't seem to see the value the sheep bring to our community. She said: "I guess you are just raising money for your bills." Sigh...if you can't see it, there's nothing I can say to change that unfortunately. But mostly the response to my crowdfunding campaign has been overwhelmingly supportive. It's been a difficult year, so I really needed the validation, too, lol.
Thank you for being such a dedicated follower!🙏
And I’m not planning to go anywhere, Sam. At least deliberately. Eckart Tolle wrote “The Power of Now.” That’s where I try to be most days. You help me do that!
and?? so what if you’re just raising money for your bills? (which you are!) it doesn’t cheapen your cause or change the fact that you’re in need of help from your fellow humans—not to mention that her taxes are subsidising a whole lot of farmers’ bills she probably doesn’t know about!!