Beginning with Sheep

Parkerfarmjacobs
  • 5.0 (5)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

For years I’ve wanted to have my own flock of sheep and now I have them! Follow me for the next year as I learn to raise Jacob Sheep. As a new shepherdess, I am not an expert and I will make mistakes. The goal of this podcast is to bring my family and friends along on this adventure.

  1. FEB 2

    Historic Freeze and Farm Life: Protecting Plants, Puppies, and Sheep

    Hosts Kathy and Val chat about a record winter freeze and how it’s affecting plants and animals, share updates on puppy training and livestock protection, and celebrate a delicious home-raised lamb meal. They also discuss processing chickens, pasture management, and the tradeoffs of different farm vehicles—from side-by-sides to Subaru Foresters to Japanese mini trucks—for hauling water, moving sheep, and everyday farm work. The episode mixes practical farm planning (handling systems, fencing, virtual fences) with personal stories about food, gear, and life on a small farm as they decide priorities and budget for equipment while staying warm through the cold snap.

    30 min

  2. JAN 26

    From Ram to Freezer: Patrick’s Quick Turnaround & 41 Pounds of Lamb, S2, E3

    Kathy and Val discuss this week’s farm update: a brutal cold snap and an incoming snowstorm, prepping sheep and chickens, and Kathy’s decision to butcher ram lamb Patrick — yielding 41.2 pounds of vacuum‑sealed meat. The episode then explores handling equipment for small flocks, from basic single‑file chutes to head gates and squeeze systems, costs and compatibility with horned sheep, and future plans for farm vehicles and gear.

    26 min

  3. JAN 19

    Marketing & Tough Farm Decisions

    Hosts Kathy and Val share a warm farm update: heavy snow, a growing dog, lambs on the way, and difficult decisions about selling or butchering rams (including Patrick and Archer), plus vet care for horn trimming and the realities of farm losses. They also discuss marketing strategies for a small heritage sheep farm—finding your audience, using social media and local channels, defining your product (meat, wool, or education), and crafting a clear story to grow sustainably.

    33 min

  4. JAN 12

    Season 2 Premiere: Eggs, Lambs & High-Tech Fences Ep.2.1

    Welcome, everyone, to Beginning with Sheep, Season 2, Episode 1, January 2026. Hosts Kathy and Val catch up on farm life, celebrating hens that have started laying and an unusual January thaw that has made the fields muddy. Kathy gives a farm update—several ewes may be pregnant and lambing could start early, she’s registering her first Jacob sheep, weighing options for selling or butchering excess rams, and preparing her lambing kit and tags. They also discuss homestead tools and tech: wool combs for processing fleece and a Halo GPS electronic collar and virtual fence for their guardian dog, plus training, boundary setup, and the peace of mind the system provides. The episode closes with personal updates, social media plans for the farm, and excitement for Year 2 of Beginning with Sheep.

    36 min

  5. 12/16/2025

    Scour Like a Boss: Beginner Wool Washing on the Farm Ep. 19

    Hosts Kathy and Val share a cozy farm update—cold weather, the first snowfall, playful lambs, and Kathy’s recovery progress—then dive into a beginner-friendly wool-washing experiment inspired by Mary Egbert’s book, “The Art of Washing Wool, Mohair & Alpaca.” The episode covers practical tips for skirting, water temperature and pH, soap-to-water ratios, avoiding agitation to prevent felting, and Kathy’s successful small-batch wash using "Unicorn Power Scour," plus next steps for removing vegetable matter and preparing fiber for spinning.

    27 min

  6. 12/01/2025

    Saving the Jacobs: Breeding Strategies to Protect a Rare Sheep Breed Ep. 18

    Hosts Kathy and Val recap a Jacob Sheep Breeders Association webinar with the Livestock Conservancy, covering what defines a breed, differences between U.S. and U.K. Jacob lines, conservation-minded breeding strategies (line-breeding vs. outcrossing), and the importance of registration and monitoring inbreeding coefficients. They also share farm updates — managing rams, a growing livestock guardian puppy, chicken care questions, and upcoming plans to skirt and wash fleeces while exploring the science behind fiber washing.

    28 min

  7. 11/25/2025

    Jubilee’s Farm Soap Opera: Rams on the Loose Ep. 17

    In this episode we share a wintry New England farm update: Jubilee is in heat, rams caused barn damage trying to reach her, and the team is rearranging pens and planning repairs while monitoring whether she’s been bred. We discuss seven-week-old ram lambs due for vaccinations, limited hay and pasture management, a growing puppy, arriving rat boxes, and upcoming educational events and product plans like wool dryer balls. Lots of holiday busyness, learning-by-doing, and the theme of progress-not-perfection as the shepherds navigate breeding decisions, farm logistics, and future sales possibilities.

    13 min

  8. 11/17/2025

    Sweet 16 Farm Update: Snow, Ticks & Tiny Lambs Ep. 16

    Hosts Val and Kathy share a quick farm update: early snow on the mountains, a finished electrified pasture, tagged lambs, and a new dryer-ball DIY project made from fleece. They also discuss shearing plans and upcoming Jacob Sheep Breeders events. The episode focuses heavily on tick problems and solutions — from plant-based repellents and safety for dogs to local tick-borne diseases like Powassan and the newer alpha-gal meat allergy — plus practical advice on tick checks and quick antibiotic treatment after bites. They wrap up with notes on online fiber classes, concerns about guardian dog coat care, supply delays for rat boxes, and where to follow or contact the farm for more info.

    30 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

For years I’ve wanted to have my own flock of sheep and now I have them! Follow me for the next year as I learn to raise Jacob Sheep. As a new shepherdess, I am not an expert and I will make mistakes. The goal of this podcast is to bring my family and friends along on this adventure.

Information

  • Creator
    Parkerfarmjacobs
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Beginning with Sheep

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