Meanwhile, back at the Long Wool Ranch...

Wensleydale Sheep at Long Wool Ranch

Located in East Thurston County, Long Wool Ranch raises Wensleydale sheep. We have both white and black sheep that produce high quality lustrous long wool. Wensleydale wool is highly desired for hand-spinning, knitting, weaving, felting and doll hair. We are dedicated to sustainable organic agriculture and, as such, we raise healthy and happy sheep. We sell Wensleydale wool as fleeces, roving, yarn, and doll hair. We also sell Wensleydale sheep.

As proud members of the North American Wensleydale Sheep Association we breed our Wensleydale sheep by Artificial Insemination using 100% Wensleydale semen imported from the UK.

We will soon begin breeding Teeswater Sheep (another lustrous longwool breed) by similar methods.

Why we do what we do:

We spent three years sailing in the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. Life there made us focus on what was really important. We lived off the sea and although we lived a poor life as far as money went, our life was very rich spiritually, emotionally, and in health. We ate better than we ever had before. We were able to truly believe that if you make the right decisions and do what you can to help others, you will get what you truly need in life.

Jump forward six years and we are back in the rat race of the good ole' USA. We have a lot to be thankful for in these United States, but it easy to lose sight of what we learned in Mexico. We have a mortgage, car payments, credit cards, and all the makings of a stressful materialistic existence. In early 2009 we promised ourselves that we would make our land provide for us what the sea had for so long aboard our little sailboat. We are starting a large garden that will feed our family wholesome organic veggies. We are looking into chickens and ducks for eggs and meat. We are working toward self sufficiency and the poor man's rich life once again.

Where do the sheep fit in?

We have knitted clothing for ourselves and others for quite some time. Having our own wool seems like a logical step to self sufficiency. Our five acres is also full of nutritious grasses so we will need only minimal feed supplement to support our flock.

We Chose Wensleydale sheep for their high quality wool that is very beautiful, strong, and long. It is easy to spin, takes dyes well, and makes durable clothing.

The sales of Wensleydale wool in many forms will help us with our monetary needs of which we will have very few remaining soon. It will also enable me to become a stay-at-home-dad. We find it very beneficial for our first daughter to have so much time with family. We have never left her at a daycare. She does spend a few days, and nights each month with her grandparents. I will be able to provide her and her little sister (Just born in October) with the much needed attention as they develop. They will have plenty of socialization with other kids, but we will not have to wonder what bad habits or abuse they are exposed to if we were to drop them off at a daycare every day as we worked our lives away.

Raising sheep and whatever other animals we choose will also teach our daughters many valuable lessons as they grow to be generous and considerate human beings.