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The Rising Meadow Flocks

CORRIEDALE

This dual-purpose breed offers a fleece that is prized by handspinners. The crossing of the Merino and Lincoln breeds created a medium fine fiber that is soft yet strong and lustrous with good length. These sheep are medium in size, have gentle dispositions, good mothering instincts, and produce nice fast-growing lambs. Our Corriedale flock contains both white and natural-colored sheep.

Natural-Colored

Our sheep range in shades from black to gray with fleeces varyingfrom fine to a long open "Lincoln-like" staple.

Moorit-

Our Corriedale flock has been greatly enhanced by the addition of truly brown sheep. The term Moorit comes from the Icelandic "moorut" meaning as red as the moors". The elusive Moorit brown is recessive to the black and is fairly rare. The brown pigment is "weaker" than the black so very dark browns are more rare than the truly black sheep. A Moorit sheep carries brown wool with brown hair on the face and legs, brown skin and mucous membranes of the mouth. By breeding a Moorit ram to Moorit ewes, Moorit lambs are produced. A Moorit is not a breed of sheep but a sheep whose color is genetically and physically brown. Moorits have fleece colors most commonly referred to as fawn, cinnamon, and chocolate. Formerly the "Decadent Chocolates", our Moorit flock allows us to offer breeding stock and luxuriously soft fleeces in extraordinary colors that are a joy for the handspinner. Several of our white and natural-colored Corriedales are Moorit "carriers" which means that when bred to a full Moorit 50% of their offspring will be Moorit.

Polled Dorset-

This heavily- muscled breed with it's "downy" fleece is the mainstay of our commercial flock. Not only is the meat superior, the fleece is used to make particularly fine blankets, yarn, mattress pads and comforter batts. These gentle sheep easily produce twins. They are wonderful mothers and can be bred out of season.

Navajo-Churro-

This rare American breed of sheep is known for the double-layered fleece used by the Navajo Indians in weaving their beautiful rugs. A somewhat smaller size sheep, the Navajo-Churro comes in many colors or combinations of colors. Males and females frequently have horns (two or sometimes four). Their strong mothering instinct and ability to live on fairly poor pasture makes this breed true survivors. Although too small to be thought of as a commercial breed, the Navajo-Churro meat is of such exceptional quality and taste that it that it earned them a place on the Slow Foods Ark.

Rising Meadow Farm Offers:

Breeding Stock-

Each year we offer breeding stock for sale from each of our breed flocks. Most of these animals can be registered. Prices will vary by breed, age and registration.

Sheep Products-

All of the products we sell are available at THE FARM STORE. It is open during all of the events at the farm. For other times we suggest you call ahead.

Lamb

Raised naturally on pasture, our lambs are bred to be lean. They are raised entirely without growth hormones and antibiotics. Rising Meadow lambs are processed between five and eleven months of age which contributes to a much more delicate flavor in the meat. We offer whole lambs (to be packaged to your specification) and individual cuts. Lamb is available from our booth at the Piedmont Triad Farmer's Market on Saturdays and other times from J&S Farm at the Market (in the retail building). It is also available at our farm. OUR USUAL SEASON FOR MEAT IS FROM AUGUST TO APRIL.

Lamb Prices

The following lamb prices are subject to change without notice.

Fleeces-

Once a year all of our sheep are sheared. (Check our events page.) Handspinners are welcome at the farm on "Shearing Day". Help is always welcome in skirting fleeces not to mention being able to select a favorite fleece right off the sheep. We offer some wonderful handspinning fleeces from white, Moorit and natural-colored Corriedales, Lincoln-Corriedale crosses, and Navajo-Churro sheep. For people who can't be here on Shearing Day we're happy to reserve a particular fleece or send a sample.
Prices - $8-$15 per lb.

Roving

For handspinners who don't want to work with the raw wool we offer roving. It is available in white and natural-colored Corriedale, several shades of Moorit, and Navajo-Churro.
Prices
$5.00-$6.00 per 2oz ball. $38-$46 per lb.

We will also be selling our roving and yarn at the following fiber events:

October 22-25, 2009 SAFF (Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair)- Asheville, NC

Yarn-

Our newest yarn offering is MEADOWSPUN, a blend of 70% wool and 30% mohair from out sheep and goats. It is a two ply yarn with approximately 235 yds on a 4oz skein. We have it in natural white and several hand-dyed colors. Yarn from Rising Meadow Farm is produced naturally. There are not any harsh chemicals or additives used during the washing or spinning process. Chemicals used in scouring wool can cause an itchy or uncomfortable feeling when working with the wool or wearing it. Some of the natural "grease" or lanolin remains in our yarn causing water to be repelled away from the skin and clothing-just the way it works in nature. Our Corriedale yarn, made only from the wool of our own sheep, is a medium weight (worsted) single ply yarn. We carry it in three natural colors-creamy white, "Moorit" (a medium taupe), and a very dark brown. We offer hand-dyed colors as well in many solid shades and rainbow combinations. The Merino background in the Corriedale produces a very soft yarn. It is an excellent choice for sweaters, hats, mittens, scarves and afghans.
Prices-
Corriedale- all colors
$15.00 per 4 oz. skein (240 yds.)
MEADOWSPUN
$15.00 per 4 oz. skein (235 yds.)

Blankets-

After shearing in February we send the wool from many of our Dorset sheep off to a mill on Prince Edward Island , Canada, to be spun and woven into beautiful blankets. The Dorset wool has a loftiness which is particularly pleasing in a blanket. The result is a blanket that is warm but not heavy. The blankets are a natural creamy white with stitching and two stripes in a choice of colors.
Prices-
Queen size(76" x 104") - $185.00

Sheepskins-

From time to time we send skins from either Corriedale or Navajo-Churro sheep off to be tanned. They have long luxurious fibers and make beautiful throw rugs, bath mats, chair covers, etc. The skins may be white or natural-colored and are washable. Please contact us for availability and price.

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