Why Icelandic Sheep?
Choosing what fits best for your farm or homestead can be as simple as a free critter from a guy in a rural king parking lot, those oh so tempting cheep-cheeps at your local feed store, or long deliberation and thousands of miles transporting exactly the right bloodline to your farm. For us when we started it came down simply to space. What animal would allow us to accomplish the absolute most with our limited space. When we very first started this looked like some rabbits and poultry in little rented yards… and then when we finally bought our first acreage it was Icelandic sheep.
This old world breed is a jack of all trades offering wool, meat and milk. A way to feed and sustain ourselves off our relatively tiny property. They’re a fairly small breed of sheep with adult animals ranging between 150-250lbs. So for a small or less fit individual with little to no infrastructure and the desire to do majority of care this was also ideal. With both horned and polled stock available you can choose which you’re most comfortable with.
How do Icelandics fit into a business model? We’ve had quiet a few years of raising Icelandics both in the name of sustainability and self reliance as well as transitioning into something that can pay the bills. For which I am forever grateful we chose the sheep we did. They allow for a diversified portfolio of products for you to offer to your customers. Their wool is lovely and varied coming in the many different shades and colors of the breed. It takes well to dye for a rainbow of choices. It can be tricky to spin for a beginner and their are challenges to finding the perfect mill. But when done right it’s a nice value added product. And if yarn or roving isn’t up your alley raw wool sales can allow for a quick turnaround of fleece.
Icelandic meat- a product of Iceland is world renowned for its soft texture and mild flavor. American grown Icelandics benefit from these genetics and the breed overall has some of the best meat on the market. If you don't like lamb you’ll love Icelandic.
Milking Sheep and Icelandics in genreral can be a trial in patience and definitely not something they can do without external inputs and management. However if you put the time and tears into it you' will be well rewarded with delicious dairy that can be turned into a variety of wonderful goodies.
Horned skulls, and bones have a niche market of artisans, collectors, curio shelf fillers, Ren Faire and Norse Fest enthusiasts or those just looking for that piece de resistance to their decor. It has been a surprisingly fun and prolific market of folks and the better you are at processing, mounting, or making your mark on these “waste” parts the more you will generate a lucrative following.
In much the same line of interest are tanned sheepskin pelts, or leathers. Something that you can accomplish yourself or hire out this product will open up opportunities to add many new and varied product to your farm.
Besides the many wonderful things these sheep can produce for your farm and family… Icelandics are just a joy to raise. Their personalities are so distinct to the breed. With a certain level of wariness, spirit and tenacity they’re quiet lovely to handle once you’ve gained their trust. Being an Icelandic’s shepherd is truly an experience I think more than any other sheep or livestock.
Making Butter Basics
One of our goals in having Icelandic sheep was utilizing their milk for our family. I'm here to tell you that has not gone quiet as well as one would hope. In the meantime we are a part of a local raw milk herd share and I'm sharpening my dairy skills in the kitchen that way.
The easiest thing to start with is making butter.
One of our goals in having Icelandic sheep was utilizing their milk for our family. I'm here to tell you that has not gone quit as well as one would hope. Of no fault of the sheep I've found the more I take on with kids, my home, the farm and now at least one other business my milking dreams are definitely on the back burner. But that's just how it goes sometimes. In the meantime until I can buckle down and get back to it we are a part of a local raw milk herd share and I'm sharpening my dairy skills in the kitchen that way.
One of the ewes we milked this year... Reba
The easiest thing to start with is making butter. This is an endeavor I have done with our sheep milk and adored the results. Now I'm teaching my kids and making butter with cows milk.
First a hand or stand mixer is going to save your life and your patience. If you can focus on one monotonous task for hours by all means get a butter churn... or ya know have more kids.
It will get everywhere wether you or the kids are mixing unless you have a guard on your stand mixer
You're going to whip and mix your heavy cream; typically at least 4 cups worth to fill our mold. And keep mixing until you start to see the obvious separation between butter and butter milk. It sort of "breaks".
The butter having broken away from the buttermilk
Once this happens you're going to rinse and squeeze out the butter under cold water until it runs clear. I actually do this by plopping the clump of butter in a bread pan to use later.
yay! Can't believe it's butter!
Once it runs clear you can pat it into a round or whatever shape or press it into a seasoned and chilled butter mold.
I like to seal it in our Foodsaver bags and refrigerate or freeze it once it's my desired shape. And this is how we make butter!
Blog Post Title Two
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Three
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Four
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.