T’was the night before a snow storm, when all through the farm
Not a creature was stirring in pasture or barn.
The stock tanks were full and de-icers in place,
And extra buckets were filled to the brim, just in case.
With visions of alfalfa piled high to their knees.
And papa in his carhartts, and I in mine too,
Put out plenty of hay for the entire crew.
I sprang from the tractor to see what was the matter.
Away to the gate I flew like a flash,
And what do I find but a frozen gate latch.
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When what to my wondering eyes see through the glare,
A newborn lamb – no wait, it’s a PAIR!
How I spied them at all we will never really know.
With wind howling around and the chattering of teeth,
And the gate in the way, maybe I’d crawl underneath.
I tore the gate off the hinges to get to the site.
As I approached like a whirlwind and the ewe she did paw,
I knew those lambs really needed a new bed of straw.
With momma following close, trudging through the deep snow.
The ewe knew the barn provided shelter from harm,
Where she could dry her new lambs, and feed them in the warm.
I retired for the night with nothing to dread.
The ewe she would care for her sweet little lambs,
My duty was done, the end of the day’s demands.
Where the warmth of the fire and hot cider awaited.
As I crawled into bed, all warm, dry and snuggly.
I thanked God for our roof, food and wonderful family.
I’ve see to all that I can for the safety of mine.
The morning would bring carhartts with boots and warm gloves.
More precious new lambs, and a life that I love.
Sheri Palko Really Loves Her Sheep!
As Sheri Palko pointed out to me, There are more sheep than goats or cows milked in the world.” And, many of the very lucky ones are being raised on Sheri’s farm. At her lovely website- www.locustgrovefarm.net, she describes exactly how she tends to their needs and it’s very clear that Sheri knows what she’s doing. In fact, in 2006, she got the first sheep dairy license in the southeast.
When I asked her to do this interview, she wrote, “Thanks so much for your interest… any time I get a chance to get anyone else interested in anything sheepy I go crazy… I love the sheep, their lambs, the cheese… everything about em…
Just an addict I guess and can’t figure out why everyone who makes cheese doesn’t do it with sheep’s milk… not biased at all huh?”
Sheri loves her sheep, but as many of you know, making cheese is hard work. She wrote, “Milking 100 ewes twice a day… lambing out and feeding 200 bottle lambs…. Making cheese with 75 gallons of milk every 48 hrs… and doing all the sales, marketing, shipping, invoicing, etc…
That’s more than a full time job… couldn’t do anything else if I had to. Although… I do attempt (for sanity and fitness reasons) to play tennis 4-5 times a week… otherwise I wouldn’t leave the farm.”
Because of the care she takes with her flock, Sheri’s farmstead sheep’s milk cheeses have become extremely popular. You will find them on her website (reasonably priced) and you may order by phone or e-mail. There are 4 varieties of aged sheep’s milk cheeses- a semi-hard with a crusty rind, a washed curd (similar to a Gouda), a Manchego, and a Manchego with chilis and spices. I have tried them all and I can tell you they are fabulous!
Prism, a Belgium Tervuren |
How did you get started?
Oh my… well… I’ll give you the reader’s digest version…
I am a software engineer by degree… those of us who are anal need a hobby – BAD!
As a hobby I trained my dogs for competition obedience and herding…Dogs needed sheep… sheep needed to earn their keep…Nuf said… I’ll attach a few pics of my best employees…
(shown at left and in the picture below).
Morning milking with Dixie, a red tri Border Collie. |
Do you make cheese year-round?
What are some of the differences between making cheese with sheep’s milk vs cow’s or goat’s?
Why is it so hard to find sheep’s milk?
What’s in the future?