Dear friends,
It’s Earth Day - one of my favorite days of the year!
While I’m sure your inbox is full of Earth Day messages, for me it comes down to something very simple: the soil beneath my feet.
The land I steward. The responsibility I carry to care for it well and leave it better than I found it.
That responsibility shapes so many of the decisions we make here.
Just this week, I was talking with Vic, the owner of our local feed and seed mill, about my plans for pasture restoration.
I’ve spent months researching seed varieties, forbs, and root systems - all with the goal of rebuilding organic matter and bringing life back into our hard clay soil.
If you’ve heard me talk lately, you know I’ve become a bit obsessed with daikon radishes.
They send deep roots into the ground, breaking up compacted soil, creating channels for water to soak in rather than run off.
As they decompose, they leave behind nutrients and structure that help the soil come back to life.
So when I shared my vision with Vic, he smiled and told me he already had a seed mix that matched almost exactly what I was describing: the Gabe Brown mix, inspired by the book Dirt to Soil.
It felt like one of those moments where everything lines up just right. And I just ordered the book!
Now we’re watching the weather and waiting for the right window to get it planted. I can hardly wait to see it begin growing!
With kidding season behind us, our focus shifts to fencing, pasture work, and the unfolding of spring.
My English cottage garden is waking up as well. Daffodils are blooming, the perennials and roses will soon start their summer journey, and, as always, the quack grass is ready for battle.
There is always something to tend.
And yes - the babies!
I know many of you are wondering how they’re doing. I’m happy to say they are thriving. The mamas are attentive and loving, and the barn is full of new life and energy.
We did lose two little bucklings, both before they were born. We name them. We bury them. And we carry on.
That is the reality of ranch life. Joy and loss woven together. We celebrate, we grieve, and we continue forward.
And at the center of all of this is Caprine.
All of this work - the land, the goats, the seasons - comes together in the mohair that becomes our socks and throws.
I’m currently (somewhat impatiently) waiting our turn at the sock knitter for more of our melange socks.
These are the beautifully blended pairs, where natural colored mohair is spun together into soft, heathered yarn.
They’ve become one of our best sellers and my personal favorite.
At the same time, we have more yarn at the spinning mill that will soon become a rainbow of colors.
And your collective voice asked for a deep charcoal, so we have added it to the line up. I think you’re going to love it!
On a day like today, I’m reminded how everything is connected - the soil, the animals, the fiber, and the things we make from it.
Thank you for being part of this with us, for valuing thoughtful work and natural materials, and for choosing pieces that carry a story from the land to your home.
We’re so grateful you’re here with us, season after season.
With love,
Angela
P.S. If you'd like to see our natural color blend socks, click here.