Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Gwen Giffen" <ggiffen@1st.net>]

> Gwen
>  where in Ohio are you? do you just have one llama?

I'm in eastern Ohio, very close to WV. I only have one female guard llama, 
and don't really plan to try to breed her any more. If you are looking for a 
llama, email me privately, because I know someone else who'd like to sell a 
few for very reasonable. ggiffen@1st.net

> By Ohio Woolgrowers-- is that Mid States wool growers?

It might be. I've never had to take wool there. They're in Canal Winchester.

> Getting things up and running for me is taking a lot
> of effort and time, that ios for sure!  I just did
> some shallow cultivating at ZMoms last night,on a 4 x
> 4 spot, mixed in some of my rabbit litter, and planted
> some peppers I got for free on a freecycle list. we
> will see what will happen with the minimal ground
> prep-- with the heat we have been  having, I was nt
> about to  risk health by turning over the garden-- i
> wish I could convince Mom that  perhaps a real "lazy"
> way of garening is what she needs to do!!!
>
> Terry

Plants on freecycle is a good idea. I had sheep for a couple of years before 
someone helped me figure out how to sell the fleeces. Sometimes it just 
takes the right information...yahoo groups for bartering are great.

> You don't mention anything about milk production.  Do you milk your
> Romney ewes?  I'm looking to find a breed of sheep for both wool and
> milk for cheese.
> Uriel

I do not milk the ewes for my own use, although I have milked them out after 
they've lost lambs in the past. After the first year, they certainly have 
enough milk in their udder to use; although not as much as a goat. We have 
used out goats' milk, but are not this year because we're a little 
overwhelmed with other projects. Romneys are a nice breed all around. I 
recall looking up milking sheep breeds a few years ago, but I don't remember 
what the best ones were; just that Romneys were okay for limited use.

Gwen