Year in Review

What an incredibly full year 2022 was. As usual, I put a lot of things on the list.

Most got done. Some were pushed out. And others were altogether scrapped.

All in all — I’m immeasurably grateful and proud of what this little farm was able to accomplish.

It wasn’t without its challenges, as you know. But that’s just part of doing life - so today I wanna focus on the good.

So please indulge me with a little review of some of the highlights…and then stick around to the end to see what big things are coming!

Probably the biggest goal…the largest investment…and most expansive project was…

A series of professionally produced videos

The purpose of these videos was multi-fold.

First, I made them for me. As you know, we started this farm after learning we couldn’t have a family.

This farm, the critters, the produce, the everyday — that’s my version of a family. And like any family, you get photos taken regularly. I took it a step further and went the video route because it’s so hard to capture this farm in a still photo.

I did one for each season and couldn’t be happier with the results. I’m just linking the first video here, the winter one, but you can see them all on our main page by clicking here.

Together, they tell the story of this farm. And one day when I’m retired and in my rocking chair, I’ll look back on them and marvel at this farm life all over again.

And second, I made them for marketing purposes. I’m planning to ‘re-release’ them on social media (and probably email lol) with every season.

The next big highlight from 2022 was…

Petals & ‘Pacas - a flower crown workshop experience

This workshop was one that I had first envisioned back in 2018 when I first expanded the farm by adding cut flowers.

I wanted a way to show how the flowers and fibers were connected - how beautiful their synergy is here on the farm.

And I gotta be real here - this workshop nailed it.

We started by crafting flower crowns right in the cutting garden. And it was a bluebird day, as you can see.

A comfortable August morning - couldn’t have asked for better.

Crowns were tied in the back with none other than our alpaca yarn. Be still my crafty little heart!

And then we went out into the pasture with them on to meet & greet with the alpacas.

I’d been wanting to do this workshop for so many years. And honestly, I’m so glad it took as long as it did to come to fruition because it was amazing. And you can bet your tushy it’s already on the plan for this year!

The next highlight was…

Yoga on the Farm

Oh my word — what an incredible experience times two!

Although I had hosted Yoga on the Farm in years past, it was different in 2022.

Photo Credit - Greg Lehman, Union Bulletin

Maybe it was the feeling that gathering the community together safely after a few years of distance…?

Or maybe it was because we hosted them in the evening and enjoyed the full moon and twinkle lights?

Simply put - Yoga on the Farm was downright magical. And it’s on the calendar again in 2023.

And on a similar but somewhat unrelated note…

I could not overlook another big upgrade we built in 2022…

The Deluxe Outhouse

I wrote an entire blog post on it as soon as it was commissioned — which you can read by clicking here.

But I just had to mention it again, because I hosted a record number of farm experiences where this little Poo Poo Palace came in handy!

In previous year’s, I rented port-o-johns. Ugh. Eww.

But letting the public into the farmhouse was prohibited by our homeowners insurance…

And building a working potty in either the farm store or the dye house wasn’t going to work with our septic system…

So the only thing to do was build one. And with a large stack of 150+ year old boards from our siding renovation, we had no excuse in 2022.

Similar to the Petals & ‘Pacas workshop, I’m actually glad it took so many years to have the outhouse come to fruition. If we would’ve built it sooner, I’m positive it wouldn’t have looked this awesome!

Probably the most unexpected highlight was…

Herd Health

While this one might seem like an implied expectation, let me explain.

There’s a stark saying in agriculture…

When you raise livestock, you will eventually have deadstock.

And I’ve lived this saying many more times than I’d like to remember.

In my short 9 years of raising alpacas, it was the very first year that was the easiest and healthiest, if you can believe that!

That was, until 2022! I almost hesitate to say this for fear of jinxing this year…but we enjoyed the healthiest herd of all time.

I don’t believe we employed the vet at all.

(I mean, our greyhounds sure did - but the alpacas didn’t!)

In 2023, I’m expecting 4 new cria (babies) — but that’ll be a separate post for another day. Let’s just say, the herd is rolling into the new year on strong footing.

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention…

the 2022 Harvest Knitwear Collection

This year’s Collection was beautiful and probably the best yet.

But it was so very behind schedule.

And if you’ve been around long enough, you know that with one harvest a year — it’s a long lead item for me to produce.

The alpacas spend an entire year growing it and then our processors spend the majority of the next year getting it from raw fiber to finished garment.

That’s a very long time for a small farm to leverage.

And as we all are acutely aware — costs for everything have been rising.

So while being “a little late” might seem like no big deal, I’ve fronted all those costs for 2 years.

I count on Collection sales to pay for that next year’s winter feed…and to pay off all its processing debts.

In a ‘normal’ year, I like to release the Collection in early fall. This year it wasn’t ready until mid-December — almost winter!

It wasn’t just a financial squeeze, but it was a logistical one. I’ll spare you all the boring details and just leave you with some pretty pictures instead.

Coming in 2023

Well as I’ve mentioned, Yoga and Petals & ‘Pacas will definitely be back.

As will our monthly Meet & Greets.

And of course our 9th Annual Open Barn.

The Universe willing — there will be another Harvest Knitwear Collection, too.

But I wanted to share 2 of the deepest desires of my heart for 2023.

The first might be a surprise.

Valais Blacknose Sheep

I stole this image from the internet years ago and don’t know who it belongs to.

I mean, do I even need to explain?

((Who am I kidding? You know I gotta…))

I’ve had my eyes on these cuties for several years. Back in 2019, there was a multi-decade moratorium on importing sheep genetics into the US. There was a biosecurity reason for this that —frankly—I’m not educated enough on to even describe.

But a few pioneering farms — one of which I visited back in Oregon back in 2020 — did the hard work to legally ‘open the door’ and brought the heritage genetics over.

And I’ve been scheming and dreaming ever since.

Will this be the year? I sure hope so.

But I’ve got a feeling getting my clammy hands on a couple of these cuties might be a lot like The Outhouse and Petals & ‘Pacas.

I’ll give it all the time it takes…

But I’m just putting it out into the ether. I’m coming for yous!

Lastly, and not leastly…

The Grand Old Barn

You know which one I’m talking about…

We’ve worked hard to preserve this farm and it’s outbuildings.

At this point, we’ve invested 3x what we’ve paid for the property.

I say that with joy in my heart — and simply to provide a little context.

Early on, we did a major electrical upgrade to the entire property — that cost about as much a two new cars. But that brought brand new electrical to the house, as well as safely wired the barn.

The dye house and farm store have gotten new windows & paint, and lots of mini repairs with every wind storm.

We’ve put in new perimeter field fence, and bought new irrigation pipes as they’ve worn out.

Amongst lots of other things over the years.

Now that the old farmhouse has had its last major investment — all new siding, insulation, trim and a full kitchen overhaul — it’s time to make our (hopefully last) major investment for the farm itself — it’s time to give the barn some love.

If you look closely, the left side of the barn has…how you say?…gotten a little closer to the earth that the right side!

When we moved in, we noticed the steel rods running in and around the inside of the barn.

Along with a concrete foundation around exactly half of the barn — coincidentally the side that’s not sagging and getting closer to the earth — we’ve always known it would need some investment.

Although this grand old barn has gotten some attention over her 150 years, it’s time for a big boost (literally and figuratively) if she’s to see another 150.

Because working on a historic structure has its challenges, my goal for 2023 is to fund the engineering & design portion, and map out a plan for the actual work in 2024.

I’ve honestly been thinking about this since I got her listed on the Washington State Heritage Barn Registry back in 2018.

Every drippy drop of proceeds from tours, events, bouquets and the Knitwear Collection will be used to fund the restoration. And because I expect the costs will be quite large, I’m planning to do a Kickstarter campaign for those who may be so inclined.

I’m so eager to spend another year on this magical farm.

And I cannot wait to share it with you!