GET A FEEL FOR FIBER FARMING!
Welcome to a "wool" new world! The perfect starting point, this book focuses on four different fiber animal species to tackle all of your questions and curiosities. Understand the basics of keeping livestock for fiber, then progress into detailed information on raising sheep, Angora goats, alpacas, and Angora rabbits to discover which could be the best fit for you. Learn tips for grooming, housing, feeding, shearing, breeding, and more for each animal, plus get ideas on how to use the fiber you harvest. Author and Californian fiber farmer Chris McLaughlin began from a simple curiosity that converged with her existing hobby of raising and showing rabbits. The same can go for you, too!
- An essential introduction to raising livestock for fiber
- Focuses on four main wool-producing animals: sheep, Angora goats, alpacas, and Angora rabbits
- Provides insight on each animal's fiber, as well as health, grooming, housing, breeding, shearing, and other special considerations
- Shares ideas on how to use and market the fiber you harvest • Bonus fiber farming resources guide you to further research, such as national clubs, books, magazines, websites, and more
"While food makes urban agriculture headlines, fiber is another commodity city farmers can produce. Rabbits, goats, sheep, and alpacas can be sheared and their wool used for felting, making yarn, and even [making] doll hair. Most of us are aware of the Slow Food Movement; author Chris McLaughlin leads the Slow Wool Movement."—Michael Levenston, Executive Director, City Farmer Society
Fiber Animals for the Backyard and Hobby Farm Raising backyard fiber animals is rising in popularity, as more and more people seek traditional textiles for yarn-focused crafts like knitting, crocheting, and weaving, as well as spinning, embroidery, needlepoint, needle felting, wet felting, and fiber dying. This book offers an essential reference for anyone who is considering their own production of animal fibers. Author and fiber farmer Chris McLaughlin provides a comprehensive introduction to raising livestock for wool. With practical information for the aspiring beginner, Chris helps you to decide which species will best serve your own lifestyle criteria and needs. Inside Raising Animals for Fiber · Comprehensive guide to raising sheep, goats, angora rabbits, and alpacas · Practical information on housing, fencing, feed, grooming, shearing, plucking, basic health care, breeding and birthing. · Comparison of popular breeds and how their fiber differs from breed to breed. · Frank discussion of the energy and commitment that it takes to raise livestock, and how much room and land each animal species will need. · Essential biosecurity practices to prevent spreading pests and infectious animal diseases. · Advice on hand spinning and crafts to utilize your homegrown fiber. From City Farmer News― City Farmer News
While food makes urban agriculture headlines, fiber is another commodity city farmers can produce. Rabbits, goats, sheep and alpacas can be sheared and their wool used for felting, making yarn, and even doll hair. Most of us are aware of the Slow Food Movement, author Chris McLaughlin leads the Slow Wool Movement. ―Michael Levenston, Executive Director, City Farmer Society― City Farmer Society
Raising Animals for Fiber is a great introductory book for anyone that wants to get started with these animals or with shearing and creating wool products. Chris easily gains your trust as a reader with her conversational style of writing and her first-hand accounts. If you were the least bit interested in raising wool, or making small talk about it at your next dinner party, then this is the book for you.― Growing America
Chris McLaughlin is the author of eight books written about her life passions; gardening and small livestock. Her work can be found in Fine Gardening magazine, Hobby Farm Home magazine, Urban Farm magazine, Heirloom Gardener magazine, and Mother Earth Living. Online, she's been a staff blogger for Finegardening.com, About.com, Fix.com, From Scratch magazine, and many more websites. Chris is currently secretary of The Colored Angora Goat Breeders Association. She and her family enjoy an active and entertaining life on their flower and fiber farm in the Northern California foothills where they grow flowers commercially and Angora goats.