Live Simply ~ Live Well
Life off the grid in NW Washington.

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A Few TIPS To Get You Started

On a shoe-string budget spend your money on the best breeding stock you can find and buy fencing, posts, and anything else you need off the Craig's List or from the newspaper. A lot of people will barter with you trading goods for services. Be creative!

If you ever think you are going to want to sell your lambs to other breeders buy registered breeding stock to begin with. It may cost you a more but it keeps the options open for sales in the future.

You don't need a big barn and fancy fencing to get started with Soay. Sheds to give them protection from the summer sun and harsh winter weather will be fine for the sheep. The fancy barn will make your life easier... but the Soay do not need it.

Fencing is primarily to keep predators out, not to keep the Soay in. We use 4 foot and 6 foot field fencing. Our fencing I refer to as "Suggestive Fencing". The suggestion being that if they don't wish to be eaten by a bear that they stay where they have a warm shed and plenty of food and water.