Extracurricular Activities
In addition to being a geologist, I am also a sheep owner and fiber artist.
I have North Country Cheviot sheep, and I shear, clean, process and spin their wool and then dye it using native Appalachian plants that I collect from my property and the surrounding area and turn into dyes. I also process, spin, and weave wool from my neighbor's sheep (Jacobs and Southdown Babydoll), and have recently started growing flax to experiment with linen production.
I am a member of the North Carolina Sheep Producer's Association and my latest projects involve rigid heddle loom weaving and spinning with a walking great wheel that I refurbished using scrap lumber and old knitting needles.
I do not sell any of my products, because I do not want to run a business; my only goal is to have a fun, local, interesting hobby. My Instagram of my fiber adventures is at @rrr.red.barn.farm.