Criation Station Has a New Website

Fiber farmers throughout the state often have quite a lot on their plate.

On any given day, a fiber farmer is apt to be caring for animals, cleaning barns, mowing pastures, putting up hay, going to fiber animal shows, or going to fiber product shows.

The animals may be lounging in the pastures, but the farmer certainly is not!

And this holds true for Barry and Marcee Stephenson of Criation Station Alpaca Farm in Oberlin. 

In between their farm duties, the Stephenson's have just completed a major overhaul of their farm's website.

In addition to their animals, be sure to check out the Stephenson's yarn and roving, made in the USA socks and gloves, and their woven alpaca rugs.

Marcee is also an apprentice certified fiber sorter and more than qualified to answer any fiber question you may have.

Be sure to check out the new website. Not only are they good fiber farmers at Criation Station, they are good website builders.

The Mid-Ohio Fiber Fair

Several Network farms participated in a new Ohio fiber festival over the weekend: the Mid-Ohio Fiber Fair in Newark.

Little Mountain Alpacas, Midwest Fiber Company, Roving Acres Farm, Slow and Easy Alpacas and That'll Do Farm had a booth under the Ohio Natural Fiber Network banner. Another member farm, The Black Sheep Fiber Farm, was there, too, with their own booth packed full of fiber.

It was a small festival, but very nice. We talked with many fiber addicts who are just as crazy about fiber as we are.

We had patterns, raw fleeces and feed-bags-turned-into-project-bags for sale.

Along with some really fun needle felted soaps.

And cinnamon rolls.

O.K., these aren't really rich and gooey cinnamon rolls. They are boxes full of rich and delicious alpaca roving. They won't wreck your diet. Unless, of course, you are on a fiber diet.

We had a variety of fiber, including llama, alpaca, Jacob sheep, mohair and Merino -- everything you could want to knit, crochet, or needlefelt.

The Network is done for the year vending as a group, but our individual farms will continue to attend shows around the state.

We will keep you updated here so you can get your fix of local, farm-fresh fiber.

Stewart Heritage Farm & New Network Members

The Network held its July meeting in Xenia, Ohio at the home of member Brenda Hanes.

Brenda is the alpaca farmer behind Stewart Heritage Farm.

We quickly got down to business, discussing upcoming fiber events, on-going marketing efforts and exciting new tools, like the tags you'll soon see on member's fiber.

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These tags will identify member's farms as members of the Network. They will also tell customers that they are purchasing an Ohio-made product, created by a local farmer or fiber artist -- keeping their purchasing dollars in the local economy.

Several guests were at the meeting and we are happy to announce that they have decided to become members of the Network.

Welcome to Gail Targett of Green Acres Llamas in Xenia. Gail processes all of her fiber by hand, from shearing to carding to spinning. Llama fiber is a wonderful luxury that is lightweight, extremely warm and quite versatile.

Also joining the Network is Susan Forman of Dewey Morning Alpacas in Washington Court House. Susan is trying to downsize her herd a bit and concentrate on the finished fiber product. She talks spinning with all the passion and knowledge of a true artist.

Member Kathy Cunningham and her daughter Kim from The Black Sheep Fiber Farm  in Sardinia were also at the meeting. They raise Angora goats, Lincoln Longwool and Romney sheep. Check out The Black Sheep Fiber Farm at these upcoming events: Mid-Ohio Fiber Fair in Newark and AWool Gathering in Yellow Springs.

The meeting ended, like most meetings of fiber people do, with a visit to the barn to see the new babies.

After all, who doesn't love a baby. Especially one as cute as this young lady.

If you are a fiber producer or fiber artist, we'd love to have you join the Network. Please contact us at OhioFiber@aol.com for more information.