This past Saturday, Kevin Ford came to Providence Farm to blade shear sheep. Yes, there is a healthy, happy, ewe under all of that wool. Kevin, an expert shearer, has written the difinitive book on non-motorized blade shearing; a skill he honed in Ireland and with lots of practice. It is fascinating to watch Kevin shear by hand the old-fashioned way, so masterfully that there is no harm to the sheep, and it results in a single pelt. The sheep at Providence Farm got their spring shearing, casting off the coat they will not need during a hot, North Carolina summer.

If you are in the Greensboro area, follow Providence Farm to see when Spring Farm Day 2027 will be, and know that Kevin will likely be there to work his magic. In the meantime, Farmer Joy now has pelts that she will process and get spun into wool. She will knit some of it herself, and sell some to others. Watching Kevin use his skills so masterfully, and interacting with farmers and visitors on a centennial farm in eastern Guilford County, was the perfect way to celebrate the 250th year of the founding of America.

This upcoming weekend’s 250th anniversary stop for Greensboro Daily Photo will be the Reenactment of The Battle of Guilford Courthouse (March 14-15) where there will be more family-friendly events and demonstrations.

Happy Monday!