May: Bide A Wee Farm
- rmvcaluya
- May 13, 2021
- 7 min read
Published May 12, 2021
When I first started spinning wool, I knew that this is something that I will eventually take seriously. It was all just a matter of how quickly my passion will escalate. And in my first month of spinning, I definitely went down that rabbit hole faster than a sneeze. I’ve thought long and hard about the difference between a hobby and a career choice, because growing up, this was an issue that gave me so much internal conflict – the tug of war between Happiness and Career Success.
I dreamt of becoming either a teacher, a lawyer, or a missionary but my conservative, Asian parents believed that I needed a career choice that will not starve or disillusion me later on. That’s how I ended up earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, became a Registered Nurse in the Philippines, and went to Medical School.
While I enjoyed the experience of being a nursing and medical student (in a relational sense), I felt that it was something that did not resonate well with what I wanted to be. I can’t say that I’ve “pinned down” a specific career path, but I’ve looked at this conundrum as a journey that I should enjoy and allow to blossom.
From dreaming as a child to becoming a young adult, I have learned several things: (1) your degree choice in college does not dictate your actual future, (2) just because your life is not dictated by the degree you chose in college, it doesn’t mean that it all went to waste, (3) plans change and things will work out, (4) and true passion creates an equally unquenchable thirst for learning. Perhaps Divine Providence and the yarn of fate has led me to Karen Lobb (owner of Bide A Wee Farm).
Research and Finding Connection
Facebook’s ads algorithm are typically pesky and invasive, but it recommended me to a group called Weaving and Spinning for Beginners. I count this as one of the few opportunities to be thankful for ads traffic. Flipping through some posts, I found a woman who posted about Shave’Em to Save’Em (SE2SE). My curiosity led me to hunt for some stamps that are nearer my locale using the directory at The Livestock Conservancy website. SE2SE is a group sponsored by The Livestock Conservancy that focuses on encouraging fiber artists to support/learn about different Sheep/Ram breeds that range from Critically Endangered to Recovering and to connect them to farmers who are raising these heritage breeds to sustain this fragile ecosystem.
When you purchase “100% wool” from a yarn store, they do not usually tell you what exact kind of breed it originated from. Historically, wool was not easy to come by so wool was gathered from different breeds and blended into one wool. The homogenization of wool made it cheaper for regular folk to purchase because you can blend expensive wool with a cheaper wool without having to fully disclose breed specificity.
There is now a movement where fiber artists are encouraged to explore different breeds of sheep available in North America, understand the processes involved in creating yarn, learn its (the wool) specific purposes, and get a grasp on the complexity of texture and structure of their fibers. This movement has encouraged small-medium scale farmers to keep heritage sheep and rams from becoming extinct, creating a mutually beneficial relationship between man and domesticated sheep. It also creates a broader sense of accountability to prevent mass mono-agriculture and enhance biodiversity – which increases resilience and prevents disease.
After connecting with Karen, I prepared my husband to accompany me to their annual wool sale in Hillsboro, OR as a post-valentine date. My husband was sick during Valentine’s day thanks to the second dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine. It may not be the most “romantic date”, but I declare it to be my husband’s expression of love for me (and an unfortunate fuel to his disdain for anything yarn related). Despite arriving late, Karen graciously gave me a “brief” overview of her products and gave me pointers on spinning wool. There just had to be more information that I can get my hands on. What truly piqued my interest was the paradox of her being both vegetarian and an animal product seller. Though it sounds hypocritical at surface level, you will discover her sincerity and the profound ethos she has developed throughout years of homesteading. It is evident in her stories how she has struggled to find her ethical and moral stance and how solid of a foundation it has become to the life she is living today. Those brief moments I spent with her inspired me to get to know her better and share her beautiful soul with you today.
Did you know that the number 1 sheep predator in the US are coyotes and next to that are your farm neighbor's dogs? Since wild life predators have decreased due to habitat shrinkage and human population density, it is more likely for a guard dog to attack and kill your sheep than a bear.
Karen: Life on the Farm
Karen did not come from an established generation of farmers, neither did she take a degree in Agriculture. In fact, she has a degree majoring in English. However, she has in her a burning passion of making a difference in the world early on. She became a vegetarian and planned on raising animals that could benefit the environment. Sheep are known for their ability to eat noxious and poisonous weeds (for cows, dogs, and humans), preventing brush fires, and creating great fertilizer that doesn’t affect the ozone layer on a massive scale.
What started with 5-7 sheep quickly rose in number to a rate that necessitated action. After further studying and a lot of mind wracking, she and her husband set strict rules and principles to live by to create a balanced relationship between her family, her animals, and the environment.
You can hear her passion for learning and for her farm in the way she freely shares knowledge to anyone who asks. People would come by at her stall or in her farm and would ask her questions on how she raises her animals and why she does what she does. And while most of her inquirers are curious onlookers and farmers market shoppers, she occasionally bumps into people who are hostile. Her philosophy in life is to act responsibly, honestly, and thoughtfully. She hopes to strike up meaningful conversations that opens room for critical though each opportunity she gets.
Karen is very gracious in sharing information that she has slowly gained in her 27 years as a small-scale farmer. Her background in English has enabled her to systematically study animal husbandry, effectively manage her farm and share her valuable insights. She is the Newsletter Editor for the Jacob Sheep Breeder’s Association (JSBA), a member of The Livestock Conservancy and provider of Jacob and Navajo-Churro Sheep wool for SE2SE, and they are also members of Navajo-Churro Sheep (Oregon).
The largest number of sheep that they have kept reached 60 and they are in the process of reducing that number to a more manageable amount (in the 40s). Karen and her husband are nearing their retirement years and they are managing their 17-acre farm by themselves with occasional help from friends, family, and volunteers. When you visit her farm, it is easy to see that they treat their furry residents with much care and love.
The mighty moms of the Lobb family. A happy supermoms appreciation week to you all! (Karen on the right). All photos in this blog and on the blog that are not my own are collected from Bide A Wee Farms social media and website with permission from the owner.
Events to look forward to:
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you want to raise your own livestock or upgrade your homesteading skills, there are a myriad of ways for you to make your dreams come true without breaking the bank (or your sanity). It takes a lot of time, consideration, and connecting with like-minded folks to make action steps towards a less-stress farm life. As it stands with the pandemic, people are going back to basics a simpler lifestyle to fight off hunger, boredom, and spark creativity. This is your chance to find meaningful networks that can jumpstart your fiber or flock dreams.
Bide A Wee Farms typically participate in the Oregon Flock and Fiber Fest every October. However, because of the pandemic, there is currently no guarantee that this will become a physical event. While the dates (October 16 and 17, 2021) and venue (Linn County Fairgrounds, Oregon) are set, the final verdict won't be released until July of this year.
I am using their Jacob wool for my upcoming contest "One Skein Challenge" - a Make Along event to celebrate International Heritage Breeds Week from May 16-22, 2021 (the contest will last from May 16-June 16, 2021 - more details to come in a few days). Each purchase of my handspun Jacob wool (Handspun Legacy: Natural) supports Bide A Wee Farm.
It indeed is a blessing to find a kindred spirit close to home. I think Karen and her husband have a great understanding on animal and land stewardship. Their open disposition, light-hearted sense of humor, faith, and generosity is so refreshing in these times that I find myself wanting to go back again and again. I’m sure to be a patron for a very long time. Until next time, keep an open mind, learn new things, and stay safe!
To have a glimpse of their adorable staff, check out their website. If you live near Hillsboro/Newberg/Chehalem, OR, you may visit by appointment. Contact Karen or her husband Doug by phone: 503-538-7987 or by email: bideaweefarm@gmail.com to schedule a day and time to visit. Bide A Wee Farm sell their products on site at 19562 NE Calkins Ln, Newberg, OR 97132 and at the McMinnville Farmers Market on Thursday (12-6pm). They also ship orders domestically. To get regular updates on life at their farm, you can Like and Follow their Facebook Page and Instagram.
Next month: I'll be featuring Fleur Creek Farms
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