by Deb Kimball

For 10 years now we have been summering our flock of Icelandic sheep down the road three miles to a farm with more open pasture. When we began this endeavor, the landowner was getting the pastures mowed once a year and they were not in good shape. We did need to lime the fields the second year to help increase pH levels and hope to reduce the mosses. Over the years the relationship between the landowner, her family and my husband and I grew. They realized that we tended to the pastures so that they improved each year, in terms of productivity, and kept unwanted weeds at bay (poison ivy, oriental bamboo, rose, and thistle). We got better and better pasture each year. Thus it was a win-win arrangement.

Pasturing your sheep 3 miles away does not come with out headaches and cost. The first year we installed 4 acres of 7 line electric fencing, purchased a $200 electric fence charger, and several electronets to divide pasture and allow sheep to graze unfenced areas. Over the years we were aided by the landowners and put up stock fencing. We ended up using six or seven acres of pasture—some we reestablished as the sheep slowly cleared brush. The landowners allowed use of electricity for the charger, a wood shed and simple hoop shed for shelter if needed, and water. Extended family was also available to help with chores if we were away. Yes we have been fortunate to have a great farm and great landowners to help us.

Over all we learned about rotational grazing (we rotated the sheep every 2-4 days), stocking rates for sheep, and how to graze into November and early December by stock piling pastures back at home. With the cost of hay so high these days it allowed us to graze our sheep from May through November most years. Occasionally hay might be fed out in August if there was a drought, but most years if we did not overstock the sheep we were able to just use pastures and mineral blocks, with occasional grain, especially in May and June after lambing.

While distance pasturing is not for everyone, since someone has to be at that location to check on the sheep daily, and check fences, it is a solution if your own land is not enough to raise sheep on grass through the summer. We have been successful simply by going by the statement –you are raising grass not sheep! We wanted those pastures to look good- and they did with only one year of lime and the rest- sheep manure deposited by the animals. We gained confidence in raising sheep on grass, and trusted our fences. Our sheep have gotten out (usually one episode a year), but we try to be vigilant about checking gates and fence charge. The system has worked for us!

(Deb Kimball can be contacted via her website: www.solidagofarm.com )