Have you ever been scrolling through social media and stopped on a cute video of a lamb? There’s a chance it was posted by Great Bay Wool Works! It’s no surprise that Theresa Walker of Great Bay Wool Works has over 10k followers on Instagram, her sheep are adorable! But sheep aren’t just cute animals. 
They’re an important part of our agricultural system.
Back in June, people from across New England gathered at Liberty Hall Farm to attend our Raising a Sheep Flock for Wool Fiber Production workshop with Theresa, her husband Patrick, and their son Tim, Jay Mariacher of Mariacher Shearing, and Dillon Brady of Wool N Root.
During the workshop, we covered the essentials of caring for a small flock, specifically for fiber, while exploring the many uses for wool. The workshop included a live shearing demonstration, giving participants the opportunity to ask questions and gain valuable insight into the world of fiber production.
Theresa’s farming journey began when her son, Tim, planted the seed of raising sheep. Learning from years of trials and successes her family now manages an award winning flock of registered white and natural colored Romney sheep. There are over 1000 breeds of sheep but Theresa chose to raise Romneys because of their high quality wool. Romney wool can grow up to half an inch each month, so Theresa shears her flock twice a year. From about 7 pounds of fleece, she can produce 25 to 30 skeins of yarn, adding up to roughly 60 skeins per sheep each year!
There are different ways to manage a sheep’s fleece. Many use blanket coats to protect the wool from dirt and debris. Theresa, however, doesn’t blanket the sheep at Great Bay Wool Works because their fleece grows so quickly. She would need seven different blanket sizes throughout the year just to keep up with the growth! When it’s time for shearing, Jay Mariacher of Mariacher Shearing is the expert she calls to get the job done. 
Jay travels across the country shearing sheep, alpacas, llamas, and goats. During the summer months, he travels to over 20 states! Shearers are critical to the wool industry because the quality of the shearing directly affects the quality of the finished yarn. Jay says that while he may not be the fastest shearer, he prides himself on being one of the cleanest and neatest. During the workshop, participants watched the shearing process firsthand while Jay explained the techniques he uses to keep the wool as clean as possible. We even got to touch the freshly shorn wool and pet the sheep!
Wool isn’t just for yarn though. Dillon Brady from Wool N Root shared how he uses discarded wool and transforms them into wool pellets, giving it a second life in the garden. The pellets absorb and slowly release water, helping maintain consistent soil moisture while reducing watering needs. As they gradually break down, they also improve soil structure, support healthy root development, and provide slow-release nutrients that encourage strong, steady plant growth throughout the season. Unlike other soil enhancers, Dillion’s wool pellets are a renewable resource and actively improve soil structure while supporting long-term soil health.
The workshop wrapped up with Theresa demonstrating how she cleans the wool after it’s been sheared. While we were watching her, one of the lambs, was bleating because she couldn’t recognize her mom, Hazel, after she had been shorn!
Local farmer, writer, and craftsman Bryan Cassidy was also in attendance displaying his wool products and answering questions about his Icelandic sheep flock and regenerative farming practices.
Workshops like this connect our community with the farmers, producers, and skilled professionals who make our local food and agricultural systems stronger. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us for an afternoon of learning.
A huge thank you to Theresa and her family for opening their farm and sharing their knowledge about raising sheep for fiber. Thank you as well to Jay and Dillon for sharing your expertise and helping make this workshop such a memorable experience. If you’re interested in learning more about Great Bay Wool Works, Mariacher Shearing, and Wool N Root, be sure to follow them on social media!
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Are you a farmer or food producer interested in hosting a workshop with us? We’d love to hear from you! Email, Naomi DePalm Education & Outreach Manager, at [email protected] to learn more.
