Okay, first of all, a big thank you to everyone who voted in the 2011 Juniper Moon Flock Giveaway! I am so grateful to each and every one of you because you made my job a whole hell of a lot easier. Deciding who will win and take home a flock of the sheep and goats that I care so deeply about is incredibly hard for me and y’all help out by narrowing my choices. You have my sincere gratitude.

I would also like to thank all 12 of this year’s semi-finalist shepherds for putting together such lovely essays and videos. There is a reason I require entrants to either make a video or put their thoughts down on paper: I think it really makes them focus on if and why they want to raise sheep. I’ve heard from several people who started their entries only to realize that they really weren’t ready for the responsibility that comes with properly caring for these animals.

Every single one of your entries touched me and I know in my heart that each of you will make dedicated, caring, watchful shepherds. There was something in everyone of your entries- a moment, a facial expression, a well-crafted sentence- that touched me. Thank you .

Now on to the part I hate. Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while know that I hate that everyone can’t win. I can barely stand to watch the second half of football games because I hate that half the people on that field are going home disappointed.  Alas, I do not have 12 flock of sheep to give away, so two winners must be chosen.

Since I firmly believe that each of you would be a responsible steward for my animals, I’m going to go with the will of the voters.

Winner number one, with a total of 614 votes (26.56%) is… Mariah Oliver. If there is anyone in the entire state of Iowa that didn’t vote for Mariah, it isn’t her fault! I’ve received emails and phone calls from Mariah’s local tv station, newspaper and radio station. She really worked for those votes and I know she’ll apply that same energy and drive to caring for her flock. Congratulations, Mariah!

Winner number two, with a total of 561 votes (24.26%) is…Leslie Cooper. What can you say about a woman who recruited Matt Damon for her entry video! Leslie,  you inspire the hell out of me. We’ll have to work the timing a little differently with the delivery of your flock to ensure that they have plenty of time to adjust to the Texas heat, but we’ll figure that out together.

And that’s it. Except it isn’t. Because there was once video that touched my heart like no other, one entry that stuck with me from the first time I saw it, one person that I was rooting for and pinning all my hopes on. If you haven’t watched it yet, please take a moment to meet RJ Straw right now.

RJ, you are something else! You are obviously a hard worker and you have a heart all out of proportion for your short time on this earth. I can’t think of better qualifications to be a shepherd. So I’m giving you the first ever (cause I just made it up) Juniper Moon Farm Young Shepherd Award. And a small herd of Angora goats to go along with it.  You should know that these young goats mean the world to me and I wouldn’t entrust them to your care if I didn’t believe in you. Make me proud, okay?

We will definitely be doing this again, calling for entries in the fall, and I hope that those of you who didn’t win this round will submit again. I sincerely wish I could make all of you shepherds this time around, but don’t give up on your dream. It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.

Okay, I screwed up. I’m the one that set the deadline for voting in the Flock Giveaway for Midnight, March 1st, 2011, which was actually last night, but I got confused and thought that meant the midnight that happens tonight. Jenny, being not a goofball, read what I wrote and closed the polls at midnight last night- which, again, was right- but I tweeted and facebooked that people still have x number of hours to vote yesterday.

Still with me?

The point is that I’m a moron and because of that, we’ve re-opened the polls till midnight tonight, the minute that follows 11:59 p.m. on March 1st. Clear? Or did I make it more confusing?

As of this post, you’ve got 9 1/2 hours to vote.

Now I’ll stop writing before I make you think today is noon next Thursday and you’re late for an appointment with your chiropractor.

I have so much going on right now that I keep waking up in the middle of the night panicked that I’ve forgotten to tell y’all something. Consider this round-up my pathway to sanity, okay?

We’re giving away TWO flock of sheep and goats this year. Have you voted yet? There is still time for you to help us figure out who should win a flock of their very own!

Have you nominated a naming convention for our 2011 lambs and kids yet?

I have an exciting announcement to make about our new retail yarn next week- stay tuned!

Also, don’t forget that our Spring Shearing Celebration is only 80 days away, Saturday, May 14th. Once the flock giveaway voting closes we’ll be putting up a page dedicated to Spring Shearing complete with local hotels and other cool stuff to do in the area while you’re here. But go ahead and make your plane reservations now.

Okay, I feel better now…

In other news, Jenny, Amy and I are driving down to Nashville tomorrow with the puppies to meet Cindy and company for a LGD hand-off. We’re taking the video camera and I’ll post from the hotel tomorrow night.

To prepare Vanni and Tella for the trip, we took them to see Dr. Grover this morning for their first round of puppy shots and a general check-up. Dr. G fell in love with them and pronounced them robustly healthy. Tell weighed 23 pounds and Vanni checked in at a WHOPPING 31 pounds. Most importantly, Dr. G gave me motion sickness meds for the dogs trip. Maremma- all LGD really- get famously car sick. I’ll be getting up at 4 a.m. to give them their pills, but it will be totally worth it not to have to smell dog vomit from here to Nashville.

What are your weekend plans?

My lovely friends, the time has come for you to watch all the videos and read the essays and vote in our 2011 Flock Giveaway! This is a very exciting time for us, but it’s also a huge responsibility. When an animal comes to my farm, and especially when an animal is born on my farm, I consider them mine for life.

I owe these animals a lovely and peaceful life. Actually, I owe them much more than that, but a stress-free natural life is what I can give them.

I have screened all of this year’s applicants and they are terrific. I need your help to narrow the field. Please, please, please watch all the videos and read all the essays before voting! There are only a dozen and we’ve asked everyone to keep their pitches short.

You can vote anytime between now and midnight EST, March 1, 2011. You may vote only once. Any participant engaging in unfair voting practices (voting by computer and the like) will be disqualified at my discretion.

Thank you to all who entered and to everyone who takes the time to vote. Ready, set, GO!!!

Our fundraiser for Pete’s Barn Raising is still going on and have received even more kick ass prizes! We have already raised over $5000 towards the effort which is really, really good. But you know what? I think we can do even better!

If you’ve already made a donation, thank you! Would you consider helping us spread the word by posting the info about the fundraiser on your facebook page or blog? The fundraiser will continue through Sunday, February 6th and we will be giving away well over $5000 worth of awesome prizes.

In other news, we are eagerly going over all the entries in our Flock Giveaway and will be posting the videos and essays as soon as we wrap things up with the Pete’s fundraiser. I am over-the-moon excited about the amazing entries we’ve received and I can’t wait to share them with you and open up the voting.

Such an exciting time around here!

I’ve been getting lots of feedback on our Flock Giveaway and doing a lot of thinking. So many people have commented or emailed me that they really want to enter our giveaway but don’t have the technology skills to make and upload a video. I feel like such a jerk for just assuming that anyone could do this, because the ability to post a video on YouTube has exactly nothing to do with whether or not you’d make a good shepherd, you know?

So, in the interest of fairness, I’m changing things up a little bit. Entries can be in the form of a short video or a written essay. Essays should be short, no more than a few paragraphs, telling me why you’d like to win a flock of sheep and a little bit about your farm. Pictures are encouraged! Because I know that writing these things can be daunting, I’m extending the deadline for all entries to Sunday, January 23, 2011.

So sharpen your pencils and get to writing! And GOOD LUCK!

You have until midnight tonight to enter the Joel Eagle photo print giveaway! Just go to joeleagle.com and leave a comment on your favorite pic for a chance to win an 8 x10 print. The hardest part is choosing which picture you want!

And you only have 10 days left to submit you video to be entered in the Juniper Moon Farm Mighty Big Giveaway. I will be giving away two flock of Cormo sheep and Angora goats! If you’ve ever dreamed of being a shepherd, this is your chance! Click here for details about how to enter.

Back in 2009, I was lucky enough to be in a position to giveaway a flock of Angora Goats.  It was- without question- one of the highlights of my life as a shepherd.

When I had the idea for a Flock Giveaway, I thought that we might get 5 or 6 applicants. Nothing in the world could have prepared me for the more than 60 essays we received! Or the overwhelming number of people who came to the website to vote for the finalists. The traffic was so crazy high that the whole website got really shaky and crashed a couple of times. It was madness!

The winner back then was Kristen Judkins, an absolutely lovely person who I am proud to now call a friend. Kristen has become a kick-ass shepherd in her own right and you can read all about her adventures on her blog, Gilead Goats.

Here we are in 2011, and I am once again feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for this amazing life I get to live and with the urge to pay some of that forward. To that end, Juniper Moon Farm is having another mighty big giveaway. We will be giving away TWO flocks of Cormo sheep and Angora Goats!

Here’s how it works:
Anyone interested in entering this giveaway will need make a SHORT video- 3 minutes or less- telling me why you’d like to have a small flock of sheep. You can use your three minutes to show me around your property, introduce me to your family, whatever you want but mostly I want to hear why you’d like to be a shepherd. Have you always wanted sheep or goats of your own? Do you yearn to set up your spinning wheel in the pasture amongst the goats? Tell me all about it.

Once you’ve made your video and posted in on YouTube or Vimeo, email it’s link to susie AT fiberfarm DOT com with Flock Giveaway Video in the subject line. Please be sure that your video is “embed” -able, so that we can post it on the website. All videos must be received by midnight, January 23, 2011. Videos received afterwards will not be screened or considered. When the videos are ready to be posted here on the blog, we’ll let you know when the voting period will begin and end.

All videos will be screened by the Juniper Moon Farm staff. If I think you have the acreage, dedication and heart to care for these animals, I will post your video here on the blog. Then all of our readers will have the chance to vote of which essay they like best.  Once y’all have narrowed the field to the top four, we might even invite the finalists to come to the farm for a weekend to get to know them better. I will personally select the winners.

UPDATE: Due to the fact that some people are unable to make and upload a video, we will be accepting short essays as well. Details here.

The fine print: You don’t need to be a shareholder to enter. You don’t necessarily need experience with fiber animals to enter- everyone has to start somewhere- but you do need to understand the work involved in raising livestock. Do a little research into raising sheep and goats.before entering. [Research doesn't mean emailing me and asking me how to raise sheep. There's a great big internet out there; google is your friend.] Once we have chosen a winner, he/she and I will work together to put together a small flock that makes sense for the winner’s level of expertise. Beginning farmers should probably start with five wethered males; a shepherd with a working knowledge of sheep might  receive one or two ewes. We’ll figure out what works best together and won’t let you leave with more than I know you can handle. I will also be available by email and phone while you learn the ropes.

The final decision on the winners will be made by me and my decision is final and non-negotiable. I reserve the right to select no winners if I am not comfortable with any of the candidates or if it just doesn’t feel right. These animals are precious, sentient beings.I am responsible for them and I will never let them go to a new home that I am not completely comfortable with.

All videos become property of Juniper Moon Farm and can be used in promotion of the farm, the website or in any way we see fit.

If you know anyone who has shepherding dreams, please let them know about this giveaway. We want to cast the net as wide as possible, so your tweets, facebook postings and blog posting are much appreciated!

*It took ever ounce of strength I had not to call this giveaway “A Mighty Big Giveaway II; Electric Bugaloo”. Every. Single. Ounce.

Those of you who’ve been reading my blog for a while know that I have a love/hate relationship with giveaways. On the one hand, I love reading everyone’s entries, even if it’s just the answer to whatever silly question jumped out of my head while I was posting. (I do read all the comments, BTW.) I love that someone wins, and that they never expect to, and that it’s a lovely little surprise that makes them happy for a day or two.

But I hate that everyone doesn’t win, that anybody has to lose. This particular form of empathy is something that came to me sort of recently.

I grew up going to football games every weekend. (I am from Texas after all.) High School games. College games. Cowboys games. Watching Monday night football on television. These days, I love everything about football from the tailgate party before the game to the half time show. And then I start to get anxious. Why? Because someone is about to lose. And I can’t stand that. I can’t stand to think about all those men who’ve tried so hard and been so hopeful going home feeling bad.

I know it’s irrational, but it’s honestly how I feel. So I don’t watch much football anymore.

All of this is by way of saying that I hate that everyone who entered can’t win this giveaway. I hate that anyone is going to be disapppointed when they read this post. Which is why I’ve put off writing it till the last possible moment.

Here’s what you need to know: I believe with all my heart that every single person and family that entered this giveaway would give our goats an amazing home. I defy anyone to read those essays and tell me any different. I know the kind of work that went into writing those entries and into lobbying your friends and families and total strangers for votes. Every one of you deserves to win this, but I am tasked with choosing only one.

I came up with a criteria for evaluating the top 10 essays, hoping to narrow down the field a bit, but darned if all ten finalists didn’t meet all the criteria. So I read all the essays again, looking for something, anything that would help me eliminate a few finalists. Anything that made me uncomfortable or cringe-y. There was nothing.

Erin and I talked about just putting all 10 names in a hat and drawing one at random, but that didn’t feel right either. The awesome people at Sand Creek Post and Beam decided to leave the decision up to me. And I chose…

Kristen Judkins.

Congratulations Kristen! You have won a custom-made run-in shed from Sand Creek Post and Beam and a small flock of angora goats.

And congratulations to everyone who entered this giveaway. If I can stand the pressure we’ll do it again next year. Or maybe the year after that- my heart is gonna need a little time to repair itself.

Thanks to everyone who helped out with the giveaway, especially the amazing Lauria and Laura from Sand Creek Post and Beam. Y’all are amazing.

Several people have emailed me asking if we have any more goats for sale. We don’t right now, but I highly recommend anyone interested in buying goats call Buckwheat Bridge Angoras. Dan and Sara are great, they raise award-winning Angoras and they are absolutely trustworthy. Most of my goat stock has come from Buckwheat Bridge, so you know you’re in good hands.

I’ll be working closely with Kristen to make sure that our goats have a smooth transition and be sure to post pictures and stories once they are settled in.

Kristen’s essay:

As I sit down to write this it is September 11^th and I can’t help but reflect back on that horrid day. I moved to Vermont in May of 2000, so I was no longer living in NYC when the tragedy occurred, instead I was working as a gardener at a lovely Woodstock, VT home. When the news came, I was instantly struck with the thought that had I not shockingly decided to change the direction of my life when I did, I might have been in those ill-fated towers on that very day. In my former life I visited clients in the Towers, and generally worked with them on Tuesdays. But, thanks to my desire for cleaner living, I was safely outdoors, weeding flower beds and getting reports shouted out to me by the household workers as the Towers were struck, burned, and collapsed.

That was a very surreal day; I was sure there was some kind of mistake. It wasn’t until 7 in the evening that I was able to get to a friend’s house to watch the news for myself. I cried my eyes out at the fate of all of those people and the destruction of my fair city, and my worry for the safety of all my friends and colleagues kept me up for many hours that night, staring at the blue screen of my friend’s tv (I didn’t then, and still don’t have television). It was days before I was able to track most of my friends down and begin to calm myself. Looking back now, I realize that the decision that allowed for my escape of that devastating tragedy is the very same one which started me on the road to wanting my own little fiber farm.

In my mid 30s, after spending12 years in NYC, I developed acute asthma, resulting in asthma attacks in which I could not breathe every time I had to catch the subway. This, coupled with a general, creeping unhappiness about how unsustainable and disconnected from the source my life had become, catalyzed a major decision. I knew I had to leave NYC and live somewhere else, someplace with fresh air, mountains and streams. I knew I had to get some land so I could grow my own food, have a little house that would be easy and inexpensive to maintain and, down the road a bit, get some animals to graze my envisioned fields. It was very fortunate that my brother maintained a ski condo in the tiny town of Gaysville, VT near Killington, so when I was packed up and ready to make my move I had a place to go. I got my affairs in order, bought a used pickup truck, adopted a big dog from my local shelter, packed up the truck and took off. I haven’t looked back since.

As I made a new life for myself, I yearned for that special little piece of Vermont heaven to call my own. I spent a few years on the house-sitting circuit, staying in wonderful homes out in the country, caring for dogs, cats, horses, and other critters, and I completely fell in love with Vermont living. During this time I met a wonderful man who shared my vision of a sustainable life, modest home and some land. We were able to find our perfect little piece of heaven, purchased it together and started on fixing up: repairing, planting and simply loving life. Our land is 10 acres on a hillside, with a little brook running along the bottom of it. We have 2 small barns and lots of pasture. Our neighbor’s cows, steers and horses have been grazing our pastures to keep them clear and growing for the last few years, but I’ve always intended to get some grazers of my own.

My first livestock were laying hens, brought home for me by my man on my 40^th birthday. As my little flock of hens grew I loved collecting my eggs every morning and I enjoyed their antics. Chickens are pretty funny creatures, not too smart, but very amusing. Unfortunately, a weasel infiltrated my hen house, so I can’t keep layers until I build a more secure structure for them, a project slated for next summer. In the meantime, I raise pigs and chickens for meat, which I also enjoy. Those animals have the best life they can, enjoying sun, pasture, bugs, etc. And I know that when they do meet their end, they have had full lives, been treated kindly and that I have thanked them and blessed them for their sacrifice for me. I am there to make sure that they are treated humanely right until the very last breath, which is very important to me. I made an attempt at vegetarianism a few years ago, to avoid this part of the self-sustaining lifestyle, but was so sick for so long that my doctor recommended I go back to eating meat. I decided that if I was going to eat meat, I needed to raise my own so that I would know exactly where it came from, what it ate, and how it was cared for.

As fulfilling as raising pigs and chickens is, come the latter part of fall when the freezer is full and the equipment has been put away for the season, I miss the morning and evening chores, despite the dark and cold of winter’s many days. I yearn for animals that I can really develop an ongoing relationship with, that can be cared for and nurtured long-term, that can grow with me, and I with them.

Last winter, to complement my normal knitting-like-a-banshee activities over the long cold months, I took up spinning. I was instantly smitten and started collecting wool: beautiful dyed & prepped rovings, raw fleeces, mohair, alpaca—even bunny fur and a few friends’ dog brushings! I soon discovered that I really like working with raw fleece. So that really got me thinking that it’s time for sheep or goats to come live with us.

For the last few years, my husband and I have had a running debate about the benefits of goats vs. sheep. He’s been pushing for goats as they could help us clear some brushy areas and improve our pastures, in addition to providing fantastic fiber, while I was leaning a bit toward sheep. (Also, my DH thinks goats are more fun than sheep.) But this summer I spent time with a flock of angora goats at a friend’s farm and have been completely won over! I now agree with my DH that goats are our number-one priority. Goats have such winning personalities and that cuteness factor, my sheep-leanings didn’t stand a chance. I found the goats to be much friendlier than the Romney sheep at the same farm and was drawn back to play with the goats over and over. The fact that they have such wonderful fiber is just a bonus. All summer I’ve been having fantasies of a little flock of goats outside my windows (with maybe a few Finn sheep in there too.)

So, when I heard about your contest, I decided to give it some serious thought, research, more thought, more research, some soul searching and more thought. I discovered that my two biggest fears—not being able to find feed for the goats all winter and not having the flexibility to tend to their health issues as need arose—are groundless. At lunch with my boss a couple of days ago I found a ton of support and a guaranteed supply of hay! Although it’s been a tough year for hay in these parts, due to the rainy summer, my boss just stored a few hundred bales of it in his barn and will hold it there for me, ensuring a steady supply for my goats. He also reminded me that he is a farm equipment dealer so I have total access to any machinery that I might need, including post hole diggers for fencing. To top that off, he said he would be completely understanding of any emergency time away that I might need because, of course, when you have livestock stuff sometimes happens and you need to tend to them immediately. (I love my boss, he’s an incredibly kind and generous man.)

Then I thought about herd health. Being a total beginner with goats I worried that they might have some health problem that I couldn’t handle alone but, again, Serendipity stepped in with the answer to my fears. In a chance meeting with a neighbor on the same day I had lunch with my boss, I was introduced to a wonderful local vet with years of experience caring for goats, sheep and ruminants of all kinds. He would be happy to take my animals on as patients and he makes house calls. So, my two major concerns were taken care of, just like that, in one afternoon.

Over the years lots of friends and family have come to me for advice about life changes and the one thing I always tell them in the face of their worry, fear or excitement is this: jump and the net will appear. If you are following your dreams, and your dreams don’t harm anyone, and you are driven from a real and true place in your heart the universe will always provide what you need, when you need it. When I stop and really pay attention to my life, that theory has proven itself correct over and over, and I must remember to trust in that.

And so, I am now trying to follow my own advice, and trust in the universe and in myself. I know that I have an incredible amount to learn, but I am willing to invest the effort and the time to make a good home for these wonderful creatures. To finally have a long-term relationship with them will be a wonderful balm for my heart and soul. To watch them in my pastures, turning my brush and grass into lovely lustrous fiber that I can play with, spin, and create useful items from, is a great joy that I want to bask in. I want to be the person that they run to, play with and trust. Yup, I’m head over heels for goats now and I can’t wait to bring home some wonderful new friends. I would welcome your goats to my farm, my home and my life. I would shower them with affection and love, and provide them with the best possible life, good pasture, good browse, clean water and clean air. I feel prepared to take on the responsibility of these beautiful creatures, now that I have located a source for hay, for medical attention if and when needed, local shepherds that will mentor me and most importantly, the support of my husband. I would truly be honored to be the recipient of your amazing generosity.

Sorry to make you wait, but I’m heading out the door to drive to NY in a few minutes. I’ll post the winner as soon as I get to the hotel this evening.