Upcoming Events

Sunday May 30th, 2010 (10am - 5pm)

Fleece and Fibrefest invites you and your family to our unique gathering of regional fibre producers and artisans. Our event will showcase shearing demonstrations, which will be complemented by spinning and weaving exhibits. An interesting variety of fibre producing animals on display includes alpacas, angora goats (mohair) cashmere goats, angora rabbits and fine fleece sheep.

This year, Mrs. Judy Shelley of Hanover will be our shearer and, with assistance of her daughter, will offer an educational flavour to the shearing by demonstrating proper animal handling and restraint during shearing, foot trimming and medication administration. Spinning and weaving exhibits complement the event through demonstrations put on by the area spinning guilds and groups. A marketplace area will be set up to display homemade articles and garments for sale or consignment.

Chat with the owners to learn more about the care and management of the various animals then stroll down to the display barns to interact with the friendly animals. Local spinner and weaver guilds will be available to show you how they transform the raw fibre into beautiful, soft garments. Educations displays and a Fibre-craft Marketplace will help complete your journey into the natural world of fleece and fibres!

A local chef will be on hand to entertain with a lamb cooking demonstration. Samples of lamb stew will be available for sampling. The folks from The Farmer's Kitchen will be set up to serve a light lunch featuring lamb sausage.

The one-day event is free to the public. The event will be held on Sunday May 30th from 10:00am until about 5:00pm. We hope that you and you family will choose to spend you "family time" with us this year and enjoy the country atmosphere of Fleece and Fibrefest.

[image] Fleece and Fibrefest Participants

Canadian Comfort Alpacas: Located in Fenwick and nestled deep in the picturesque grape growing region of Niagara, Bob and Leslie Comfort are expanding their very successful alpaca farm to include a retail store featuring a variety of fibre products including alpaca, cashmere and blends. HerdadPineview@aol.com or on the web at www.canadiancomfortalpacas.com
Valbaine Angoras Exquisite Fibres: Linda Baine of Flamborough boasts a fine collection of angora goats. Her farm is featured as part of the Flamborough Studio Fibre Artist tours valbaine@hotmail.com
Moore House Fine Alpacas: Catherine Timms and Kevil Fuller of Ridgeville are located atop the Niagara Bench which is home to a small herd of select alpacas. Alpaca fibre is considered one of the most luxurious and versatile in the garment industry. alpacas@moorehouse.ca
Will Farms: Josslyn Richardson started her flock with 6 Dorset sheep bought from a local breeder. While the Dorsets were pleasant to raise, her desire to raise sheep for wool lead Jossyln to bring in some Romneys and Icelandic sheep. Now with 17 different patterns colours, Josslyn's flock has grown to over thirty animals. Josslyn will be on hand with some of her rare breed Icelandic sheep. willowfarm@sympatico.ca
Shel-run Livestock: Located in Hanover, Judy Shelley and family are quite involved in the fibre industry. Judy has shorn sheep at the Royal Agricultural Fair for the past few years and has sheared at the CNE. This year, Judy will join Fleece and FibreFest as our shearer and will demonstrate shearing of several sheep, angora goats and an alpaca. shellrun@wightman.ca
Lindenhof Wool Mill: Angelika Hammel has an absolutely fabulous collection of garments and materials made from cashmere, wool, alpaca fibres and blends of these materials. Angelika and her daughter will be setting up a complete display of materials and blends. www.lindenhofwoolmill.com
Grand River Spinners and Weavers Guild and the Niagara Spinners and Weavers Guild: These ladies will take the wool from its raw fleece state and demonstrate how raw material becomes luxurious garments. Watch them as they take raw material and card, spin, ply and knit the fibres into fabulous garments. Many will have yarn and finished products on display and for sale consignment.
The Farmer's Kitchen: Bob and Debbie Dinga will be cooking up a storm and offering a lunch which will feature a spiced lamb sausage as well as their regular fare. ddinga@becon.org

How to reach us:

Silmaril Farm is located at 144 Russ Road in Grimsby just a short drive from Hamilton or St. Catharines, and less than an hour from Toronto. Set on the picturesque Niagara escarpment, it is located one block east of Grimsby Mountain Road (Regional Road 12 from Smithville, Christie Street, exit 71 from the QEW) between Ridge Road and Elm Tree Street.

Sponsors

Silmaril Farms would like to extend our appreciation to the following sponsors, without won this free event would not be possible:

Rural Routes: an agricultural experience.

Rural Routes Niagara is set up as a free event which offers the public a first hand look at several farms in the Niagara area. Sponsored by the Niagara North Federation of Agriculture, the tours draw thousands of urbanites to the country to gain first hand knowledge of a variety of farm businesses.

Silmaril Farm has participated in Rurar Routes for the past five years. The farm offers the general public a look at a variety of animal species. Both barns and a children's play area are completely open for the tour. The Sheep barn houses our breeding stock and lambs as well as some angora goats and dairy goats. Outside the barn is a large interative display of meat chickens and layers. Pick up useful information about the proper handling of chicken products courtesy of the Chicken Farms of Ontario and the Chicken and Egg marketing boards. The childrens' interative area has a supervised petting area and a corn bed to play in. Baby chicks and ducks are also available to touch and hold. The smaller barn is home to a pony name Prince, and two quarter horses that love to have their noses rubbed. Daisy the cow gives kisses to anyone that brings her a carrot. Any one of our helpfull staff members will answer your questions about animal care and well being. Whether you want to come and just walk though the barns or interact with friendly animals in the petting area, the day offers you a wide variety of things to do and see.

Unfortunately, the Rural Routes tours have been cancelled for 2006. The Niagara North Federation of Agriculture is working on a new farm and agricultural experience for 2007. Silmaril Farm will be part of this new experience.