 About Our Farm: Home of Cashgora, Reg. Pygoras (Cross between Cashmere and Type B Pygora goats, Colored Pygora, 3 Reg. Colored Angoras, and 4 Jacob's Sheep. Picture links to Family & Favorite Pictures |
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;void(0)) To state that Bryn Hollow Farm is small may be an over statement, in fact we are a very tiny farm. All of our farm animals are as much pets and friends as producers of fine fiber and as a result of this our goats are people friendly. The desire to be a farmer, while a life long dream, emerges from a belief that there is as much, if not more of a need now for the small farmer and farm than ever before. In our modern technological and corporate world the existence of the small farm and its way of life is seriously threatened. The turn of the century small farm still maintained its independence, took care of family members needing assistance, and practiced a natural and ecologocially sound way of life. Sending family members to institutions was almost unheard of, dependency on agencies to normalize family life was not often needed, and the concept of multiple animals, poultry, and other farm inhabitants pasturing together still stands as a self-suficiency as well as a grass farming model. There were days when one farmer helped another, when competive knife stabbing was minimal, and when labor and having a work ethic was inherent as a way of life. As a retired social worker who worked with troubled children, teens, and families (many being chemically dependent) it was obvious that some children are never taught a work ethic. Many of these children grow up lost, have no concept of a future, who they are, or how to exist in this complex world without drugs, violence, and abuse. Media and computer games are often fast acting and violent in nature. From experience with these children, I believe segments of our society have induced an addictive need for speed and violence among many children. Life on the small farm wasn't perfect. Where there are people there are also the complications of life. Nonetheless, experiencing farm life or can teach children structure, direction, and responsibility. Whatever the paradign, children need to learn how to nurture other living animals and beings, be taught to respect life and acknowledge the right for all birds, animals, and other inhabitants of our world to live and exist in a envioronmentally sound world. With the green house effect; countless species being annihilated through human greed; and the destruction of the rain forests we are destroying our world because somehow most people can not learn to forgo the negatives of evil, greed, egocentricity and profound ignorance. I can't change this world, but have chosen this way of life as a refuge. Myself, my daughter Noelle, and fifty or more fiber animals live on our farm at any given time. There are also two Shelties, a part Bernese Mt. Dog, several ducks, and a few chickens with geese being added soon. The farm also has 4 Jacob's Sheep, two wethers and two ewes, with a Cormo Lamb Ram soon to arrive. Cormo sheep have the finest of wool, usually between 17 - 22 microns, which means it blends well with the fine fiber from our Pygora, Cashmere, Colored Pygora, and Cashpygora Goats. Look for Jacobs-Cormo cross bred sheep in the future and yes, hopefully a Cormo ewe will be added soon. That which has been the most impressive about the Jacob's sheep is their intelligence. Most of our fiber is professionally processed since much of it contains guard hairs, but there are fleeces that really do not need to be dehaired, Type A Pygora, our new young Angora additions, and the 3/4 Pygora and 1/4 Cashmere goats are among this group. While the genetic reason for the 3/4's having such great fiber remains a mystery, these does and wethers have ultra-soft fiber with few guard hairs and even these are very soft. The heavier guard hairs on the top of their backs are just tossed when clipped and there isn't even much of this. Bryn Hollow Farm is also developing a new line of blended rovings, yarns, and felt. Socks were custom made using the dark Jacob's, Colored Pygora, and a bit of Mohair. They have a very nice texture, are not scratchy as one would fear (think this is because of the goat fiber), and are heavy enough to provide warmth. They aren't as fine as the cashmere socks I saw at Black Sheep or the Alpaca, but these are socks that will feel comfortable and keep your feet warm even on the coldest of winter days. While creating fine fiber products is challenging and fun, the main focus of the farm is its breeding program. We own and sell really well bred and beautiful Pygoras and plan to add Reg. Colored Pygoras when our Reg. Colored Angora Doe breeds to Jackson or one of his sons. The only Colored Pyogras we have now are not registered, but Rosie and her clan produce lots of great fiber that is consistent for her and her offspring. I was very happy when Rosie had two silver kids this Spring, Seth and Shannon. This fiber doesn't have to be dehaired to spin well, but I usually dehair it and what emerges is almost as fine as the cashmere and quite lovely a fiber. The essential new focus is on continuing the Cashmere-Pygora Type B crosses. The results are so specatacular it is impossible to igore the potential that these cross-bred goats have. I am calling them Cashpygoras, for they have cashmere fiber that grows continually. There is a lot more cashmere from these than on non-crossed Cashmeres. It can be harvested twice a year, in early Fall and Spring or at about 6 month intervals depending on the goat. Last year I bred my Cashmere does to Type B Pygora buck Cisco, so am waiting to see how these crosses turn out. Since Cisco's dam is a Type C Pygora with cashmere fine fiber, it is possible some of these offspring will simply be cashmere. It is simply too soon to tell, but several show great promise as Cashpygoras. Bryn Hollow Farm now has Cashpygora bucklings with the object being to see if a Cashpygora doe when bred to her male equivalent will breed kids that are true to the Cashpygora standards. These standards include the continual growth factor and a fiber that is cashmere in fineness. Technically, with the horns left on they are cashmere goats and the program a cashmere breeding enhancement program. I'll probably only breed for another year or two. Retired now, there will come a time to slow down a bit. I'm looking for someone wise enough to see the merrit of continuing this project, practise selective breeding, and develop this new line of cashmere/fiber goats. I'm willing to help with providing good breeding stock at a reasonable price to the right person. I believe that this new cross-bred goat has much to contribute to the world of fine fiber, to herders, breeders, and fiber artists. Free samples are available for any fiber on hand and if I can help with advise in any way and in any area just email me. Myself and my daughter live on the farm, but Noelle is an Artist and not a farmer. She paints what she calls, "whimsical animal creations." Noelle has named these joyous and unique creations Artimals. A new focus for me has been creating pastel pictures of farm animals, capturing the spirit and those precious moments that the small farmer experiences with their family and with their herd. I'm also working on a fantasy novel that borrows from Noelle's Artimal Creations. Recently I became President of the Oregon Wool Growers Association, and so there is no lack of work. And yet peace and happiness in the tasks of being a fine fiber farmer. Thank you for visiting. Sandie  ;void(0)) | Contact Us | Family & Other Favorite Pictures | | Return Home | About Our Farm and FAQ | Fiber & Fiber Products: Pygora, Angora, and Pycazz | Artistic Creations of our Farm Animal Friends | Articles on Pycazz (Cashmere-Pygora Cross Breed), | Links to Other Farms, Organizations, Oregon Wool G | Pycazz Goat Breeders Association and Registry | |
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