Shepherding Resources

There is so much to learn when you become a shepherd. In fact, the learning never ends! From how to have a thriving, healthy flock, to caring for your land, to seasonal flock management, fiber processing, meat production, fencing and housing, breeding and lambing….the list goes on and on.

Most of what we know as experienced shepherds exists in our heads, was hard won by trial and error and is sometimes hard to find time to explain. Which is why I started The Shepherd’s Retreat at Knoll Farm. But many learning resources can be shared, and I am excited to build on this page of processors, equipment purveyors, workshops and other opportunities over time. Please send your own recommendations to me. I might not have time to get back to you, but I’ll definitely check out your recommendations. Thanks so much.

Workshops

Rural Vermont on-farm lamb slaughter workshops with Mary Lake.

Grazing School of the West is another great place to learn – started by my friend Brittany Cole who is at the forefront of contract grazing in the west.

VT Grass Farmers sometimes has excellent targeted workshops on grazing, fencing, water systems, etc. Plus lots of great videos

UVM Extension, small ruminant specialist is Kelsie Braam.

Vermont Sheep and Goat Association

Vermont Shearing School, Shelburne Farms, 1611 Harbor Road, Shelburne, VT 05482. Sept. 6-7, 2025. Email Mary.m.lake@gmail.com for more info.

Center for Agriculture and Food Entrepreneurship at Vermont State University has some great workshops on meat processing. Learn more on their website.

Animal Health

UNH Diagnostic Lab – comprehensive fecal testing for parasites, might give more detail than from your local vet, though that’s a good option too.

Trace Mineral and Copper boluses – Mayo Healthcare, based in UK. Santa Cruz has their products and balling guns. Caprine Supply also a good source.

Trace Mineral mixes and Selenium supplement – I like Premier One. Also North Country Organics is a good source for kelp.

Dewormers – I get mine from PBS Animal Health. With high resistance to Ivermectin, I have the best luck with Cydectin and Levamasole or Fenbendazole. I don’t find Ivermectin, Privermectin or Valbazen effective here. This is a helpful dosing chart for all classes of wormers.

Other nutritives we like are Selenium paste and Nutri-Drench, both available from PBS Animal Health

Grazing / Land

Interlace Commons (Meghan Giroux) is a great resource on agroecology – technical assistance, workshops, access to grants.

Sarah Flack, grazing consultant. See The Art and Science of Grazing, by S. Flack.

Grasses, An Identification Guide, by Lauren Brown is my favorite on grass id.

Steve Gabriel has a great book and lots of videos on Silvopasture and grazing.

PastureMap+ is a great app to map and collect data on your grazing rotations. Super helpful.

Holistic Management is an incredible way to study grazing systems as well as your overall business plan. Look for resources on books, lectures, conferences, trainings from the Savory Institute for more information.

NOFA-VT and the Intervale Center in Burlington VT offer great technical assistance for all farmers, including business planning. All New England states have a NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) and are incredible resources for information and networking.

Looking for Land? Check out Land for Good and Landlink (Vermont).

Fiber Arts

International group of fiber artists offering workshops: https://weavingremembrance.org/

Magazines on knitting: Laine, Farm and Fiber Knits (which profiled Knoll Farm).

People boosting wool as a renewable fiber and building fiber sheds include Clara Parkes and Rebecca Ruggles. These are great places to start to join the growing fiber movement.

The “Shave Em to Save Em” project through the Livestock Conservancy has great profiles on the fiber qualities of heritage sheep breeds.

Meat Processing / Marketing

American Lamb Board has wonderful recipe booklets you can order to give to customers and help sell your meat.

Call your state’s department of agriculture to learn more about about the meat processing facilities in your state and regulations about on-farm slaughter. Itinerant butchers are supposed to register with the state so the should also be able to send you a list of people who can come to your farm.