On Farm Education

All educational opportunities at the farm of Lydia's Flock are offered in a safe, inclusive environment where discrimination of any kind is not welcome, no exceptions.

All attendees must be over the age of 18 (no children allowed). Please leave your dogs at home.

Course fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Details for the September Hide Tanning workshop can be found here.

Beginning Shepherding and Pasture Management Workshop

2024 dates TBD

Our Beginning Shepherding and Pasture Management workshop is designed for new and aspiring shepherds who have a desire to raise their sheep flock using regenerative, managed grazing methods with the health of the earth and the happiness of their flock as top priorities.

This class is a two day, hands-on educational opportunity, focused on the basics of raising a variety of sheep breeds utilizing a pasture based management system. We cover a wide range of topics, focused on the interests and desires of each attendee which include but not limited to choosing the right sheep breed for your farm, housing, fencing, nutrition, health and healthcare basics, developing a management program, managed grazing and pasture management basics, and connecting with a mentor.

Attending this workshop means that you are welcome to become a part of our newly established Beginning Shepherding Cohort Group which offers ongoing education and mentorship throughout the shepherding year and allows for priority registration for upcoming camps, courses, workshops, and other educational opportunities.

Course fees include printed educational materials. Reach out to the farm if you are in need of assistance in locating local accommodations while attending the workshop.

Lambing Camp 2024, Dates TBD

Price includes course content and materials. Space for this event is very limited.

This will be a hands on lambing experience. Priority for this camp is offered to Beginning Shepherding cohort members, those who have previously attended our Beginning Shepherding course, and folks who are currently raising sheep or work with pregnant persons and their babies. A 50% nonrefundable deposit is required to hold your space. Accommodations are not included. You must register for this course by contacting the farm directly- no open registration will be offered.

Lambing Weekend Workshop, Not available in 2024

Price includes course content and materials. Space for this event is very limited.

Priority registration will be the same as for our lambing camp. This workshop is for those who cannot commit to 5 days here on the farm or are new to shepherding and would like to have some basic lambing knowledge before going through their first lambing season.

Both lambing workshops may offer opportunity for hands on involvement in all aspects of lambing, including potentially difficult deliveries and death. Consider this if you are interested in attending either of these courses.

Getting Started with Livestock Guardian Dogs

No course offering in 2023

Lambing Basics/Q & A

We no longer offer a lambing preparation course on the farm. We encourage you to sign up for the Michigan State University Birth Management for Sheep and Goats online course here.

Wool 101, no course offering in 2023

This course is for those who have no prior experience working with wool on a small scale or who want to expand their knowledge of value added, climate beneficial wool production in the PNW. Topics to be covered include the science, history, structure and unique properties of wool, breed variation of wool, and determining the health of a fleece. For wool producers, how to breed for and improve healthy fleece production; preparing for your flock’s first shearing including how to find a shearer, skirting basics and how to handle fleeces post shearing; niche marketing of raw and value added wool products, locating a fiber processor for value added wool products. If time, we’ll also wash a fleece. This course is discussion based and inquiry focused. Participants are encouraged to bring a fleece or fleece samples from their own flock for evaluation/discussion.

We do not offer shearing classes or access to shearing practice for recent shearing school graduates. Contact Sarah Smith at WSU to be placed on the waitlist for future WSU Extension Shearing School class dates.