Before buying dairy sheep, ask yourself this crucial question. Learn how your goals determine which sheep is right for you—from milk production to experience level to lifestyle needs. A breeder's honest guide.

Discover the best cheesemaking books for dairy sheep homesteaders! From beginner guides to advanced natural cheesemaking, plus free resources. Perfect holiday gift ideas.

Learn how to cook lamb belly with this easy roasted recipe! This underutilized cut becomes incredibly tender and flavorful when cooked properly. This was a hit with my family!

Learn how to body condition score sheep for breeding season success. Step-by-step guide to scoring ewes and rams, target BCS numbers, and why it matters for lambing.

Learn how to make homemade chocolate syrup with just 5 simple ingredients! This easy recipe takes 10 minutes and tastes better than store-bought. Perfect for chocolate milk!

If you've recently dried off your dairy ewes (or are about to), you might be experiencing a mix of emotions. Relief at having a break from the demanding milking routine, but also a bit of sadness knowing you won't have that incredible fresh sheep milk for a while. Trust me—I get it!

Drying off your dairy ewes might seem straightforward, but the timing and approach can make a big difference in their health, body condition, and milk production in the following lactation. Here's how I handle the dry-off period on my farm, along with the reasoning behind my approach.

I have a lot of people visit my farm interested in trying sheep milk. I don't blame them—I wanted to know what it tasted like too when I first became interested in dairy sheep.

If you have been struggling to make a cheese that your family actually likes — give Asiago a try. This cheese got big thumbs up from all three of my kids (including a picky 3 year old) and my husband.

Learn how to prepare your sheep for breeding season with step-by-step tips on nutrition, flushing, ram care, and flock management for healthier lambs.

Caring for your ram is a simple, yet important job—because he accounts for 50% of the genetics in your flock. The quality of your ram will influence not only the health and productivity of your lamb crop, but also the long-term future of your flock.

Shepherds often say, “The ram is half the flock.” It may sound like an exaggeration, but it’s the truth. Every lamb born carries 50% of his genetics, which means a single ram has the power to shape the future of your flock for years to come.

When most people imagine a homestead dairy animal, they usually think of a cow. Some picture goats. But what about sheep?

Learn how to make frozen clabber, a tangy old-fashioned frozen yogurt made from raw milk. A simple, probiotic-rich summer treat straight from the homestead!

A Traditional Hard Cheese from What Many Consider a Waste Product

Yes, you can make butter from sheep milk! It’s rich, creamy, snow-white, and just a little softer than cow’s butter—perfect for spreading or baking. In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how we make butter from our own sheep milk here on the farm.

Guido’s Cheese is a mild, Italian-inspired cheese that’s ready in just three short weeks. It was highly recommended to me by another dairy shepherdess. It’s a great choice for those new to aged cheeses or anyone looking for a faster payoff from their home cheesemaking efforts.

Step-by-step guide to making Bel Paese cheese with sheep milk—plus encouragement for beginners and tips from a real homestead cheesemaker.

If I could give just one piece of advice to anyone raising sheep—whether you’re a brand-new shepherd or adding sheep to your homestead—it would be this:

Observe them. Every day. On purpose.

Spring has arrived in full force here on the homestead (all except that warm weather!), and with it comes new life, fresh milk, and cozy farm experiences to share. Whether you’re interested in making cheese with sheep milk, adding dairy sheep to your homestead, or just looking for a peaceful Airbnb stay on a working farm, this month’s update has a little something for everyone.