Sunshine for Shearing!

Everyone who was able to visit
for Sheep Shearing got to see
Luis using the 'stanchion' to
hold the sheep steady as op
-posed to 'shearing in the
round' as was done in previous
years.

"This way is really a lot
more comfortable for the
sheep because they can
breath better then if they
were laying on their side"
said Luis Mendes (a long
time friend of The Farm
and dedicated volunteer)
as he demonstrated with
18th century style shears.

'Shears' then were typically
hand forged from one
continous 'ribbon' of metal.
Both 'blades' are connected
in form by a section of a circle at
one end which creates a spring
action return after the cutting
motion is complete and the hand
is relaxed...The design works
so well it can hardly be
improved upon!
photo: lauren lake