Fernhill Farm Experience - Ellie Green
The beginning of my Fernhill Fibre experience started with watching the blade shearers work their magic for a rewarding shearing season on the farm, bringing with it no shortage of fine fleeces at the first part of a textile journey, for both me and the fleece.
As three textile students interning on the farm, it was a hands-on approach to learning. Wool handling brought the responsibility of grading and sorting the fleece and introduced us to the world of wool – and there was plenty of wool! Bags were filled and piled high. Sheep after sheep, fleeces were thrown, skirt was collected, short was removed and its strength tested.
Following our careful consideration and endless decision making, it was only the very best of the flock that was selected and separated for customer picking – bringing with it great textile opportunity. Felting, hand spinning and other crafts; the options were vast and with a generous supply of fleece building, the listings began. With instruction from Jen, we gained an insight into the behind the scenes of the business and website. Sharing roles between the three of us, we could take turns to weigh, record and upload the fleece, noting the staple length and one final check of its condition. Slowly we made our way through what we had set aside during the busy shearing season and opened the shop doors (virtually) for customers to delve into.
From one fleece to 10kg worth, to balls of yarn and cones, a whole spectrum of orders made way for lots of packing and stuffing, whilst simultaneously revealing a network of like-minded wool enthusiasts from all over, each with their own preference and own ideas. Whether it was felted, tightly curled, grey, white or brown, saving fleeces with differences allowed individuality to prosper and customers to find exactly what they wanted for their textiles.
Between readying orders and preparing yarn and other stock for the shop, it was our turn to see from a new perspective, why exactly the Fernhill Fibre is so special. Joining us every week was our personal textiles teachers Leslie, Chris and Lally, bringing with them spinning wheels, felting materials and a whole bible of textiles skills. Courtesy of Jen and their own supply, we were each set up with a wheel and given a demonstration, as Chris coordinated peddling with handling the changing fleece, we watched it twist into yarn, proving much easier than my first attempt! Starting off with peddling alone, it was a slow burn to getting used to the process, but an addictive one. Thanks to all their admirable guidance and patience, the bobbins started to fill, and hanks were created, albeit a little chunkier than the experts, of my very own Fernhill yarn.
When we weren’t spinning, Leslie Hill was offering valuable education in all things felting. From wet felting a lovely bowl to needle felting a sweet hare, we were lucky enough to have the choice of Fernhill felted fleeces as ours for a day of rug making.
With the sun beaming down on the Mendips, it was a white Lustre Flock fleece with amazing ringlet-curls that we settled on. Picnic tables turned to temporary felting stations as we set to work, dividing the fleece between us. Ensuring we backed the naturally felted fleece with rovings and plenty of water too. Soapy and soaking, it was ready to be wrapped up and rolled just a few hundred times! Transformed by our concentration (and counting), the rugs were finished and appreciating the perfect drying climate. The creative session had paid off and another woolly technique fulfilled.
Amongst the bustle of the farm and work to be done, being surrounded by open space and natural life was never taken for granted. With a routine of watering the polytunnel or beginning the day with feeding calves and pigs, the value in grounding yourself with moments of nature and connection was never lost. Time planting, sowing, feeding, watching and listening in an oasis of biodiversity was not only an ode to the regenerative management of the farm but provided as a constant reminder that the more we take care of our environment the more it takes care of us.
Taking us right back to where we started, Andy Wear encouraged us onto the boards to share shearing expertise and sheep, for a turn at blade shearing. As the sheep sat back and Andy talked us through, we each found our way moving with the sheep and harnessing the fleece. An obvious first attempt on my part, it was purely down to our teacher’s patience and direction that after even just one sheep an understanding had developed and was already progressing.
Throughout my time at the farm, it was lessons from Jen that provided the main backbone to the experience. Whether it was creating tuffets from peg-loom weaving, stressing the importance of regenerative methods, making snoods with upscaled French knitting, or highlighting use of natural fibres and misinformation about different industries, there was no subject off the table. With one final work trip up to Wales, meeting clients and discussing potential opportunities, there was plenty of time to touch on more territory both geographically and mentally. It was thanks to Jen who allowed us to get involved and give us a unique platform for learning, revealing within all aspects of Fernhill a refreshing outlook and message, and the value of paving your own way – especially when it comes to wool.
