A dream come true. Seeing and petting Scottish Highland Cows!

If you follow along on Instagram, then you already know that I spent the first week of February at Martha’s Vineyard Island teaching a weekend long sheepskin tanning class at Slough Farm. Here is a little recap of my amazing time there.

I spent several summers of my childhood (and as an adult) traveling to the east coast, specifically Massachusetts. We camped and stayed in Salem, saw Boston, and Plymouth. Because of my childhood memories, Massachusetts holds a special place in my heart. But, I had never been to Martha’s Vineyard. When Sophie from Slough Farm contacted me and asked if I would be willing to spend a week on their farm to teach a class, I HAD to say yes! After the initial shock (THEY ASKED ME!?!??) I was so EXCITED. Mind you, I was still very concerned about traveling out of state during a pandemic, but this was an opportunity to be surrounded by other farmers and I simply had go. I am so glad I did. This was a very memorable experience, and everyone at Slough Farm treated me like family and made me feel at home. I wish I could adequately convey how wonderful Julie and Sophie were to me (among everyone else I met there) and how much I LOVED spending my time with all the farmers in the class. Words just don’t seem to do it justice, though. It was rejuvenating. Like many others, I spent a lot of time in isolation in 2020. I felt detached from a “farming community” because I did not participate in the Oxford Farmer’s Market in 2020. Farming right now, and tanning hides is solitary work. I spend my days with very little interaction with humans. I see lots of sheep everyday, my pigs, and of course Magnus, but not humans! The only connections I have are through social media. I am not diminishing those connections whatsoever, because they are real friendships that I cherish deeply and those platforms are what brought me to Martha’s Vineyard! However, getting to laugh, teach and spend time with like-minding farmers, IN PERSON was balm to the soul. I am forever grateful for the opportunity, and I hope to come back to teach again!

I was able to drive around the Island, and of course I was the only person there. Which is totally fine with me. Obligatory selfie at Aquinnah Cliffs Overlook

The roads around the island are lined with rock walls. They were moved from the land and used as barriers or fencing to keep the sheep in. There are a LOT of sheep farmers on the island!These walls date back to 1694. This was near the town of Chilma… — The roads around the island are lined with rock walls. They were moved from the land and used as barriers or fencing to keep the sheep in. There are a LOT of sheep farmers on the island!
These walls date back to 1694. This was near the town of Chilmark.

My flight was delayed due to a snow storm, so I arrived a day later than planned. I flew to Charlotte, Boston and then took a tiny plane that people refer to as a “puddle jumper”. I am not going to even downplay it, I was a bit scared to get on the tiny plan. I was sitting right behind the pilot, and there were two other passengers. The pilot was wonderful and assured me it would be a quick and easy 45 minute flight, and he was right.