Welcome to Willow Glen Farm (formerly Inspiration Fibers), home of Amanda and Mike Hartrich. We're located in Western New York on 20 acres of beautiful pasture and forest.
Since starting the farm in 2011, I've learned that sheep farms start up for a variety of reasons: meat, fiber, hobby, quirkiness, etc. We definitely got here for the fiber; all the rest is just gravy!
Before the farm, I worked in a local yarn shop and taught knitting and crochet classes. Knitting led to spinning, spinning led to dyeing and I decided to start an online fiber business: Inspiration Fibers. As the business grew, I started a sheep breed study club for spinners, which is still hosted in my group on Ravelry.
Inspiration Fibers and our farm grew along side one another until Spring of 2013 when we decided to bring everything under one name. Willow Glen Farm encompasses a variety of products and activities: an Etsy shop, Ravelry group, Facebook page, Shetland sheep sales, farm blog and fiber art lessons.
Willow Glen on Etsy: willowglenfarm.etsy.com Our Etsy shop is dedicated to bringing fiber artists (spinners and knitters alike) beautiful, high-quality fiber from small farms across America and my own hand-spun yarn. Many times I purchase raw fleece and then have it cleaned and carded at a small, local mill: Acorn Works. This roving is offered natural and dyed. Various other farm products are also offered including photography and virtual sheep adoptions.
"Nature Walk" Fiber Club: Inspired by nature, this monthly club features colorways from photos I've taken on our land and on hiking trips. All fiber is from American farmers and comes as carded roving or batts. To sign up, please see the Etsy shop!
Shetland Sheep: On our farm, we raise fine-wool Shetland sheep. Our breeding program for our sheep centers on healthy animals that are structurally sound with fine wool (below 28 microns) in a wide range of colors. Breeding stock is occasionally available for sale; please email me for more information. aj at hartrich dot org
Classes: I teach private knitting and spinning lessons at my house. Please contact me for more information.
Blog: Follow along with stories of the farm, fiber and my life in the Willow Glen Farm journal.
Facebook: Of course we have a Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/WillowGlenFiberFarm