Lamb Needs a Name

The Sustainable Nantucket Farmers & Artisans Market is holding a contest to name the new lamb born at Far Away Farm off Polpis Road.  The lamb was born in the night last Thursday to an East Frisian ewe, herself about 15 months old.  “We just bought them for our island breeding program from a sheep dairy in Vermont several weeks ago, and didn’t know if they were pregnant until now,” the owner, Dylan Wallace, said. “Two weeks or so ago, I noticed that her udders dropped and started to fill up so we knew she should have the baby in the next week if not sooner.”

The lamb is a boy, all white except for two black rings that encircle the eyes.  He will become an important part of the island’s breeding program because he is genetically unrelated to any other sheep on Nantucket.  Cross-breeding yields stronger stock.

Far Away Farms is a collaborative venture between three island farmers:  Wallace, Caleb Cressman, and Nicole DuPont.  They grow the pasture-fed sheep for wool, fleece, milk, and meat, and also nurture hogs featured in island restaurants.  Wallace sits on the Sustainable Nantucket board and the SN Market Committee and is also a vendor of wool and honey at the Sustainable Nantucket Farmers & Artisans Market along with his wife, Claudia, of the Centre Street shop Ambrosia, who vends spices, candies, and flavored popcorn.

To enter the contest, stop by the main Sustainable Nantucket information table, under the big yellow tent at the Farmers & Artisans Market any Saturday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.  Entries are also being accepted by email at market@SustainableNantucket.org, calling 508-228-3399.  On Saturday, July 13, the unnamed lamb will visit the market in person to receive its new name.