Wool spinning demonstrated at museum
Jennifer Kulick demonstrates wool spinning technique during a spring break presentation at the Frontier Times Museum last week. BULLETIN PHOTO/Tracy Thayer
The Frontier Times Museum hosted a week of events for patrons and students during Spring Break, including a demonstration of spinning wool from Jennifer Kulick and Dawn Ortega.
Kulick, who is owner of Sheep Walk Ranch just outside of Bandera, spoke at length about the ranch and how the wool she has harvested is used to produce all manner of natural products and clothing.
Kulick has 50 sheep on the ranch, of which 30 are right for wool production. She also has two llamas which she hopes to begin collecting from as well. Some wool she sources from local ranchers like Janna Lindig. Kulick prides herself in a deep knowledge of wool and has worked hard to bring heritage breeds of sheep to her ranch to use in wool production.
Working with a fiber mill in Natalia, Kulick processes the raw wool into thread through spinning. She and Ortega demonstrated the craft of spinning to the patrons of the Frontier Times Museum and answered questions about her farm.
Although Kulick speaks of “hobby farming,” she is adamant that any animal or resource on the ranch pays for itself in true rancher fashion. She does all of the ranch work herself, including repairing fences and being hands on in lambing. The property is a year-round occupation for Kulick as she shifts from wool production to harvesting fruit and vegetables as well as offering classes. The Sheep Walk Rach has also been the site of popular Fiber Arts events throughout the year. Kulick also has a presence at local farmers’ markets.
Kulick hopes to expand her offerings at the farm to include vegetable and grape production. She has 70 acres and is excited to start using all of it to support a holistic facility. She has plans for her extensive plantings of Mustang grapes and local herbs. Working with the Master Gardeners, she is planning a lavender patch to add to existing crops.
“There has been a renaissance in wool working,” Kulick explains. “It is a really versatile product and that is one of the reasons I like to get people interested in it.”
Kulick plans on coordinating with local quilters to use wool batting in their creations.
“Wool was used as batting back in the Depression,” said Kulick.
The Sheep Walk Ranch offers classes in needle arts, farm arts, fiber processing, sewing arts and dyeing. The Ranch is open by appointment and is available for school field trips and visits. Wool and lamb is available for purchase on site. Kulick invites visitors to bring a lunch and picnic on the grounds.For more information, go to thesheepwalkranch.com or find them on facebook.