Family Farm Enterprise a "Spinning" Success

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Approximately 30 kilometres between Biggar and Rosetown is a picturesque farm perched on the top of a hill, surrounded by a beautiful rolling valley dotted with sheep, and a lovely, secluded dam in the middle of the sea of green grass.

Sheila Sperling-Law, her husband Fred, and their family are the owners and operators of this scenic farm. Along with it, they run Prairie Fibre Mill, the only fibre mill in Saskatchewan, as well as a retail shop.

Needless to say, with so much on the go, the entire family is kept extremely busy.

Sheila can normally be found in the barn working with the spinning equipment. This tall, slim woman with her down-to-earth manner and dimpled smile radiates vitality, purpose and determination.

She said, "In '98, Fred and I moved to my home area after living in Alberta for 18 years. Fred had never been in Saskatchewan before the day we arrived with all of our belongings. We purchased a small acreage and bought five bred ewes. Fred, my mother and I started to hand spin."

They started out small, hand spinning and knitting items for trade fairs and craft shows. Most buyers were not interested in the hand spinning as much as the hand knitting, so they had some of their fibre spun at a commercial mill.

After growing tired of waiting months for their fibre to be processed, the Law family decided to look at starting their own mill.

On July 20, 2005, they received their shipment of custom equipment and underwent one week of training. By the end of September, the custom work got going.

They now process wool from sheep, bison, alpaca, llama and rabbit, as well as other fibres. Demand for their skills has proven to be incredible-so much so that they are currently almost three months behind in their custom yarn-making business.

"We advertise by word of mouth, and have customers from B.C. to Ontario," said Sheila. "They will either send their wool to us by bus or deliver it in person. Some people make a vacation out of the trip."

Attached to the barn/workshop is the retail store, a very quaint, homey place that may very well entice you to pick up some needles and start knitting.

The store boasts a variety of products, several of which are homemade by the Law family, as well as items featured for sale by other local artists and artisans.

The Laws own 55 Merino and 65 Shetland sheep, from which they sell wool through their store and meat at the farm gate. Among the goods offered for purchase are yarn, roves, quilt batting and felts. The wool is also available as value-added products, including sweaters, socks, hats and mittens, as well as stuffed toys, saddle blankets, mitten inserts and wall hangings made of felt.

The Law family farm is not connected to the provincial power grid, but generates its own electricity to run the entire operation. A generator is used to drive the mill equipment, and a heat exchanger heats the barn and loft areas in the winter months. The generator also charges huge batteries that are used to power the barn and to store power so that the generator is not running all the time. Solar panels on the house roof and a small windmill provide power for the house, including the hot water heater.

The Prairie Fibre Mill is indeed a special place to visit. "Our store is open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. every weekday and on Saturday," Sheila said. "If customers are unable to come during those hours, they are welcome to give us a call for other arrangements."

She also noted that the family is very happy to offer individual and group tours of its unique operation.

"We run tours through the lambing barns, and have a hands-on demonstration of different fibre types. Then we demonstrate drop spinning and hand spinning, tour the mill and make a small felt project," she stated.

Tours can be arranged by calling (in advance, please) (306) 882-4542 or e-mailing themill@sasktel.net. There is a small charge of $5 per person.

"We are so pleased to be living here and to offer the services of our mill to fibre producers," Sheila said. "Come for a visit!"

For more information, contact:

Fred Law and Sheila Sperling-Law
Phone: (306) 882-4542
e-mail: themill@sasktel.net