Located in Northeast San Miguel, Blue Oak Canyon Ranch is known for their sheep products. The farm is owned by Jim, a retired clockmaker, and Lynn, a retired professor at Emeritus. 30 years ago, Lynn taught herself how to knit, and because she enjoyed knitting so much, she learned how to spin on a spinning wheel Jim made. Since she also loved animals, they decided to raise fiber animals, starting with French Angora rabbits, then llamas, and currently sheep.
When they started raising sheep, they began by raising Navajo-Churro sheep, an endangered breed, and have since moved on to other breeds, including raising 100 Santa Cruz Island sheep and two black Shetland sheep. They are always working on improving wool quality, through management and breeding, while still preserving the unique qualities of their sheep. Although they are concentrating on sheep now, they also have five llamas whose job is to make fiber and keep coyotes away from the sheep.
They are a no-kill sheep ranch, so their main product is wool in various stages, for example, raw wool, processed wool, and yarn, but they also sell breeding stock. If you’re interested in purchasing wool, know that it will be shipped by mail and can be ordered from their website, blueoakcanyonranch.com, or through the Livestock Conservancy programs. For more information, you may contact them by phone at (805) 602-2576, by email at lynn@blueoakcanyonranch.com, or on Instagram @blueoakcanyonranch.
In addition to wool, the farm also has olive trees for olive oil production and they got their first small harvest in late 2019. The owner says they are happy to sell olive oil but couldn't get it to the testing lab before the COVID-19 shelter-in-place began so they haven't sold any yet. The owner added it will probably sell for $26-$30 for 500 ml. Like wool, once they start selling the olive oil, you can expect deliveries by mail. The owner also said eventually, if the Covid19 business gets resolved (and it will),they may sell in a farm market and possibly Farmers Markets if they have the volume.
As a result of COVID-19, they have had to cancel ranch visits and ranch events, craft fairs and educational events (such as Caledonia Days). Like mentioned above, they also haven't been able to get off the ranch to the testing lab, or farmers markets. We will look forward to the day when life will be normal again and their craft fairs can begin. Until then, purchase their wool products and find a surprise in the mail!
Blessings,
Emily & Talia