check dw-logo-bg arrow_back arrow_downward arrow_forward arrow_upward circle close menu navigate_before navigate_next refunds collection international cart delivery facebook instagram twitter

Detox from technology and make memories in our Lake District retreats.

February 2018

Although it’s been absolutely freezing the past few day, the sky is blue and I’ve felt sun on my face so I’m feeling optimistic that Spring is on its way. Our first lamb arrived today; a strong, healthy girl so it’s a great start!

An exhibition by artist Patricia MacKinnon-Day called Tracing the Landscape: Cumbrian Farm Women opens at Abbot Hall in Kendal on 2nd March and runs until 9th June. I am one of the farming women featured in the exhibition! You can find out more here.

It’s been a busy moth but progress on our barn redevelopment has been slow. The house is being more and more consumed by soap and wool so I really can’t wait to have a separate building for business. At the moment, next to my bed is a whiteboard with our marketing strategy scribbled all over it and at the end of the bed is a big box full of sheepskins we just got back from the tannery. We need our home back!

I’ve been going to some great workshops run by the Cumbria Chamber of Commerce. Not knowing anything about business when I joined John on the farm and decided to diversify, these funded courses and one-to-one support have been invaluable. It’s vital we have a sustainable business that can survive without farm subsidies, should be loose them when we leave the EU. We’re working hard on building up the diversified side of the business and so far so good. We have four stockists for our soap and this year we will have a stand at Woolfest for our wool brand Shear Delight.

I have been developing new seasonal soaps. Spring ones have been made and will be on sale very soon. I love them, especially the daisies and pine soap!