The first time Kim, of Vermont Grand View Farm, emailed me, I found myself completely enthralled by the photos of her farm. It’s now a dream of mine to visit one day. In the meantime, I will have to be satisfied by knitting with yarn from her Gotland sheep. Kim is here today to share a little about herself and her farm and all that she has to offer. You can also find her at her blog and on Instagram!
Hi, I’m Kim Goodling, shepherdess, knitter, fiber artist, homeschooling mom, wife, Christian, and innkeeper.
My husband and I moved to a 200 year old Vermont cape early in our marriage to bask in rural living and God’s beautiful creation. We started a small homestead with a large garden, a few hens, and three small children running barefoot in the field. Here we began a homeschooling journey, which has lasted 23 years.
Sheep entered my life in the middle of a “mid-life crisis”. It was one of those times when you say to your husband that you want to live a good, full life-one with no regrets-one filled with “dreams come true”-one where you work the land with your hands and feed your family from the soil. A life where you recognize God’s calling to be a good steward, a shepherd over all he has blessed you with, as He is our shepherd. Soon after purchasing our first four sheep, we began looking for a farm with outbuildings, a place to store hay, and a place for sheep to get in out of the weather and to lay their lambs. That’s when Vermont Grand View Farm became home to our family of five.
Since then, I have learned much about shepherding, homesteading, wool, and fiber art. We began with a flock of Romney sheep, and in 2014, we added Vermont’s first flock of Gotland sheep to our farm! Through 10 years of living with sheep, I have learned much about life. Through my blog, Living With Gotlands, I share all the life lessons my sheep have taught me.
Knitters and spinners around the world support our flock of sheep by purchasing their wool. We sell Gotland wool yarn and roving, and Romney yarn on our newly launched online store, the Gotland Wool Company. In the late summer, we also offer yarn CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares to those wanting to invest in the care and feeding of our sheep.
We open our farm to farmstay guests who want to experience rural living, who want to feel the dirt between their toes, experience starlit nights, and breath in the fresh air. Families and individuals stay with us to learn about sustainable farming, take a fiber art class, or to just refresh and rejuvenate from their busy lives.
I hope you will spend some time with me either on our blog or here at the farm. I would love to introduce you to country life, farm raised yarn, and living with sheep.
Please enjoy browsing our new shop! Type in smallthings in the coupon code to receive a 10% discount on your total purchase. Coupon good from April 11-18, 2015.
In honor of the season upon us: I am offering one winner a pint jug of our own 100% pure maple syrup and a skein of yarn with a little bit of wool from the whole flock-25%Gotland and 75% Romney wool, spun in worsted weight 2 ply with 250 yards to the skein.
For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post. Comments are closed and the winner is Elizabeth, who commented, “beautiful farm! thanks for this opportunity would love to try that maple syrup and work with such a beautiful wool yarn!”
Thanks, Kim and Vermont Grand View Farm!
Maple syrup! The kids will love it.
Lovely offer.
I am so happy to have met you through this post! My husband and I honeymooned in New England, and Vermont was our favorite. I would LOVE to make it back up your direction someday! I can’t wait to visit your blog. Thank you so much for a wonderful giveaway! 🙂
This farm looks so lovely! What a beautiful place.
Breathtaking……..wonderful journey you & your family have embarked upon
Love your farm life, I live in Calif. been married 67 years, lived on a ranch, love to knit and quilt.
Raised 4 wonderful children. Grandaughter has twin boys expecting another July 4, my birthday, am making shawl and 2 quilts for new one. They live in N. C. Yes I knit with wool!
Such a lovely giveaway! The yarn looks wonderful!
I must say, your farm life looks idyllic and your yarn…heavenly.
Thanks for the chance to win. Your farm is beautiful wish I was closer I would love to visit.
Such a beautiful farm… would love to visit someday… thank you for sharing your home and blessings!
Beautiful
What a gorgeous farm, and what beautiful fiber! Thank you for the chance to win!
Lovely!
hi
we lived in south royalton vt for a very brief period and loved every moment of it! where is your farm?
love the rustic quality of true farm yarn- beautiful !
I love your beautyful place 🙂 I live in Iceland !
What a wonderful lifestyle although I’m sure it involves much hard work too. Amazing photos and a very enjoyable post. I’ve returned to knitting after 40 years and would love the chance to win your prize.
What a beautiful place to live! I am really crossing my fingers that I win this one! What a fun giveaway!
What a treat this prize would be!
lovely photos! what a great give-away. Thank you for the opportunity.
Thank you for the chance to win!
i felt myself relaxing right into the pictures. I’m off to the blog and store–thanks for sharing your avocation with us!
Beautiful home and farm! And dream!
I would love to win this! Thank you!
oh my mercy! why does vermont have to be so far from alaska?! thank you for sharing your loves with us. what a generous give-away!
If your in Anchorage, I participate in a knit group on Sundays at 1pm in the Cafe del Mundo in Benson, near Quilt Tree. Mini retreat!
A wonderful place of solitude and creativity!
Oh I would love to win this! Thanks for sharing!
What a peaceful place! Looks so relaxing 🙂 would loooove to win this giveaway!!
Oh, how breathtaking! (I have to confess: I’m a little envious of such a dream-come-true…) Thank you for sharing. xo
What a wonderful place to live!
Just beautiful! Inspiring to read of someone who has followed their dreams. Thank you!
I love knitting with different yarns and this would be great to try. My husband and daughter would love pure maple syrup.
Oh my goodness! Fingers crossed!
I have daughters who knit and crochet, and one who’s been interested in sheep and spinning for years.
Really lovely farm and sheep! The idea of living in Vermont sounds like heaven! 🙂
This is my favourite season!
Sounds like Heaven to me!
Lovely yarn .. and what a wonderful place to visit..
Love all the new people, blogs, and sites you introduce! Thanks!!
So love these photos. What a beautiful spot.
Oh, my GOODness! I comment almost every time you have a Give Away, and I don’t know what is the criteria for winning, but I never have, and I really, really want to win this time! Because I am a spinner! I moved to Florida from Virginia (not really my choice) 3 months ago, and my spinning wheels look so out of place in this environment. But, I don’t care. They’ve been with me for a very long time, and I have wool to spin on them from both Japan, where my son lives, and my beloved Ireland, where I used to live. I would surely like to see what your yarn is like. Even if I don’t win, I want to check out the site and maybe order some raw wool. I’d also love some yummy maple syrup to put on my (gluten-free) pancakes. So, dear Ginny, pick me! Pick me!
Charlene, who now lives in The Land of Eternal Sunshine but misses 4 seasons and rain so much
Love to try this yarn!
Looks wonderful!
So beautiful! And we could use maple syrup on almost anything in our house 🙂
The yarn looks like heaven to work with,would love to win this!!!Thanks for the chance to try!!!!!!
great post! thanks for sharing such beautiful story and pictures!
Lovely and Inspiring!!
How lovely, makes me homesick for new england
How lovely! That yarn looks so nice.
What a beautiful place.