Meet Greg and Jane Kornhaber, who raise flocks of sheep and chickens in Flemington. Nils-Dale Farm Shetland sheep are bred for their fine, dense, and crimpy fleeces. Greg and Jane are both aspiring fiber artists, and volunteer their time with local youth farm organizations and the Garden State Sheep Breeders Association. The farm produces yarn, raw fleece, meat, and Greg hopes to have blankets from his sheep one day. Interested in adding a Shetland lamb to your flock? The sweet little ewe lamb pictured below is available!

What animals have you raised in your life?
Sheep, chickens, angora rabbits, and bird-dogs.

What are you raising now?
Nine Sheep, ten chickens, and three bird-dogs.

When did you start raising animals?
Since childhood.

Why?
No other option. Parents’ choice.

What experience from your life–educational, or professional–have you been able to draw from to guide your life on the farm?
My education and profession was focused on chemistry and biology, and most recently, medical device development. Most of my life lessons that are applicable to farming were learned working very hard for my father and grandfather in rural upstate NY. Clearing farm fields of large stones, cutting and stacking firewood wood, baling hay for a friend in exchange for horse riding perks, doing construction work for my grandfather’s construction company. Having free time, lots of land and woods to run around on, and little money.

What has been one of the biggest surprises about raising animals?
No surprises. I knew what I was going to be getting into.

What do you wish you’d known before you started?
No regrets. I am grateful. A series of life choices has helped us weather some of the unpleasantries of Covid isolation. We have some property to run around on and we are surrounded by small ongoing joys, like hatching out some new chicks out of our incubator, or witnessing the birth of some new lambs. Watching the lambs frolic in the pasture a day or two later. There is also sadness to be sure with farming. For instance when we bring a ram that we lovingly raised to the butcher for slaughter and processing. We have our roles, they have theirs. The cycle of birth and death is always on our mind, being responsible and honest about what we are doing.

What are 3 things you’d like new farmers to know about raising animals?

• Find a mentor, don’t go it alone, and have it be someone other than where you intend on purchasing the animal(s).
• Read Joel Salatin’s You Can Farm – great advice given throughout.
• Read and understand Storey’s guides on the livestock of your choice.