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!
ikkinlala says
Pretty yarn!
Sota says
Me! We are obsessed with maple syrup! 🙂
Autumn says
What a beautiful home and beautiful products! Thanks for the chance to win!
Sarah says
What a beautiful home. Our family would be honored to receive the syrup and yarn.
katles says
Oooh, I will add your farm to places I should visit in Vermont in the next little while!
Lisa says
Your farm sounds like a lovely place to visit! I would enjoy the sheep. 🙂
The yarn is pretty, and my family would enjoy the syrup! Thank you for the opportunity to win.
Rosemary says
Your life no doubt is hard however beautiful. God’s country. Count me in for syrup and yarn.
nushechka says
beautiful yarn!
julie says
You are living the life I dream of having. Sigh. I’m a knitter who would love to try your yarnand my dh loves maple syrup. Hope we win! Thanks for hosting the give-away.
Stephanie Joy says
What a happy place!! Wool and maple syrup seems like an ideal combination.
Parke says
a beautiful place, an incredible story of the Lord giving you the desires of your heart, scrumptious yarn, and an amazing giveaway! i really would love this yarn and my kiddos would enjoy the syrup!
Ashley Smith says
My husband and I have always wanted to visit Vermont. I can’t wait to show him these pictures of your farm. We have a 10 year anniversary coming up and possibly a job interview in Vermont! It would be so wonderful to visit! Thank you for the coupon code and for the chance to win!!
Pavlína says
A beautiful place to live and a wonderful work.
Annie says
What a beautiful place! Thanks for the chance to win.
Danette says
I want to live vicariously at this farm. Beautiful!
Kathleen says
You have a wonderful place and I know it takes lots of work! Beautiful yarn!
Michelle says
Beautiful pictures and words! Thank you!
Sue says
Beautiful!
Sarah says
Love maple syrup & yarn and what a stunning farm!
Jenny says
It looks wonderful! Would enjoy this very much!
becky m says
What a wonderful way to live
Janelle G says
beautiful yarn and delicious pure maple syrup? What a treat!
Katy says
Awesome!!
Susan says
Your sheep are beautiful, as is your farm.
Jen Letts says
I haven’t had real maple syrup in years! How exciting!!
Jenny says
Vermont maple syrup + yarn from Vermont sheep = 2 of my favorite things!
Nathana Clay @theengagedhome.com says
Two of my favorite things: yarn and maple syrup! I would love to go visit and stay at her farm someday!
Jen says
I’m really hoping to visit with my daughters this spring!
Teri says
Oh what a wonderful place to live! Must try some of your yarn on my needles!
Teri says
What a beautiful place to live and oh what wonderful yarn! Will have to try some of that on my needles!
CMerie says
Sigh…how I wish I could live in a place like that. I would love to win.
maine grammy says
I was born in Vermont and hope to move back someday! I would love to win this : )
Janet says
I would love to win these special products!
Alice in Bookland says
What a lovely giveaway! Thank you. And that farmhouse is AMAZING!
Melody J says
What a great way to live!
Barbara says
A dream come true for you! God is good!!! Beautiful farm and sheep and yarn and dog and…………
Vicky says
What a great giveaway!!! sweet and soft!!! fingers crossed x
Melissa says
What a fun giveaway. Loking forward to this summer’s CSA.
Kate says
What a lovely farm and a lovely giveaway gift!
Kate says
What a lovely farm and a lovely gift!
Sarah Eicher says
What a lovely giveaway and just ste perfect match… Wool and maple syrup…I would just need my needles and a straw….pleeeeeaaase!
Lynzee says
Wow! What a beautiful farm! When my husband gets back from his deployment, we plan to go on a little getaway and your inn looks like the perfect place. We love Vermont, it’s where we honeymooned and it’s next state over from us. Thank you for the giveaway!
Cheryl says
What a great giveaway! And lovely farm. thank you
Holly says
What a beautiful place to live! Yarn and real maple syrup sounds like the most comforting combination . . .
erin says
What a dream! Thank you for sharing, I hope to visit with my family one day in the future:)
Cheryl says
Wow, what a beautiful farm! Maple syrup and yarn would be quite a treat.
Rachel says
Ah yes! Perfect combination – knitting and maple syrup! 🙂