A Fiber Life | ordinary moments on the fiber farm

We’ve lost 6 animals in the last 3 years on our farm: five guanacos and one goat. Now, as a therapist, I’ve sat with so many dear clients in the grips of death and tragedy and the pain that floods in when we lose loved ones. And I’ve faced my fair share of grief personally. But when my goat Milo died, I was hit like a brick. You’d think that my familiarity with grief and loss would help me when Milo and our 5 guanacos died. But it didn’t. And after talking it through with Greg and some other special people, I’ve come to understand that this new loss experience was different than the others I’ve experienced in the past. It was different because it didn’t come with a ready-made ritual or a way to communicate what happened. There was no Shiva or Wake, or even a plan for what to do after we said ‘goodbye.’ There was no narrative or story to provide comfort. And I needed that. I needed a story and a ritual that soothed me. Because without that, I was just left with unresolved sadness and a nagging feeling of not knowing what to do if it happened again. Honestly, I was just ready to quit the whole thing because it was all too much.So, I went on a mission to find the answer. To make a story. To create a ritual that provides comfort and solace. And I actually found one. The Full Transcript can be found at www.afiberlife.comThis podcast is a production of the Bright Sighted Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is about waiting for the birth of our guanacos. It’s my hope that this episode helps you see waiting as a normal part of life, in this case, a whole new life. Because as you may already know, every one of us is waiting for something. Life is filled with waiting. I don’t know anyone who likes to wait. And, everyone copes with waiting differently. It’s also impossible to end waiting. This concept seemed to hit me when it came time for our guanacos to give birth. Episode Highlights: How can you tell if a guanaco is pregnant? What it’s like to wait for the birth of a baby guanaco called a chulengaListen to the actual birth of a chulenga sounds likeWhat happens in the moments right after a chulenga is born? Nature vs Human Interaction: How much should farmers be involved? What waiting tells us about life. Read the Full Episode and Transcript HERE. Connect with Lisa Mitchell:Website: www.afiberlife.comInstagram: @afiberlifeFacebook: @alientoluxuryfiberfarmListen To These Episodes Next: Ep 5: Guanacos In Love? (What Breeding Taught Us) Ep 4: The Great Guanaco EscapeEp 1: How It Started See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans are no different than guanacos or sheep or any other animal that finds comfort in the presence of others. We rely on each other for help and support, warmth and protection. But as humans, sometimes it’s difficult to ask for help and support.In this episode, we dive into the question: “Why is it so hard to connect with others and create a sense of community?” I share the beginnings of what may become a vibrant fiber producers guild, and introduce you to my partner in this endeavor, Katie Whitlock. Our new friend, Brittany Bobbit, gets recruited to our Mud Support Group. And Greg and I talk about our very slow progress on a goal we set in 2020. So, if you wish for more connection and a sense of community, like we do, join us. Maybe something we say will inspire you to take some steps yourself. The Full Transcript can be found at www.afiberlife.comThis podcast is a production of the Bright Sighted Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes the best things in life are about the process, not the product. Working with your hands vs. working with your mind. In this episode, I sit down with several spinners to understand their motivation and love for the art. In this episode, I’m telling you about how I ditched a product-led, checklist kind of life, and learned to engage more with the everyday process of living. I talk with others living that life. Josefine Waltin is a Swedish fiber artist who teaches students to spin by teaching them her philosophy of connection with raw fiber. And Kim Biegler of Ewethful Fiber Farm and Mill tells us about the realization when she rescued a 400 lb bale of Suffolk wool from being burned by the shepherd who needed room in his barn. Greg and I share about the transformation that’s happened to our hands, and how going from using our brains, to using our hands has improved us for the better.The Full Transcript can be found at www.afiberlife.comThis podcast is a production of the Bright Sighted Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the last episode of season 2. In this episode, I dive into the question, why do I write this podcast? What does reflection of this kind mean to me and others? And when the magic seems dimmed, how can we get it back? I talk to Laura Davis, author, writing teacher and retreat leader about the act of writing and its healing potential especially when it’s shared with others. Greg and I reflect on the podcast season and our farm life. And you won’t want to miss this—while at the beach where something very, very special happens. I’ll take stock of where things are right now on the farm, and show you how writing really does lead to magic. So if you are feeling like you can’t see the forest through the trees, like you need to have some time to breath, this episode is for you.If you’d like to attend the same retreat I attended, Writing as a Pathway, with writer and author Laura Davis, the next one is coming up later this summer at a beautiful retreat center in northern California. I highly recommend Laura’s retreat as a safe, supportive place for dealing with grief, change or life transitions of any kind: https://lauradavis.net/writing-as-a-pathway/For more on Laura, visit her website here:https://lauradavis.net/