SANDRA BENNETT
Located in the Cove section of Tazewell County, Virginia, Thistle Cove Farm is the last remaining 30 acres of a production family farm that dates to before the War Between the States. This valley has been farmed much the same way since the late 1700's and some area farms are being farmed by the 7th and 8th generation.

In 1995, Sandra Bennett and husband Dave bought the farm, named it Thistle Cove Farm and set about restoring the farmhouse to its former beauty. They reclaimed the land and outbuildings as a working homestead and use sustainable agricultural practices to lessen their impact upon the land.

Says Sandra, “Our small flock consists of Romney, Shetland (a rare and primitive breed), Merino and crosses who eat only whole corn and alfalfa hay produced on the farm and drink mountain spring water. Everything begins with our animals and the care they receive. Thistle Cove Farm is a no kill, low stress farm and the animals respond by producing incredible wool. Our sheep fleeces are long, with an incredible handle and beautiful crimp making them an absolute joy to process, spin, knit, crochet or weave. Our fleeces have received the Virginia’s Finest seal of approval which means our wool has met quality standards established by industry experts and approved by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Thistle Cove Farm is only the third farm in the Commonwealth to receive this designation.

"Our sheep are sheared the third Saturday in April by Clinton Bell, a neighbor and fellow shepherd who has one of the largest flocks of Suffolk and Suffolk crosses in the Commonwealth and has been shearing for four decades. Clinton shears the sheep and I skirt the fleece; which means I pick out the worst of the dirt and other debris. Once that’s accomplished, the fleeces are packed in boxes to be sent for further processing. I usually keep a few choice, select fleeces for hand spinning, dyeing and then knitting or weaving.

"I work with a small, family-owned and operated mill to process my fleeces. Once the fleece arrives at the mill, it’s washed to remove lanolin, dirt and other organic materials and is then sent through a carding machine to prepare the wool for spinning or roving.

"Depending upon the year and what we need, the wool clip is either processed into blankets, lap rugs, yarn and, sometimes, roving (cleaned wool ready for hand spinning). All our woolen products are made from 100% virgin wool, meaning that the wool has never been used to first make something else. If you don’t see the 100% virgin wool label, it’s possible that particular item started out in life as a carpet!”