Coastal Off-Grid Homestead – Our First Sheep Shearing by Hand - Skote Outdoors Newfoundland

Jun 22, 2025

This week we’re deep into summer rhythm on the island, and the work keeps rolling. We start things off with our very first sheep shearing — done the old-fashioned way using traditional hand shears, just like a big pair of scissors. No machines, no shortcuts — just us, learning as we go. After the wool’s off, Kelly takes over with washing, drying, carding, and finally spinning a small batch of homemade yarn, ready to be turned into something useful down the line. With the animals trimmed up and the weather warming, we let all four goats and our three sheep out of the pen for the first time to graze freely. We walked them by hand around the island, herding them like they did back in the day — no fences, just trust. Later, we pack up the dogs and head out by boat to find a quiet beach. Kelly forages some wildflowers while I finally get my own campfire cooking segment — frying up fresh Newfoundland cod with homemade fire bread, all crisped up in scrunchion fat. We wrap up back at the kitchen table for a Q&A and a chat to close out the week. Thanks for being here with us — it means the world.