Producers
West Marin Wool Growers and Artisans are the Backbone of Our Business
Marcia Barinaga, Wool Grower
Marshall, CA
At Barinaga Ranch, Marcia Barinaga is continuing the ancient shepherding traditions of her Basque family and ancestors. Her flock of Romney, Corriedale, and Cormo-cross sheep graze year-round on about 75 acres of hilly, organically managed pastures overlooking Tomales Bay in Marin County. She raises pure-bred registered recessive-colored (black to grey) and white Romneys and in 2022 began breeding Moorit Romneys, whose color is brown-based rather than black. In addition, she has both black and white Corriedales and has crossed Corriedale ewes with Cormo rams for an even finer fiber in their cross-bred offspring. She sells Romney and Cormo/Corriedale breeding stock and a full line of natural-colored yarns as well as yarns hand-dyed with natural dyes, mostly grown on her ranch. Marcia also sells raw fleeces and roving, lambskins, blankets, and pasture-raised lamb. Most of Barinaga Ranch products are available for sale on their website and their beautiful farm yarn, natural and naturally dyed, and stunning lambskins are available at The Wool Shed in Pt. Reyes Station.
Jim Jensen, Wool Grower
Tomales, CA
Since 1856, the Jensen family has run sheep in coastal, beautiful Tomales, CA. Begun by Joseph Irvin, the ranch tradition of sheep is continued with Bill and Jim Jensen, 5th and 6th generation ranchers. Jim Jensen also works for Marin Agricultural Land Trust, and has begun implementing carbon farming plans on the land. Their Dorset wool, crossed with Suffolk and Columbia, is part of the Climate Beneficial Wool Pipeline, and is sent to Frankenmuth Woolen Mill in Michigan to be processed and made into wool bedding – pillows, comforters and mattress toppers – and dryer balls. This 100% wool bedding can be purchased at The Wool Shed or ordered online from the Frankenmuth Woolen Mill. These local wool based products are also sold through Coyuchi and Full Circle Wool.
Ruthie King, Grazer
Willits, CA
Headwaters Grazing is a multi faceted operation including targeted grazing services, grass finished lamb and beef as a part of a Meatshare Program and for sale at a Farm Stand, wool products such as yarn, roving, and sheepskins, and the occasional workshop or event hosting. The flock is made up of Icelandic and Targhee sheep, protected by their guardian donkey, moving fluidly throughout a variety of Mendocino County’s diverse ecosystems. They are based out of Ridgewood Ranch where they collaborate closely with New Agrarian Collective, School of Adaptive Agriculture, and Golden Rule Gardens. The Wool Shed carries Headwaters Grazing multi-colored sheepskins, which are naturally tanned in Oregon, and some of their amazing Icelandic Lopi yarn.
Marcail McWilliams
Woodland, CA
Valley Oak Wool and Fiber Mill, located in Woodland, California, opened their doors in November 2017. This local mill is run by Marcail McWilliams, and process (washes, cards, pin drafts into roving and spins into yarn) wool that is grown in the area. Valley Oak is one of the few remaining local wool mills in Northern California that are essential to the processing of local wool into product. Much of the local yarn sold at The Wool Shed is processed by Marcail. If you are interested in custom processing please check out their website.
Mimi Luebbermann , Educator
Chileno Valley, CA
Windrush Farm is a working sheep farm in Chileno Valley, California. Founded in 1995 by Mimi Luebbermann, the farm grew from an intention of living simply, farming fiber, and functioning as a quiet space for Luebbermann’s longstanding writing career. With the help of Mimi’s son, Arann Harris, Windrush Farm has since evolved into an educational facility educating and entertaining Bay Area children and adults about farm life, wool, and the real world of animals, grass and sunshine. Throughout the year Mimi Luebbermann and Marlie De Swart teach fiber classes using wool from the sheep on the farm. Classes are held in the farm’s original barn turned classroom. Surrounded by 24 acres and the farm’s animals they teach classes in spinning, plying, dyeing, specialized spinning, the Fleece to Garment class, and more. The Wool Shed carries Windrush Farm yarns, stunning woven Alpaca Rugs and one-of-a-kind pasture pads, made from felted fleeces. For more information on classes, events and products from Windrush Farm, please go to their website.