Celebrate Maple Weekend with spring lambs at Ramblin' Vewe Farm

GILFORD ― Enjoy a fun family outing in March during New Hampshire Maple Weekend, this year slated for March 21-22, at Ramblin‘ Vewe Sheep Farm in Gilford.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., guests are allowed access to a sheep barn full of spring lambs. This is a great time for photos and learning about the sheep families. Jeff Keyser, manager of the farm, will be available in the sugar house for questions. His wife, Joyce, will be working in the farm stand, Shepherd’s Hut Market, where she will be selling this year’s maple syrup and other maple goodies.

Jeff has been farm manager and shepherd at this extraordinary sheep farm for 39 years. He is the person who not only keeps the sheep, but grows and sells hay, raises chickens, and this time of year, collects and boils sap into wonderful maple syrup. While it is not a huge maple operation, he is glad to discuss the maple production during your visit. This year he is adding to his sugar house in an effort to improve production.

Joyce opened Shepherd’s Hut Market in 2013 and it has become the place to go for fresh farm eggs, lamb, needle felting equipment and wool, 100% wool yarn and hand-spun yarn, maple syrup, wool blankets and a variety of other food items. During the pre-Christmas season she does local and regional fairs selling a line of potholders, oven mitts, heating pads and more hand sewn items. She is also the chief egg boxer and marketer at home.

Selling out of the farm house in the winter, Joyce is glad to finally be able to open her store for Maple Month. Despite the cold, she will have the heater going.

This year the store will be open not only NH Maple Weekend, but also March 7-8 and March 15-16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and March 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments can also be made. 

“We have been doing this for years now, and each year has difficulties, but with lambing almost over, and Jeff finally having time to tap, we should have a great deal of maple syrup for all the folks who stop by. It is one of the busiest times for Jeff,” said Joyce. “The most enjoyable times are the ones when we can chat with our customers and friends that stop by. I think people appreciate not just the beauty of this farm, but the joy of seeing how it operates. The lambs are always a big hit. There are folks who stop by year after year and we really appreciate them.”

Ramblin’ Vewe Sheep Farm and Shepherd’s Hut Market are located at 637 Morrill Street in Gilford. For more information, or an appointment to come by during the week, contact Joyce Keyser at 603-393-4696.