* HOST: From the pasture to the Did you know, that goats can That some farmers can spin And that chickens love to snack Don't go anywhere, stories about and fiber are coming up next ANNOUNCER: Major funding for is made possible in part by...

The Maryland Grain Producers Investing in smarter farming and affordable food, feed, Additional funding Maryland's Best: Good for You, Rural Maryland Council, for rural Maryland... MARBIDCO: Helping to sustain for future generations... A grant from the Maryland Specialty Crop Block Program... Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit: and Rural America... Brought to you in part by from the Cornell Douglas The Maryland Soybean Board Progress Powered by Farmers... Wegmans Food Market: Healthier, The Maryland Association of And by...

The Maryland Nursery Landscape The Maryland Seafood The Maryland Farm Bureau The Keith Campbell Foundation And by... Closed Captioning has been made empowering those who are deaf, or speech disabled to stay * HOST: As the story goes, here in Westminster got its name climbed a hill, "That's a broad view" Hi, I'm Joanne Clendining Maryland Farm and Harvest .

I hope you like cute animals is full of them.

We've got goats, sheep, Coming up, we see sheep's wool beautiful colors.

But first, but how would you like to climbing all over you?

We see how one Maryland farmer * Close your eyes, and let these cute companions in Liberty Town, do the rest.

CHRISTY YINGLING: When we start this is animal therapy and yoga.

So, do what you want, JOANNE: In 2018, "Goat for the Soul," and experienced life on the farm with a few furry friends.

CHRISTY: There are so many and the body's reaction, within your body.

How it's a stress reliever.

It lowers the blood pressure.

JOANNE: Known as "Caprini This interactive exercise became and ever since working out with across the globe.

JENNIFER CARPENTER: Slow rise to the top.

Hands will stretch out to the exhale hands through GRACE YINGLING: During yoga do anything the goats So some of them pick somebody and won't budge, JOANNE: While, The naturally curious baby goats complete with a few snuggle, These playful participants And in return, they're a joyful CHRISTY: We have some goats so they go from person to person JOANNE: And, there's always that aren't in the mood until their bellies are full.

CHRISTY: We have other goats and they're just munching And that's fine too.

JOANNE: The Yingling family their farm up close Especially when it comes to They've been breeding goats back in 1999.

CHRISTY: We started goats.

Initially, we love to sell our goats to goat projects of their own.

That's what, JOANNE: In addition Christy is able to share her joy while promoting wellness CHRISTY: If you'd asked me if I would be doing goat, I probably would've said no.

It was a natural evolution And I hear a lot of people say, well, your kids aren't in Why are you still doing goats?

It's because I love them.

JOANNE: Grace and her brother but their love and for the farm have continued JENNIFER: The kids have been in the farm since they were GRACE: They got fed hay And they've got to have Their hooves grow just So, they've got to have the to have their hooves trimmed.

They've got to have vaccines CHRISTY: It's a non-stop And if you're going to have you can't ignore it.

JOANNE: And when it's time all hands are on board.

Regardless of where the class a temporary outdoor studio When installing the fence, to participants is important CLAY YINGLING: So, of the fencing here, we'll have in there, that we'll have in there, for the yoga to be accomplished.

But also the goats to be while they're doing the yoga.

JENNIFER: Keep the elbows inhale, lift the chest.

JOANNE: Jennifer Carpenter outdoors on the farm, four legged friends.

JENNIFER CARPENTER: They're really independent.

There are a lot of fun, huh?

Very socially animals, JOANNE: For those who need they have the luxury to simply JENNIFER: It's just a way for They don't even have to They can just play with GABRIEL GONZALE: This was I not only, a, ever thought to but also the first time, And it was a blast.

It was a lot of fun.

I really enjoyed it.

JOANNE: The most popular and the kids is always The excitement of having a is contagious.

It's the highlight of everyone's especially when a goat shows VALENTINA MUNOZ: This is my I had an amazing time.

The weather was amazing.

The location is beautiful.

All the goats are so cute.

JOANNE: There's no doubt that a fulfilling experience longtime yoga enthusiasts VALENTINA: I had no idea, coming into this, even better than what I would It's better than therapy.

Thank you, Flower.

JOANNE: Do you want to see more Well, we've got plenty on our Be sure to check them out and And did you know, yoga has been but goat yoga has only been * JOANNE: All right.

It's time to test your Here is our thingamajig DO you think, Well, here's a hint.

It's not for cracking crabs.

Stay tuned and we'll have the Even though, we never get tired of asking of their cutest animals to our Enjoy as we look at all farm * JOANNE: The dictionary defines or ashamed.

But as you'll see at our there's nothing sheepish about * JOANNE: Lisa Westra, didn't You could say, LISA WESTRA: our tenants actually and they left, We didn't know anything about but we did know that they needed So, we had this shearer who was And I was totally joking.

I said, "Hey guys, and I'll totally make yarn out And that Christmas under the that's kind of how it started.

It's been a rabbit hole JOANNE: As the owner of she raises a flock of about into beautiful yarns.

You might think all wool feels but different breeds produce in texture, color, and density.

LISA: We have about 10 varieties different qualities, of some Some of them are good for Some have double coated fleeces, more denser locks.

JOANNE: After the sheep get Lisa spends many days milling Thanks to modern milling she can produce significantly been possible with traditional * The first step in the milling "pin drafting."

This machine thins the fibers consistent yarn.

For every foot of wool that goes five feet will be drawn out LISA: The second step is So, I take the fiber and I feed and through the rollers.

And then, use the leader that's that's coming through And hopefully, it doesn't break JOANNE: Once, Lisa then moves the single over to the plier machine.

This is where she turns into a stronger two plied yarn.

LISA: The final step before is the skein winder.

One revolution is actually, So, there's a counter on it.

And I can set the counter to on that skein.

JOANNE: Next, these yarns, Though, it can get pretty steamy This space is where Lisa's truly come to life.

LISA: The first step is to soak I put the citric acid in the pot make sure it's nice And then, I'll put the dampened but not just plop it down I kind of want to roll the yarn so that all parts of the yarn kind of all at once.

JOANNE: When it's ready to the wool has absorbed the dye LISA: So, after we take I'll put it out on some and it'll dry within 15, And during the winter time, with some fans inside.

JOANNE: The yarn at Feeder Brook unique colors.

Lisa collects inspiration from LISA: A lot of times, I'll be or I'll be watching the nature a beautiful photograph that strike me.

And I have to have that in what it looks like.

Sometimes, I pair colors conventionally paired just to JOANNE: These beautiful yarns crocheters, and artists Watching her fibers be flock of sheep into or a colorful winter scarf, LISA: I never stopped learning.

There's always something else Some, some other blend, different techniques that So, it holds my interest.

JOANNE: As of 2017, had over 23,000 sheep and lambs.

And did you know, humans have since 400 BCE?

From spinning wool to corn mazes agritourism is big business but it wasn't always that way.

Let's look at the history of then, and now.

* JOANNE: In the 1800s, farmers into a form of recreation.

Increasing city populations to escape to the country and the offered a way to get them there.

Farmers welcomed these city try their hands at picking, and helping out with But it was after World War II, or agritourism, The growing middle-class had Making leaving the suburbs and petting zoos easier JOANNE: In recent years.

Two thirds of the more than per year have hailed from Farms have continued adding new and bed and breakfast days rural life.

Agritourism Also benefits a different source of revenue.

In southern Maryland, where many away from raising tobacco, between 2007 and 2012.

In 2017 agritourism generated in sales and supported over across the state of Maryland.

With nearly 300 farms as diverse as berry picking, there's something for everyone JOANNE: Coming up... AL Spoler is home on But before we go to Al, of how they got into the but most have something They love their work.

Hear them explain why * JOSH ERNST: The reason why the challenge, I guess, when I got out of high school I wasn't 100% sure if it's what but it's all I've known, I just liked the challenge of and making improvements.

KAYLA GRIFFITH: My parents and and they really instilled And after I spent about and working as a scientist, that I wanted to come back, and be with my family ALISON ROSTAD: For me...farming your daily like, So while, we have busy seasons it's still an escape for me I enjoy doing that and TOPE FAJINGBESI: There isn't physically, and mentally that provides food.

Farming is that and more.

It's not just the fact that But, the fact that people trust that they would buy something It's just something connecting And I like, human connection.

JOANNE: For many farmers, includes a love of nature.

In this week's local buy, visits a free range farm.

That's working to keep the soil and healthy.

Al!

* AL SPOLER: Nestled in a fertile in Anne Arundel county, Morris Hill Farm, holds a wide variety of animals.

DAVE HABERKORN: This year, we're 300 laying hens, 50 pigs, And we have a flock of 18 sheep.

I that think that's it.

AL: They own 13 acres and just down the road.

It's an impressive amount and get this they're all When we talk about free range we don't mean fence free.

Behind me is a cluster of that are portable.

They measure 10 feet by 12 feet about 75 birds.

Now, once a day, tug on these things and so that the birds have a new, It's a farming concept called DAVE: Rotational grazing is the best out of the land before AL: To do that.

A pasture is divided into which can then be easily moved to another.

DAVE: Being able to rotate really just makes the difference AL: And letting the ground to this farms success.

This may look like an ordinary but if you get way down into it there's a veritable jungle It's filled with dozens, just crawling around.

It's all fine dining for * Well, I can't help but notice are just beautiful.

They're nice and clean.

They look healthy as can be.

VICKI HABERKORN: I think that I mean, chickens by nature So, they're designed and little lizards, And I think that it does produce better quality meat.

DAVE: And then, we realized it and just all in all good for us.

And for them.

AL: Rotational grazing is distributed naturally And that's also, DAVE: We don't have We don't have risk of or anything like that.

AL: That's especially important a Stone's throw from The manure stays in the pasture, the soil, VICKI: When I get positive it just makes everything Um, it really means so much that what we're doing.

AL: Well...Dave, we've had on this show, but we don't have This looks really good.

What kind of duck is it?

DAVE: It's a Peking duck.

AL: Oh, that's classic.

That's a great eating duck.

And how did you prepare it?

DAVE: It's the easiest recipe You score the breasts, olive oil.

In a Dutch oven, in the oven AL: That's all?

DAVE: That's all you got to do.

AL: That's amazing.

And I guess all the fat DAVE: Yes, it does.

AL: Any special seasonings DAVE: The flavor and the duck It just needs salt, pepper, AL: I'm going to try some.

Any extra feed that they get DAVE: We use a non GMO feed from but I think the pasture rotation of the animal.

AL: Oh man, this, Very moist.

Well, well done.

DAVE: Thank you.

AL: Well, we'd like to get and we're going to put it on mpt.org/farm.

So, you can try it at home.

For the Local Buy, Joanne!

JOANNE: Thanks, Al.

Be sure to check out to get all our local buy recipes online as well.

Also, don't forget to for show updates, pictures, Now, hold on... We're not done yet.

Remember our thingamajig.

Did you guess it?

Our hint was that it's not These are a set of fence pliers.

This specialized tool can cut It can hammer things out of fence posts.

Congratulations, Join us next week for another along with more stories about passionate people who I'm Joanne Clendining.

Thanks for watching.

Closed Captioning has been made empowering those with to stay connected.

* ANNOUNCER: Major funding for is made possible in part by...

The Maryland Grain Producers Investing in smarter farming and affordable food, feed, Additional funding Maryland's Best: Good for You, Rural Maryland Council, for rural Maryland.

MARBIDCO: Helping to sustain for future generations... A grant from the Maryland Specialty Crop Block Program... Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit: and Rural America... Brought to you in part by from the Cornell Douglas The Maryland Soybean Board Progress Powered by Farmers... Wegmans Food Market: Healthier, The Maryland Association of and by the Maryland and Greenhouse Association...

The Maryland Seafood The Maryland Farm Bureau The Keith Campbell Foundation And by... [sheep & goat sounds] *