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Meridian Jacobs farm and shop are located near Vacaville, California, on the western edge of the Sacramento Valley. Our flock of 60+ Jacob sheep supply us with unique spotted wool for handspinning, knitting, and weaving. All sheep are registered with the Jacob Sheep Breeders Association (JSBA), and we sell ewes, lambs, and rams at reasonable prices. In addition to selling breeding stock and pet sheep, we also sell locker lambs. Our enthusiastic customers say that our Jacob sheep provide the best lamb they've ever eaten.
Quality fiber is the emphasis at Meridian Jacobs. We sell the wool from our Jacob sheep as fleeces, sliver (roving), yarn, and handwoven blankets and are proud of our reputation in the fiber community.
Meridian Jacobs Shop is open most Thursdays and during classes and events or by appointment. We are Ashford and Schacht dealers and carry all wheels, looms, and related products, including knitting supplies. The shop also features Robin's popular handwoven products including
rayon chenille scarves
cotton baby blankets
wool blankets (throws to king size)
cotton chenille blankets
Spinning, weaving and dyeing classes are taught at the Shop and Robin also teaches workshops off-site for guilds or other groups. New and old fiber friends gather monthly at the Shop for Spinners' Night Out.
About Jacob Sheep
The Jacob sheep is a rare breed, striking in appearance with its black (or gray) and white face, spotted fleece, and multiple horns. Both ewes and rams can have 2, 4, or 6 horns and the horns of rams may reach over 30 inches. Jacob sheep are smaller than modern domestic breeds and are resistant to many of the health problems that afflict other sheep. The wool is soft and lofty, grading in the medium-fine range, and is a favorite of handspinners. The Jacob sheep may have originated in the Middle East 3000 years ago but have been raised in England for at least 350 years. They were imported into North America for zoological parks in the early 1900’s, with more imports in the 50’s and 70’s. It was only in 1988 that enthusiasts created the Jacob Sheep Breeders Association (JSBA) to protect and conserve the breed. Robin serves as Registrar for JSBA.
Our Flock
Our flock of about 60 ewes is pastured in northern Solano County, just north of Vacaville. The sheep are shorn in the winter, before lambing time. I sort the wool into dark and light batches, wash the wool, and take it to a local mill, where it is carded and spun into a variety of soft, lofty, natural colored yarns. I weave warm, soft blankets from this yarn and also market it to other knitters, weavers and crocheters. We at Meridian Jacobs would like to welcome you to learn more about our wonderful sheep and their fabulous fiber by visiting us at one of our Open House events or by joining the Farm Club.
About Me
I am Robin Lynde, shepherd, weaver, and teacher. My husband, Dan, is in charge of infrastructure (“Honey, I need another barn.”), muscle (“uh, we need to get those 440 bales of hay into the barn before it rains.”), traffic control (“Wow! Who would have thought that so many people would show up today?”), and back-up (“I broke my ____ and need help with chores.”) Two of my three kids are away, but Chris is still at home and helps out with the items above, as well as milking his goats, etc. Meridian Jacobs is truly a family farm.
I started weaving in 1979, just as the first issue of Handwoven was being published. I was pregnant and wove a baby blanket for my son. That was the beginning of my passion for weaving. I have sold handwoven items, taught fiber classes, and raised sheep for years, but it was when we moved to our current location in 1999 that I was able to focus on a fiber career and develop Meridian Jacobs.
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