Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm | Juniper Moon

Written by Andrew Payne on July 12, 2010
Design, Farming, Fashion, USA

For an island of only 87.48 square miles in size and already holding a population of 15,000 year-round residents (75,000 during the summer), it actually had room for a successful working livestock farm. Well, from 2001 to 2009, the island played host to The Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm (now called Juniper Moon Farm since expanding and relocating to Virginia). Owned and operated by Susan Gibbs and her boyfriend Patrick Manning, the farm produces absolutely beautiful organically dyed wool knitting yarn.

Those who know me, know that I love yarn. Having been a sweater designer for quite a few years, the fascination with beautiful yarn never goes away.

Susie Gibbs

Working as a producer at CBS in Los Angeles and preparing to move to New York, Susie happened to come across a life-altering book, Storey’s Guide to Raising Sheep. Not being able to put the book down, she had clearly found her calling. Starting out with her first farm in Catskill, NY and moving a year later to Martha’s Vineyard to set up shop, Susie has followed her dreams and made a solid business that is both environmentally respectful and economically sound.

One of the Maremma guardian dogs keeping the peace- and some of his clients.

The farm is home to a flock of Cormo sheep and a herd of angora goats (over 100 in all)- along with two Maremma livestock guardian dogs, and is the originator of the yarn and fiber CSA (Community supported Agriculture). For those with a penchant for knitting and/or farming, but can’t find the space for a wool farm in their backyard, shares in the Juniper Moon Farm are for sale every year (so popular that there is a waiting list). It’s worth noting that all animals raised on the farm live out their full lives on the farm. None are ever eaten or sold as food.

Living the good life back on the Vineyard. I’m sure that their new home in Virginia is lovely, but that beach would have been hard to leave.