Page 4 - Chehalem Business Connection - March 2014

Chehalem Business Connection
Page 4 March 2014

Turning personal passion into product

Dolce Farm and Orchards
Delaware chickens, grapes, assorted

Wberries and hazelnuts as well.
started for owners, now a
“Then I thought, well we like

eggs, so maybe we should get chick- thriving business

ens. We tried lavender, but that was
a lot of work so we were not so in- ith a quick “sheep, sheep,

terested in that,” she said. “We sheep,” 15 wooly Ice-
thought maybe we would plant olive landic creatures come

trees, but then it got to be 10 degrees running. The others, in a separate
and a lot of them died. So then we pasture, turn their heads, but contin-

thought, well maybe we’ll try hazel- ue feasting on their morning meal.

nuts instead. So you just try different As the “ladies” approach, Anne
things that might be of interest.”
Brown points out the varying coat

colors. They range from shades of While parts of the farm are still
black and brown to red and cream, developing, like the hazelnut or-

with varied patterns within each.
chards, selling eggs and jam has kept
the farm busy of late.
“They come in different colors

and patterns, some have horns and “I have people driving great dis-
Icelandic sheep are prized for their gentle demeanor and their wool, which ranges in shades from black and brown to red and
process, they like to process from
some don’t. They’re very curious tances to come and get them,” she cream.
and intelligent sheep,” said Brown, said. “The eggs just really have a start to finish,” she said in early Jan-
uary. “I send a lot out for roving. It’s
who owns Dolce Farm and Or- wonderful flavor.”
chards.
already washed (and formed into a As do her jams, which she said

rope) so all you have to do is spin.”
She and her husband Kevin have she likes to experiment with since
had their farm for more than 10 Although she’s been selling the she produces such small batches.

years, and although the different wool for years, she said she got the Some flavors include caramelized
sheep for herself.
products they offer have changed, pear, golden raspberry and apple but-
the one constant has been Icelandic ter.
“It’s like, what do you like to do?

sheep.
Well I’ve always liked to eat lamb But the most noticeable aspect of
From her flock of 25, she sells and knit so I thought well I can learn the farm is still the sheep, and three

raw wool, roving, pelts, meat and to spin, but what kind of sheep am I Pygora goats. “They’re naughty-
sometimes the entire sheep.
going to get?” Brown said. “So I pants,” she said.

spun 15 different kinds and I really “I sell raw fleeces because a lot of To learn more about Dolce Farm,
liked Icelandic.”
spinners or people that craft like to or purchase wool, visit www.dolce
go from the very beginning of the
That’s how she came to have 50
farm.com or on.fb.me/1lFgR39.
VDolce Farm and Orchards sells raw wool, roving, pelts,
meat and sometimes the entire sheep.
S

Valley View Tractor closes its doors
Store shuttered Feb. 28, owner’s reason for closing twofold
Primozich: Bringing leadership and

experience to the job
alley View Tractor & of semi-retirement, which would
tan Primozich has been a the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam Equipment, Inc. closed its allow for more family time, and

financial professional with War.
doors Feb. 28. closing the business while it re-
Prudential for more than 30 “I am committed to the livability
Owner Steve Roy said the deci- mained profitable.
years and has served on its board of of Yamhill County. I believe the safe-
sion was difficult to make, espe- “The employees are already

directors, he spent 22 years on the ty and well-being of cially as 2013 was fielding job offers
McMinnville School District board all citizens is the pri- a record year for from various

of directors and on the board of the mary duty of elected sales.
“Just because you have increased sales other places and
Oregon School Board Association.
officials at all levels that doesn’t mean you have increased the customers are “We made our

of government,” Pri- He has also been involved with profits or (are) making enough profit to being referred to
decision to close
mozich said. “I will
the administrative council of Court sustain the company over the long term.”
on Jan. 20,” he said. “Just because other locally-owned businesses in
Appointed Special Advocates work tirelessly to promote a robust you have increased sales that does- the area,” he said. “The service de-

(CASA), as a volunteer at St. James economic environment. The unem- n’t mean you have increased prof- partment has already closed and
Catholic Church, is co-founder of the ployed in our county need jobs. We its or (are) making enough profit the price of the current inventory

St. Vincent DePaul food pantry and do not need more taxes and fees. I to sustain the company over the has been reduced.”
the McMinnville Wine & Food Clas- am a proven leader focused on a long term.”
Now that the store has closed,

sic. Primozich served four years in
strong economy for Yamhill County.”
Roy added that the primary rea- there will be a garage sale March

son for closing was a combination
1-2 for any remaining inventory.