When you open a tube of High Meadow Skin Care cream, you're connecting with a 60-year legacy of ethical farming, sustainable practices, and genuine care for both animals and the environment.
Morning Routines at Shady Hill Farms
The day begins early here in Newbury, Ohio. As the sun rises over our 52 acres, Ben Calkins, our farm owner, is already checking on our two flocks of Polled Dorset and Suffolk sheep. This isn't more than just a job for Ben—as a lawyer, he already has one of those. It's a passion that spans generations.
"People often ask what makes our lanolin different," Ben explains, watching the sheep graze contentedly in the morning mist. "The answer is simple: happy sheep produce better lanolin. Everything we do here is focused on creating the best possible environment for our animals."
The Shady Hill Difference
Since 1964, our family has been perfecting the art of sheep farming. When we relocated to Ohio in 1983, we brought with us four decades of experience and a commitment to doing things the right way.
Our 52-acre farm is thoughtfully designed:
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Nearly half is wooded, providing natural shelter and diverse grazing
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Rich, fertile soil produces the best feed for optimal sheep health
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Progressively expanded pastures give sheep room to roam freely
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Natural water sources and varied terrain support sheep wellbeing
Ethical Lanolin Production: What It Really Means
The term "ethical" gets thrown around a lot in the beauty and skincare industries, but here's what it actually looks like at Shady Hill Farms:
Stress-Free Environment: Our sheep live as sheep should—outdoors, in flocks, with plenty of space and natural behaviors encouraged. Stress can affect the lanolin’s quality, so our practices prioritize animal comfort.
Expert Shearing: Once a year, typically in spring, skilled shearers carefully remove the wool fleece. This process doesn't harm the sheep. In fact, it's necessary for their health and comfort, especially in Ohio's warm summers. Their wool would grow indefinitely without regular removal, with accumulating fleece creating serious health hazards that include heat stress, restricted movement, and dangerous parasite infestations that can prove deadly.
Humane Handling: Every interaction with our sheep is guided by respect and care. Our shepherds have decades of experience reading sheep behavior and ensuring their comfort.
Sustainable Practices: We use traditional farming methods refined over four decades, focusing on soil health, rotational grazing, and minimal environmental impact.
The Lanolin Extraction Process
After shearing, the real science begins. The wool contains crude lanolin, which makes up about 5-25% of the wool's weight. Our process involves:
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Careful Washing: Wool is washed in hot water with special detergents to remove dirt while preserving the lanolin
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Centrifuge Separation: High-speed separation concentrates the lanolin into a wax-like substance
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Purification: Multiple filtration and refining steps ensure pharmaceutical-grade purity
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Quality Testing: Every batch is tested to meet our strict standards
Why Source Matters
Not all lanolin is created equal. Industrial operations that prioritize quantity over quality often produce inferior lanolin from stressed animals in poor conditions. The difference shows up in your skincare results.
We say it loud and often: Quality lanolin starts with quality sheep care.
Supporting Small Family Farms
When you choose High Meadow Skin Care, you're supporting:
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A family farm that's been in continuous operation for over 50 years
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Ethical treatment of animals and sustainable farming practices
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American-made products created with traditional methods
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A business that reinvests in land stewardship and animal welfare
Seasonal Rhythms
Our work follows nature's calendar. Spring brings shearing and new lambs. Summer means long days in lush pastures. Fall involves preparing for Ohio's challenging winters. Winter gives us time to process lanolin and develop new products.
"There's something special about being connected to the land and the seasons," Ben reflects. "When people use our products, they're getting a piece of that connection."
The Future of Ethical Beauty
As consumers become more conscious about ingredient sourcing and ethical production, we're proud to offer complete transparency. Every step of our process, from pasture management to final product, reflects our commitment to doing right by our animals, our land, and our customers.
Thanks for reading. We love sharing our story and showing customers what ethical, sustainable lanolin production really looks like. Until then, know that every time you use High Meadow Skin Care, you're part of a tradition that values quality, integrity, and the gentle power of nature.
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