Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Sheep wagons: mobile shedworking

Sheep wagons in the US historically provided the same kind of shelter facilities as shepherds' huts have done in the UK. These attractive structures - similar to European gypsy caravans - are of course also ideal for shedworking as the fine folk at Idaho Sheep Camp point out. Run by Kim Vader, who comes from a family of sheep herders (many of them Basque - the Basques were some of the earliest sheep ranchers to use these wagons), their wagons are built in Boise Idaho. The floor and side walls are built with tongue and grove, doors in Birch and pine, as well as wood stoves. Examples are pictured above and below.Also of interest is Ogden's Sheep Camp which offers a modern version and if you're looking for a good book on the subject, Sheepwagon: Home on the Range by Nancy Weidel will be right up your street. And for more history, go to Wilson Sheep Camps.
Thanks to James Westwater for pointing me in the wagon direction

6 comments:

  1. these caravans look to big for sheep to pull them along. Would you not be better off with a horse or a team of sled dogs?

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  2. No, no, they're wagons for sheep to live in. Why should Man have all the indoor living comforts?

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  3. Anonymous9:42 PM

    These very intelligent sheep have excellent wood working skills. Very nice craftsmanship to say the least. Not baaaad. :)

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  4. Anonymous4:24 PM

    Check out Timberline Range Camps they make some great trailers www.trccamps.com

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  5. Anonymous6:58 PM

    the world is full of unemployed comics

    ReplyDelete