We were lucky to catch up with Kelly Fort recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kelly, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I learned to sew and knit at a young age from my mother, so fiber arts have always been part of my life–along with doing things by hand and for myself. My grandparents were raised on farms, so I have also felt an appreciation for and a connection to farming. My husband and I had the opportunity to move to 3 acres in a rural area about 7 years ago, so we did it. 2 years later, I retired from teaching, and we started our little fiber farm. Neither of us had experience with farming, but we decided to “figure it out”. We are still working on that! My husband still works full time, but is planning to retire in the next couple of years. He is an accomplished wood turner, and makes some of my fiber tools. On our farm, we have pygora goats (pygmy/angora cross) and valais/cross sheep which we shear twice per year. I process most of the fiber and spin most of it into yarn. We grow flax for fiber, as well. We built the tools we needed to process the flax into spinnable fiber. We also raise and process indigo for dyeing. Right now, the income from the farm comes from field trip and tour fees, and the sale of our hand made products. I am currently working on developing classes to teach to adults and kids interested in fiber arts. I guess the risk was buying this property, building the infrastructure, buying the animals(and learning to care for them, and figuring out how to have the Farm at least break even! We are still working on that part! It’s the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced, and I love every minute of it. I am truly looking forward to having my husband here to work with me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I learned to sew and knit at a young age from my mother. When my children were in high school, I learned to spin yarn on a spinning wheel, and I joined a local fiber art guild. From there, so many opportunities (or rabbit holes) opened up! I learned about dyeing fiber, took classes on spinning and weaving, and began to meet and learn about the animals that the fiber came from. I’ve always loved making things by hand, learning new skills, and learning the history of a craft. After we bought our land, we decided to raise some fiber animals, you know, for my own fiber stash. Being a former first grade teacher, I next decided to share what I learned with children and their families. At the same time, my husband and I began vending at a local farmers market and at some events. All of our items are hand made. Many items come directly from what vision our Farm. I use the mohair, wool, and flax to spin yarn. I use some of the yarn to weave cuffs or knit items. I also dye some of the yarn and some other items with the indigo we grow. We try to stay “true to the farm” using what lives and grows here to create our art. Our banner reads: Pluff Mudd Farm–Handmade Art from the Ground Up.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Buy local. Get to know the farmer/artist. Learn the story about the piece you are buying and share it.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I really want to teach people that they can make things themselves, too. I think the confidence, problem solving skills, and pride one feels after making something is so important. I also think it is missing in many people’s lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.pluffmuddfarm.com
• Instagram: Pluffmuddfarm
• Facebook: Pluffmuddfarm
• Other: SC Agritourism Association

Image Credits
Kelly Fort