FROM PASTURE TO FINISHED GOOD
Aurora is a working merino farm and regional fiber mill in Central Vermont, turning local wool into finished goods.
vermont wool roots
Our passion for wool started with our own herd of sheep. We then learned about the deep history of Merino in Vermont—the first state where this hardy breed landed—in Weathersfield, VT in 1811. As Napoleon swept across Europe, the Spanish government sold off prized herds of Merino sheep for emergency funds. Spain’s loss was Vermont’s gain, and soon, a craze for the uniquely warm wool from these amazing animals swept the country. Vermont was the epicenter for raising Merino sheep, and by 1840, there were nearly 1.5 million sheep in Vermont. As so often happens, the industry had not been grown sustainably, and collapsed due to price undercuts from cheaper Western suppliers and unfavorable tariffs.
A Movement to Bring Merino Back Home to Vermont
Now, we at Aurora are part of a growing movement to bring shepherding, and particularly Merino sheep, back to Vermont. We take great pride and joy in raising our own Merino sheep, and processing all manner of fine wool from small and medium herds across the Northeast. Every product we make is a direct reflection of our unique climate, sheep, and experiences as farmers and stewards of Dodge Farm.
ABOUT DODGE FARM
Aurora Fiber Mill operates from Dodge Farm in Berlin, Vermont — home to our merino flock, fiber mill, and dye workspace. Here, wool moves from pasture to processing in one continuous system, allowing for traceability and hands-on stewardship at every stage. The mill also serves farms across the region, providing essential infrastructure to keep Northeast-grown fiber viable, local, and connected to the land it comes from.
Dodge Farm is our family homestead and the source of much inspiration, respite, and purpose. We restored and renovated the barn and home structure by hand over a number of years, and it is the place our family - Kristen, Loren, and our two daughters - calls home, happily. Many family members and dear friends are involved in Aurora’s operation, and we are honored to be carrying on the Vermont tradition of working hard to make honest products in this special landscape.
OUR PROCESS
THE FLOCK
THE CLIP
WASHING + CARDING
THE DYE POT
SPINNING + FINISHING
THE FINISHED GOOD
Roving is spun into yarn or prepared for felting, then crafted into Aurora's small-batch woolens — vests, hats, sauna hats, booties — designed for warmth and daily use in a northern climate.
Every Aurora Made piece carries the full journey — from the sheep on the hill to the mill, the dye pot, and your hands. Traceable, minimally processed, made to last.
Raw fleece is skirted, sorted, and prepared for processing. Aurora also sources clip from trusted farms across Vermont and New York, paid at sustainable prices that support the future of fine wool in the Northeast.
Aurora's merino sheep are raised on Dodge Farm in Berlin, Vermont. Each spring, the flock is shorn by hand — and the journey from pasture to finished good begins.
Whenever possible, Aurora works with natural dyes grown or gathered locally — weld, indigo, madder. Each batch reflects the inherent variation of natural materials, resulting in tones that feel grounded and alive.
Fleece is washed to remove lanolin and field debris, then carded into roving — long, airy ropes of aligned fiber ready for spinning or felting. Low-impact throughout.
