Exploring Life & Business with Jeff & Melissa Roessing of Black Sheep Shelter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff & Melissa Roessing.  

Hi Jeff & Melissa, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
While looking for property in the country, we drove by a beautiful brick farmhouse built in 1872. The property looked a little abandoned, so we pulled into the driveway and peeked around. We came to find out that it was sold to a couple the year before. Tragically the husband passed of a heart attack, and the wife did not wish to go through with his dream of making this second property a Bed and Breakfast and Venue. She sold us the property and has cheered us on to carry out the vision of her husband. We moved into the brick farmhouse in January of 2018. Melissa continued to work in Holland as a social worker, and Jeff left his position as director of Eighth Day Farm to do renovations on the property for the next three years. The first year was cutting back a jungle of brush and small trees and battling woodchucks. The second year, half of a barn was taken down, a new electrical service and new well were installed. Concrete was poured, a bar, an area for caterers, and dressing rooms all came in 2019. Two ADA-compliant restrooms were created out of a 20′ shipping container in 2020, and the venue opened just as Covid-19 locked everything down. Thankfully the venue is open air, barn-like pavilion, an outdoor space, allowing couples to still gather and wed starting in July of 2020. The 2021 and 2022 seasons were packed with events, and we continue to reinvest in the venue. Most recently, in 2022, a modern glasshouse was constructed as our new dance floor. The glasshouse keeps with the botanical theme that permeates the property. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Launching in the summer of 2020 was a bit scary. We were reinvesting all incoming monies into the infrastructure of the property and venue, and for a short while, we were afraid we would not be able to host weddings that season. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Black Sheep Shelter. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Black Sheep Shelter is a wedding venue bounded by trees, fields, and multiple gardens. Adjacent to the venue rests a 2-acre organic hobby farm, reflecting our previous work as urban farmers. Our love of art is paired with our love for nature, and we enjoy spending our summers tending the gardens and the landscape. The venue is designed to be as eco-friendly as possible, and it offers guests the opportunity to feel truly immersed in nature. The space is available for rent starting mid-May and going through the middle of October. 

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
In regards to risk-taking, our friends consider us adventurous, entrepreneurial types, and that may be the case. But we feel like our risk-taking is very calculated, and the impetus to pursue a vision requires a relatively low risk with a high reward. The reward doesn’t have to be financial; for us it is more about carving out freedom of time. We recommend the author Nassim Taleb’s work on these matters (all his books in the Incerto series deal with risk and decision making and they are genius). 

Pricing:

• 2024 Friday rental $3000
• 2024 Saturday rental $4200
• 2024 Sunday rental $2200

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theblacksheepshelter.com
• Instagram: blacksheepshelter

Image Credits
Stephanie Parshall Photography
Kristy Nadine Photography
Annie Beenen Blanding Photography
Jillian Bowes Photography
Tylee Shay Photography
Abby Hyma Photography
Jeff & Melissa Roessing
Lara Parent Photography