In regards to how much work it takes to raise the sheep for meat and how you could potentially spend that time else-wise that makes 'more economic sense'. I've done a bunch of farming internships and whatnot, I'm currently in charge of a 100 acres of land that is primarily hay field now with small 100 foot garden (I just started this job so I'll be managing the land a bit more) I'm also taking care of a Goat (pet), 3 sheep, 20+ chickens, 2 rabbits (pet), and 2 mules. In my small experience it is definitely more work, but as you say the benefits are many and not just economical. I once asked an old farmer if he ever wishes he had gone into some other business or worked another job and his response was. "I don't look at the labor and work that I do as a job. It is a way of life, so there is no question as to whether I want to do something else or not, it is how to live." I found that really a good way of thinking about it and have started to use that as my response whenever people find out I want to be a sustainable farmer/teacher, they always say, "Oh man that's a lot of work, and not much money." On another hand, you really can make your way of life quite lucrative (I've worked with a farmer and his partner who made over 300,000 USD gross sales a year doing micro greens in their greenhouses). The long and short of it, I really respect your gaining of said experiences =D Especially the closeness to your food, it is a really enlightening experience to be involved with the death of an animal you eat.