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Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Over the past 5 months, I have introduced alpacas to 4-H groups from all over Michigan, had several farm visits, attended two craft shows where I sold alpaca products, and hosted two open houses. Many people had never seen an alpaca before. Many people commented on how expensive they are. The question that came up at every event I was at - "What are alpacas worth?".
With each person asking this question, I was able to provide lots of valuable (I hope!) information. I told them the price of different animals on my farm, ranging from fiber boys to color champions. I explained the cost of hay and grain, the cost of shearing, normal medical expenses, show expenses, etc. I also walked them through ways that alpacas can be a source of income, ranging from a farm store to selling items at craft shows to selling animals. I talked to them about the co-ops, fiber shows, internet marketing. Some of these discussions were quite enjoyable and motivated me to think of other creative ideas for marketing and selling alpaca products. Some of these discussions involved me talking while the older farmer disagreed with everything that I said and then both of us kind of walking away shaking our heads.
I believe for most of us, alpacas are not going to make us wealthy. Income from an alpaca farm can provide an additional source of income. For me, it is a great part-time job (although it often requires full-time and over-time hours!!).
Today at the barn, I was reminded that alpacas, actually, are priceless. There is no way to put a value on the changes they can create within us. I took a few extra minutes this morning to sit in the barn while everyone was munching on their hay. Kale, our 3 week old little guy, came over to hang out with me. He cushed close, but not too close. After several minutes, he was okay with me moving closer and then reaching out to scratch under his chin. He let me scratch his chin and neck for a while. His eyes were getting heavier and he finally laid his head in my lap and took a nap. All of my worries, all of my frustrations disappeared. I felt very calm and peaceful. Everything swarming around in my head suddenly quieted and it was just me, sitting on the barn floor with a cria sleeping in my lap. Some people go on vacations or to spas to relax, some pay for therapy to help deal with problems, some use alcohol to escape from reality. I simply have to walk down to the barn! How can you put a price on happiness? I know there are still bills to pay, decisions to make, hectic schedules to figure out, but spending a bit of quiet time in the barn surrounded by these peaceful, trusting animals enables me to face life with a bit of sanity.
Okay, then I had to get a little crazy - no normal, healthy alpaca would fall asleep in my lap! Something must be wrong...I jumped, Kale jumped, the alpacas around me were a bit startled. Kale was fine, he really was just sleeping. Even though I broke the spell of the moment, I know that there is a peaceful place waiting for me, welcoming me whenever I have the time.
For me, alpacas are a lifestyle that brings peace to an otherwise crazy world. And that is impossible to put a price on.
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Sunday, September 04, 2011
The boys of Wind Crest Alpaca Ranch...
These are our guys, the animals that have done PR work for our farm, our herdsires and some of our favorite animals.
FPA Abacus is our big herdsire. We co-own him with Flying Pony Alpacas. His first cria will hit the ground in Sept 2011. Abacus is an awesome animal. He's the one we actually look forward to working with. Shots and nails? No problem, he will often lift his foot for us, just to make it easier to trim his nails. He is very mellow and calm. He did well in the show ring, has great fiber and excellent conformation.
Draco, Leo and Phoenix were all born on our farm. Leo has been my daughter's favorite animal since he was born. He and Phoenix share a pasture with Abacus and are all basically calm guys. They travel to schools and other public places with us and usually are very well behaved on these outings. Draco is a bit more nervous when he leaves the farm, so he usually stays behind to keep an eye on things.
Andretti is our only suri. He is our largest animal, weighing 195 pounds. He also travels with Leo and Phoenix and is probably the best behaved of the three.
Redford and Zephyr are part of our original herd. They are great watch animals and alert us to anything unusual.
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Sunday, August 07, 2011
In my next entry, I will introduce the males of Wind Crest Alpaca Ranch. For today...
RIP Officer Ryan McCandless.
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Friday, August 05, 2011
I guess it's time that I introduce the girls...
We currently have 8 females living at Wind Crest Alpaca Ranch. Sangria, my personal favorite, has two daughters, Vallencia and Callisto. Val has a two month old female cria, Selene, and is bred to Abacus. Callisto is our fabulous color and reserve color champion light fawn female. She also is bred to Abacus. Sangria is currently at Flying Pony Alpacas in PA for a breeding to Lancaster. It's great to get new and different genetics on the farm, but I miss Sangria! She has such an attitude and is the one who will spit at anyone. But those big eyes...Sangria is not for sale.
Nanette is our white female, currently bred to Abacus and due this fall. The cria will be our first Abacus cria and we are very excited to see it! Chara is Nanette's daughter. She also in at Flying Pony Alpacas and is being bred to Formula 1. Chara is a Lancaster daughter and FPA has had great success breeding Lancaster genetics to Formula 1. Eleven to twelve months is a long time to wait to see these crias!!
Monique is our medium fawn female. Her daughter is Carme. Carme is our funky girl. Carme's sire is black. Carme is appaloosa. Her primary color is medium fawn and she has spots on her face, legs, belly and sides that are every shade of brown and black. I don't know if this spotted gene is dominant. She is currently bred to Lord Stanley for a late Aug, early Sept. cria.
And not to forget - Smokey the llama. Her registered name is Smoke on the Water. Smokey is not a name I would pick for a llama. Maybe for a grey cat, but a beautiful llama? We bought Smokey when she was only 8 months old. My plan was to rename her. She was to be our guard llama (that's another story!) so I didn't think it really mattered if her name matched her registered name. My children were thoroughly disgusted with me! Apparently it is not okay to change a name just because I didn't like it. Smokey gets upset with our guard dog. She doesn't like the white alpacas. She loves Irwin the cat, but is not very interested in the other cats. When she gets upset and ready to charge, I can calm her by saying "good girl, Smokey is a good girl". She looks at me, her nostrils flaring, her eyes bulging and her ears back. And slowly, she relaxes. Unless it is Kosh that is upsetting her. Then she charges at him, sending him running with his tail between his legs. Then she relaxes.
Our girls, each with their own personalities, likes and dislikes, quirky little behaviors. Some are show winners, some have met the gate, some have never gone to a show. Each one has earned our respect.
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Thursday, August 04, 2011
I've discovered that farming involves a lot of guessing. Educated guessing, using as much knowledge and information as possible, but guessing none the less. When everyone in the herd is healthy, I guess I'm doing something right. When issues come up, I guess I need to change something. Sometimes it's fun to guess, sometimes there are too many unknowns and the guessing becomes frustrating, with too many variables.
Today I emptied the poop bins in the North Pasture. Our soil is very sandy and we are trying to add stuff - paca beans, composted kitchen scraps and other stuff to improve the soil so that we can re-seed the pastures and grow healthy pasture grasses. Then the alpacas can graze all day for 5-6 months of the year. Better pastures will mean our herd goes through less hay, which will then lower our expenses. Gunther is a great hay guy and his hay is reasonably priced, but since we have the land, I would really like our alpacas to eat what we are growing. So...back to the North Pasture. As I was dumping the bins, I noticed a large plant growing in the middle of the pasture. I am guessing that we will be picking pumpkins from this plant in the fall. I am guessing that we won't be picking many pumpkins from the tiny plants growing in my garden. Not only does farming involve a lot of guessing, it also involves making plans that will certainly be changed. Just because. I have learned that I really am not in control of what is going on around the farm. I plan, I research, I plan some more, I guess a bit and then I just watch things happen. Good and bad, happy and sad, I guess that's the way farm life is!
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Wednesday, August 03, 2011
We started Wind Crest Alpaca Ranch in 2006. At that time, I thought I should start a blog about farm life. Now, 5 years later, I have figured out how to do one. But, I wonder...is there anybody out there?? I kind of feel like I am just talking to myself.
I think I will try this for a couple of weeks. I talk to myself everyday at the barn. When I talk to my children, I often feel like I am talking to myself because if they were actually listening to me, I wouldn't have to repeat myself multiple times. So I might as well talk to myself on the computer. Maybe I will share stories about what farm life is really like, the good and the bad. Maybe I will share my thoughts and ideas, my concerns and accomplishments. Who knows where this journey will go!
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