Alpaca Farmgirl

Our Blog Has Moved!

2009-04-07T19:21:00.000-07:00

Please visit us at http://alpacafarmgirl.com

New Location

2008-11-05T08:45:00.000-08:00

Alpaca Farmgirl is now at www.alpacafarmgirl.com

Come see me!

Alpacas 101 - October 2008 Edition

2008-10-26T08:29:00.000-07:00

Jeremy instructs participants in alpaca training and handling techniques

A alpaca enthusiast takes Napster for a walk

Brady gives our guests some practice with a reluctant alpaca

"Alpacas 101" went beautifully yesterday. The weather was great, and we had a wonderful group of people attend the class. We had one relatively new suri breeder from Mississippi and six other people at various stages in their research of the alpaca business. The group really loved the outdoor, hands-on portion of the class. They learned about trimming alpacas' toenails, as well as haltering and leading.

I had a terrible case of the "um"s yesterday. Those poor people. I must have uttered "um..." at least twice a minute. Annoying. I am haunted by visions of my high school speech teacher giving me a bad grade, and buzzing me with her buzzer named Beula all day. (She used to "buzz" us everytime we uttered "deadwood" words/sounds.) Now that I think of it, I should look her up and ask her to come to my next class...that would cure me. I was off my game a little, no surprise as I was distracted by some real estate rumblings, but more on that later.

The Alpaca 101 participants were quite forgiving of my foibles and a great time was had by all. We talked about fiber more at this class than at any Alpacas 101 class I can remember. Fitting that our next class will be a fiber class entitled, "Basics of Alpaca Fiber & Smart Skirting for Great Rewards". It will be geared to beginning to intermediate breeders and will take place at our farm in January 2009.

NY Alpaca Farmers

2008-10-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

Check out this article about Alpaca Breeders in New York. Nice article. Props to the Poughkeepsie Journal.

We'll miss that big puppy!

2008-10-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

Scamp 4 weeks
7 weeks
8 months old

I love livestock guard dogs! Love them. Guess that's why we have 6. After today we'll have only 5 because "Scamp" is going to his new home today at Serenity Farms. Look at how he has grown.

Scamp's new owner, Rochelle, also welcomed female alpacas Ivy By Knight, and Windy Cindy into her herd today. Both girls are blue ribbon winners. What can we say? Rochelle has good taste. We'll miss them all but are so glad they are going to such a great home.

BUSY getting ready for Alpacas 101 tomorrow.

Weekly Web Finds

2008-10-23T05:21:00.000-07:00

Here are some interesting things I've found on the web this week:

This family is living off the grid. They're moving to a farm with no electricity, no TV (I would die!), etc. All I can say is "WOW!"
I think this is my favorite. Check out this post from Rooster Hill Farm on the AI Guy. This is about the guy who goes around artificially inseminating cows. You HAVE to see his car! One day there will be an AI guy for alpacas, but maybe not in my lifetime.
American Farmland Trust: Saving the Land that Sustains Us. Website for your activist side.

Two social networking sites:

Roscoe helps with the Laundry

2008-10-22T07:05:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesdays

Just a Little Protein

2008-10-21T06:20:00.001-07:00

Why do bugs keep flying in my mouth?

Only recently have I had this problem. Twice in the last month, bugs have flown in my mouth while I have been entertaining visitors to the alpaca farm. Most recently, I was with a friend, and the bug was big. So I just swiped my hand through my mouth, removed the bug, and said, "Yuck! A bug was in my mouth." Gross, but I survived.

The first time, however, was a different story. Picture it: National Alpaca Farm Day. Open House. People milling around, learning about alpacas. Me, floating around, talking with people, sharing the joy of alpacas. la, la, la. Then I see a couple who have visited me before. This time they have brought other family members. They are really interested in the alpaca business. As I chat with them, intelligently discussing the unique and divine benefits of being an alpaca farmer - a bug flies into my mouth. Make that throat. I am stunned. I want to choke. It's wings are tickling my throat. My throat is dry and I cannot quite swallow it. But it's too far back to spit it out. I smile, and continue to converse with the lovely visitors, as though there is not an insect fluttering around in my throat trying to escape.

Finally, I clear my throat a couple of times, and...swallow. My visitors are none the wiser. I wonder how I became this person. And I like to think Jeff Probst would be proud.

Secrets That Sell Alpacas #3

2008-10-20T06:12:00.000-07:00

We all know that you have to have business cards. Today we are also going to talk about what to do with them.

As an alpaca breeder you will need business cards that have your contact information, a tagline, and a picture of an alpaca. Remember that many people have never seen an alpaca and don't know what it is. A picture of one goes a long way in explanation with regards to your business. The vast majority of people will think they are cute (or funny looking) and this will peak their interest.

Your tagline should refect what sets you apart from others. Try to limit it to 7-8 words. Some great taglines are shorter. If it feels like too much of a mouthful, try to shorten it. If your market is mostly alpaca breeders, your tagline could talk about your herd specifically. Some examples of good taglines currently used by breeders are: "The Next Generation of Elite Alpacas", and "Leading the Way in Black and Grey". If you plan to market to mostly new breeders your tagline could focus more on the lifestyle. Examples include: "Living the dream..." and "Where Magic Happens". Our farm's tagline, "Fleecy Beaux and Belles for Your Portfolio" is appreciated by many alpaca breeders, but people who don't know about alpacas are confused by it. Many people who see it think I'm a photographer. Back to the drawing board for me!?

People get handed lots of business cards. They ditch most of them. Make yours special so that it stands apart from the rest. Consider having it printed on specialty paper. Using a different size card or a fold-over is another possibility to help make your card memorable. If possible, use both sides of the card, information on one side and a picture of an alpaca on back.

Now that you have your cards, hand them out! This may not come naturally to you, but all the best salesmen/women in the world are pros at handing out business cards. Always keep some in your wallet, purse, luggage. I keep a fleece sample in my car. This way when people ask me about the sign on my car, I can let them feel alpaca fleece as I tell them about these wonderful creatures. Then I leave them with a business card and ask them to visit my website. Give cards to people who sit next to you on business trips. Give them to your dentist, your child's teachers, the man who comes to repair your refrigerator, everyone you meet! Spread the word. I once sold several alpacas to a couple after their daughter had gotten my card when she gave me a pedicure. Good thing I gave her my card.

If you sell things on E-Bay, enclose your card when you mail your items. Enclose business cards when you pay bills. You never know when the person who processes those bills needs some alpacas or knows someone who does! Have your local feed store or veterinarian display some of your cards. Usually you will have to provide the card holder, but they are often happy to let you promote your farm. When you have a prospect who decides not to purchase alpacas, give them two business cards. Ask them to please give those cards to two people they know who might be interested in alpacas. Spread the word, people!

I challenge you to give out 2 business cards today. Leave me comments on how you gave them out, who you gave them to, etc. If you don't already have your business cards, tell 2 people about alpacas (or your chosen business if it's not alpacas.)

Secrets that Sell Alpacas Tip #3: Get Your Business Card OUT there. It doesn't do you much good in your wallet.

Read Secrets that Sell Alpacas #2: Have an Internet Presence

Read Secrets that Sell Alpacas #1: Participate in the Farm & Ranch Guide

Friendship

2008-10-19T04:59:00.001-07:00

"Friendship is the bread of the heart" ~Mary Russell Mitford

What IS an Alpaca Anyway?

2008-10-18T04:37:00.000-07:00

A few of our alpacas (lft. to rt.)Siege, Minette, Portia, Caesar, and Tapioka.

Alpacas are members of the camelid family. The alpaca is a fiber-bearing, domesticated animal, considered to be livestock. They are very gentle animals. Alpacas have large, expressive eyes and are easy to care for. They are easy on the environment because they do not pull grass out by the roots and their soft, padded feet don’t harm the ground. Alpacas grow to be about 3 feet high at the withers and 4.5 feet high on the top of the head. Adult alpacas weigh about 150 lbs. on average. Pregnant females (dams) bear only one offspring per year. The gestation period is between 11-12 months. A baby alpaca is called a cria, which means creation in Spanish. Crias weigh between 12-20 lbs. at birth. Alpacas produce between 2-10 lbs. of fiber a year. They come in 22 specified colors with many shades in between, more than any other fiber-bearing animal.

Alpacas are ruminants and eat grass, hay, and alpaca feed. 7-8 alpacas can generally be put out to graze on one acre of pasture. They also eat a small amount of pellet type food daily. Alpacas need to be sheared once a year. In the summertime they need access to fresh water, shade, and air circulation to do well. With proper management alpacas can thrive in hot, humid climates. Currently, alpacas are being raised in all 50 states. To care for an alpaca it costs about as much as it does to raise a medium size dog, including medication and feed. Alpacas can be insured against theft and full mortality. Alpaca ownership has great tax advantages. They are considered to be the world's finest livestock investment. For more information on these lovely creatures, visit our farm website.

Tervis Tumbler Giveaway

2008-10-17T10:50:00.000-07:00

This is my cup. I start each and every day with diet coke in my insulated cup. The colorful sequins put a song in my heart, a little pep in my step. Occasionally I will borrow my son's cup which has the Mardi Gras colored confetti. (He is a nut about Mardi Gras. More on that in February!) But I use this cup EVERY DAY.

So what has me changing cups this weekend?

The Texas Longhorns, that's what!

My dear, sweet Mamma gave me these cups a couple of years ago for my birthday. Just because I'm only dragging them out when Texas becomes ranked #1 in both the AP and Coaches' Polls doesn't mean I'm a fair weather fan. In fact, I am a UT grad who has, in the past, named alpacas "Vin-Sanity" (after Vince Young for those of you who don't follow football, he's a football player) and "Major Applewhite". Get ready for a little "Colt" to be pronking around in the fields this Fall.

These cups are the greatest! Virtually indestructible, they keep drinks cold and the glass doesn't sweat, protecting my fine antique furniture. To celebrate the Texas Longhorns #1 ranking, I am giving away a set of 4 - 16oz. Tervis Tumblers. The winner can choose tumblers from either the Glitter category which includes Christmas, Mardi Gras, Springtime, or Multi (my cup above), or any available Collegiate teams. The contest will end at 11pm (EST) on Monday, October 20, 2008.

To enter, leave a comment telling me either: 1) why you agree that the Longhorns are the best college football team in the land (if you disagree - feel free to keep it to yourself, or 2) which cup you will choose if you win! Leaving a comment will earn you one entry. You can earn two additional entries by posting this giveaway on your own blog. Be sure to tell me if you do so. I look forward to checking out your blog. The winner will be chosen at random.

Please note that if you leave a comment and it doesn't show up right away - it will soon. I did get it so you don't need to comment twice. I moderate comments to fight spam so it may take an hour or so for it to show up on the blog.

Thanks for your responses! I'm excited to see who wins. Good luck everyone!

Thanks to everyone who entered! Mannequin won. She chose the Christmas Glitter cups.

I used the random integer service to choose the winner. Thanks again! Keep visiting our site. More giveaways coming soon.

Don't Look at Me - I Didn't Do It!

2008-10-17T09:21:00.001-07:00

When I was on my walk this morning, I came upon this site. Hmm. What's wrong with this picture? (Note: Luminescence sees nothing wrong as he gobbles his breakfast.)

Dillon looks back, as if to say, "Well, would you look at that."

Oopsie Daisy!

(that leg had been giving us trouble, rusted screw/bolt whatever)

"We did NOT do that!"

"Uh, Miss Katy, this will not affect our daily eating schedule, will it?"

Nope. We'll just prop it up. With kids and critters - It's always somethin'!

Morning Nature Walk

2008-10-17T08:39:00.000-07:00

Every morning I walk my house dogs (beagle and collie). Why? Because every time I have a pen where I could possibly put them outside, I put alpacas in it. This morning I took some nature photos so you might join me. The sun was just coming up so it was still rather dark.There a two little birds at the top of the weathervane (the M is for Morton Buildings)

Which Sire to Hire?

2008-10-16T10:43:00.001-07:00

As a new breeder, I usually selected males for my open females based on how attractive they were. My idea was to choose a male that I would like my cria to look like. Often the sire’s owners would make suggestions, but I was never clear exactly WHY they were suggesting that particular male. Back then, all alpacas were lovely and if the male had a few ribbons, a few nice cria on the ground, and the price was reasonable – then it seemed like a good choice. Today, with more experience under my belt, breeding decisions require more thought. Let’s look at some of the steps to take when choosing a herdsire.

1. Assess Your Female
When you purchase females, it is a good idea to ask the Seller about the female’s strengths and weaknesses. (Like people, alpacas have both.) This is a good starting point. If your female was born on your farm and you are new to alpacas, you may experience “barn blindness”. This can happen to long time breeders too so don’t feel bad. But when starting out, most of us think that all our alpacas are wonderful and we can be blind to their flaws. A more experienced alpaca breeder can help you determine the strengths and weaknesses of your little darling. Ask an alpaca friend, expert, or the herdsire’s owner to help you assess your girl.

Another way to have your alpaca assessed is by entering her in an AOBA sanctioned alpaca show. Halter shows are a great way to meet other breeders. Watching the show will help you learn about the best alpacas in your area. Listening to the judges discuss their placements will teach you more about what makes an exceptional alpaca. Consider both fleece and conformation. Ask to look at the Champion and Reserve Champion alpaca’s fleeces as they exit the ring. This can teach you a lot about what the alpaca industry is breeding towards.

For assessing fleece, nothing is better than an AOBA Fleece Show. You will have to skirt your fleece beforehand. Some shows allow you to mail in your fleece. This is one way to get a judge’s opinion of your alpaca’s fleece without the extra expense of hotels, transportation, and missed days of work. Your alpaca will receive a scorecard with various scores on different aspects of her fleece. While winning ribbons is great, even if you do not win, you will receive feedback from the judge that will be valuable as you prepare to breed your female. Now you have assessed your female....click here to continue reading.

For more articles like this, click here.

Ten Reasons to LOVE Alpacas!

2008-10-12T04:57:00.000-07:00

Luxurious Fiber

They look like big teddy bears

Once pregnant, the girls spit at the boys (helpful and humorous)

No need to bathe them - EVER

Great fertilizer

Over 95% of the time they birth unassisted

They potty in a community poop pile

Tax advantages

Those big, beautiful eyes

They hum

Alpaca Farm in Fall

2008-10-09T21:29:00.001-07:00

Favorite Drop Spindles

2008-10-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a drop spindle, check out
BONNE's ABODE: Favorite Drop Spindles
You can buy a great product and support a good cause all at the same time!

Keep Cooking by CrockPotting: Happy Crocktober! Brand new eLume Give Away.

2008-10-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to tell you about this incredible website. How do you have a successful career, operate a farm smoothly, and keep the husband and children happy? I have no idea, but cooking with the crockpot can help!

This darling gal made it her New Year's Resolution to use her crockpot every day this year. Visit her site for lots of great meal ideas that will save you time and money. Plus she's giving away 5 FREE crockpots. A Year of CrockPotting: Happy Crocktober! Brand new eLume Give Away.

Fruit Basket Turn-Over

2008-10-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

People often ask me how I determine which alpaca goes into which group. We break the larger herd up into smaller groups for several reasons. We like to have animals of the same sex and age together for feeding and management purposes. We might have one group with show animals in it that we try to keep out of the mud. Sometimes we will have a "skinny" group with animals who could use feed that is richer in nutrients. It is easier to catch animals for various reasons if they are in smaller groups, and this system aids in pasture rotation.

When planning your alpaca farm, you will need to plan for at least 4 groups of animals eventually. A group for younger (weanling - yearling) males, a group for mature males, and two groups for females. Having the ability to separate your females into two groups helps when it comes time for weaning and managing different body scores, birthing patterns, and personalities. If you start with all females, you can house your alpaca herd in one group. Just be prepared that as the herd grows, one day you will need at least four groups.

Several times a year we re-evaluate each group and move some animals around. Today I did just that in preparation for the Autumn "Fruit Basket Turnover" as I like to call it. All the female alpacas that are due in 2008 will go in one group. The females due in the Spring of 2009 will make up another group. We will also separate the girls who will need to be bred this Fall. I have a "special" group of 5 girls that are to be bred to Shawnee. He is a younger herdsire just starting out his breeding career. We will consider "field breeding" him with these girls for about a week. More on that once he arrives from Ohio. (This is not a usual practice for us. Almost all breedings we do are "hand breedings" where we put the male and the female together, watch the breeding, and record what occurs. But with his inexperience, we think Shawnee needs a more naturalistic approach to get him past his first time jitters!) We will also have a group of younger males and our herdsire group.

I will go over the groups again with regards to personalities before we actually move any animals. Alpacas have sweet, somewhat sensitive temperaments. Some alpacas are pretty tough and don't seem to mind where they go. Some alpacas are very sensitive and need to be with alpaca "buddies" or herdmates they have known for a while. The lovely Antigia, pictured here with daughter Juliette, is one of our more sensitive girls. When we wean her cria (baby alpaca), she will really miss her. Antigia will come to the fence and cry for her for several days. (not all alpacas do this) We will want to make sure that when we move Antigia and her baby away from each other, she has some friends in her group to help her with the transition. Alpacas are very social animals and they exhibit emotions just like people do. We have decided to put Antigia in a group with other girls who will birth when she does next year. This way she can stay with the same group of animals for the long term. Paying attention to each animal's individual needs pays you back tenfold with regard to that animal's production.

Key Tax Changes that May Affect Alpaca Breeders

2008-10-09T07:50:00.001-07:00

This was shared with its members by AOBA (the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association). Passed on with love from AFG.

Key Tax Changes in theEmergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

On Oct. 3, President Bush signed into law the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (the “Act”). Most of us have referred to this legislation as the “Bailout” package. The final bill
contains items that impact small business and individuals other than assistance to large financial institutions. We just received a synopsis of the key elements and the following may be of interest to AOBA (Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association) members.

Emergency economic stabilization related tax measures consist of a three-year extension for home mortgage debt forgiveness relief.
Bank customers will receive $250,000 in Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. protection per depositor through Dec. 31, 2009, a temporary increase from the current $100,000.
The 2008 Act boosts Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) exemption amounts for individuals for 2008, and also provides that for 2008, personal nonrefundable credits may offset AMT and regular tax. Additionally, the 2008 Act also liberalizes the AMT refundable
credit amount rules.

More than 30 tax breaks that either expired at the end
of 2007 or are soon to expire have been extended by the 2008 Act. For example,
all of the following individual tax breaks are retroactively revived to apply
for the 2008 tax year and are extended to apply to the 2009 tax year as well:

the election to deduct state and local general sales tax
the above line deduction for higher education expenses
the above line deduction for educator expenses
the ability of taxpayers age 70 1/2; or older to make nontaxable IRA transfers to eligible charities
the research credit (which is
also modified),
the 15-year write-off for qualified leasehold improvements and
qualified restaurant property (which is also liberalized)
enhanced deductions for certain charitable contributions (which is also liberalized for
farmers),
and the expensing option for qualified environmental remediation
expenses

New tax relief measures include:

relaxed write-off rules for film and TV productions
quick 5-year depreciation for many types of farm
property
modified rules for the penalty on understatement of a taxpayer's
liability by a tax return preparer
mental health parity rules
liberalized rules for the refundable child tax credit

AOBA (and Alpaca Farmgirl!) do not offer tax advice and this information is just a brief overview of portions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. You should consult your tax advisor for specific details on how the new act might affect you and your farm or ranch. If you would like a referral to an accountant who is familiar with alpaca related tax issues, email me at alpacas@bellsouth.net.

Looking for a New Farm

2008-10-08T05:33:00.000-07:00

Steve and the kids explore Tennessee

I cannot tell you how much I love my farm. I adore our location. We live in the cutest town in the world. If you have never been to Fairhope, Alabama you must plan a trip! It is the greatest place to visit, and to live and raise a family. It used to be the best place to have a farm, but times they are a changin'. Since everyone is discovering how adorable it is, the farmers are getting squeezed out by suburbia. I try not to be resentful of this occurance. I do enjoy the Super Wal-mart that is down the street from me.

Another contributing factor to our current restlessness is the fact that I am running out of room to grow the alpaca herd. With only 10 acres, single family homes beginning to dot my fenceline, and big alpaca plans, last year we had to start looking for a new farm. Since moving a farm with 50+ alpacas, several dogs and cats, and four children will be quite an undertaking, I thought I would record the journey in my blog.

I had to do some serious soul searching about how big of a farm I really wanted. Okay, I suffer from bigger is better -itis. I'm an American, it's in the blood. So I worked up a business plan for the next 5, 10, and 15 years. I determined that I would like to have the ability to have 150 alpacas on the farm. Once I picked hubby up off the floor, we started to discuss location. At first I insisted that since I was the President of the Deep South Alpaca Connection, I had to live in the states we served. Since my husband was voting for West Virginia (I am severely allergic to winters that cold), and I began to realize my attachment to DSAC could be considered a bit unhealthy, I knew I'd better compromise. We found a gorgeous piece of property in Crossville, Tennessee. Seemed like a good compromise on locations so we took some time during Spring Break to drive up there to look around.

Heaven on Earth. This is one of the views that enticed us to consider this piece of land.Gorgeous views. But can you see how steep this is? This stunning piece of land was on the side of a mountain! We could barely walk it, much less drive a tractor over it. Alpacas are used to mountains, but the severe grade was an insurmountable obstacle for the humans involved.

It sure was pretty, but it was back to the drawing board. On the way home we happened to spend the night in the up and coming city of Chattanooga...

(to be continued)

Southern Hay Option is Highly Digestible, Costs Peanuts

2008-10-07T06:43:00.001-07:00

Peanut Hay from Johnny Lee

What is this Peanut Hay? It looks like Edward Scissorhands has been at the shrubbery again! We got some for the alpacas last week. They do love it. But exactly what is it and why feed it to your alpacas? (or horses for that matter). For the straight skinny click here: The Horse: Southern Hay Option is Highly Digestible, Costs Peanuts

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Alpacas generally require between 12-14% protein in their hay. (I am told peanut hay has between 14-18% protein.) Too much protein in the alpacas' diet can cause fiber blow out (this is where the fiber coarsens up significantly). However, expectant moms and lactating females will often thrive on the higher protein hay. We aren't as concerned with this group's fiber becoming more coarse because it coarsens with age and production anyway. This is our first experience with the peanut hay. We are mixing it with local alecia bermuda for most of the animals. The females who are expecting soon and those who are lactating are getting a higher percentage of the peanut hay. We'll let you know how it works out. Share your hay thoughts with us!

2008-10-05T15:13:00.001-07:00

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Giving Back

2008-10-05T06:39:00.000-07:00

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. ~ Maya Angelou

Join us in helping hurricane victims. Here's a link to help Hurricane Ike survivors.

Are You Happy?

2008-10-04T03:07:00.000-07:00

Several of the bloggers I read have been pondering happiness this week. At Friday Night Playdate, Susan's son got her thinking about it. At Notes from the Trenches, Chris wonders, "Is This a Mid-Life Crisis?" With my background as a Psychologist, I find these issues riveting. What makes us happy? or not?

Our circumstances do play a role in our happiness. But the way we view life is one of the biggest pieces in determining happiness. As humans, we have a tendency to be expecting/hoping/waiting for the next thing to make us happy. For example, "When I get that raise next month, then I will be happy", or "When we go to Bermuda, then I will be happy."

Personally, I have grown into my happiness. As I have gotten older I have become happier. I am more accepting of others' flaws, a bit more laid back, and I am more comfortable with who I am every year. (Though I would like to be thinner, much thinner.) How did I become happy? I was a very mixed up, directionless young lady until my mid-twenties. Three things turned me around, helped me get my life on a purposeful track. The support of my husband. He believed in me beyond anything I had ever known. The birth of my first child: Yea, I know this is a magical event for everyone on the planet, but it had a special significance for me. It told me who I would become. When I became a mother, it was like bells and a light show went off. I knew what I was supposed to do with my life: be a mother, and more broadly, a nurturer. Ok, I admit I didn't know at the time that this would translate into farming, but it did. That brings me to the third thing that has made my life the happy one it is today. Discovering alpacas. These creatures were a perfect fit for me. I was able to take my earth shattering calling to be a mother, and channel that energy towards a business with lovely, fabulous animals I can nurture. The fact that the alpacas have babies every year is what keeps me from having 15 children of my own. I can sublimate that urge and enjoy the alpaca babies. (They go through way fewer diapers and don't talk back so it works pretty well for me.)

Career choice and satisfaction with that choice affect our happiness significantly. Before I was an alpaca breeder, I had a sadistic boss who made my daily life challenging. Today I have trials and disappointments to be sure, but I find myself reveling in the day so much more as I operate my own business. Things are not always rosy and I can never get everything done. I don't spend much time on guilt. I don't get bogged down in worrying if I'm a good enough mother, just because I don't think it helps. We do the best we can, try to keep communication lines open, pray, and occasionally pull out the old psychology tricks. (That doesn't work, it just gives me a false sense of power over these little people who are growing and changing at an alarming pace.) Being there, being present, for the kids is what I think benefits them the most. (In psychology we would call it "providing a holding environment". There's your 2 cent psych term of the day) And I think the farm and the alpacas help with that. It keeps us grounded. Nothing like birth and death to keep things real.

Often, we find happy lives when we step back and look at ourselves, but we may not feel happy on a daily basis. Don't settle for that. Take the time to "stop and smell the roses". Make a point to enjoy yourself in the moment. Stop and remind yourself of the people and things you love and why. Renew your commitment to love and take care of yourself. And if you aren't happy in your career choice, rethink it. Life's too short. Find your bliss!

I would love to hear your comments on happiness!

Wall Street Journal - Investing in Alpacas

2008-10-03T16:51:00.000-07:00

Check out this Wall Street Journal about people finding alternate investments when the traditional stock market goes South. When Stocks Tank, Some Investors Stampede to Alpacas and Turn to Drink! I remember after 911 feeling very secure with our investment in alpacas. They just ate grass, gestated, and kept growing our herd without a care about the stock market. Lots of people invested in alpacas then. I expect we will see the same with this economic downturn.

That's all the economic advice I can spare today...

Knitting Scarf with Alpaca

2008-10-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

My friend, Maxine, who is an extraorinary knitter, is knitting this precious potato chip scarf with the alpaca yarn she bought from Stephanie at our Open House last weekend. Isn't it cute? Maxine says it is super easy. She even started one and brought it by for my eleven-year-old to work on. How sweet is that? We are so blessed! Thanks Maxine for being so incredibly talented and thoughtful! Maxine and I just started working on a secret project that will incorporate our alpaca yarn, humor, whimsy, and alpacas into a an adorable product everyone will want to take home with them. They should be ready in time for our Holiday Open House.

More from Farm Day...

2008-10-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

On Lori's blog! Check it out. She has the funniest picture of (alpacas) Roxsanne and Lorraine gossipping.

Also, a picture of Doe and Walker graced the front page of the Foley Onlooker today. It was accompanied by a positive piece on alpacas. Sadly, they are not online.

Secrets that Sell Alpacas - #2

2008-10-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Internet now plays an essential role in helping potential buyers find information about alpacas and in locating alpacas to purchase. A 2008 survey by the Alpaca Owners & Breeders Association asked new alpaca breeders the following question: "When you were considering your FIRST PURCHASE of alpacas, which Internet sources did you use to locate alpacas for sale?" 84% said individual farm websites.

In order to sell alpacas, you must have a web presence. This can be done in a number of ways. You can reserve a domain name and develop your own individual farm website. This is a great way to go if you have the time/money/inclination to do so. But if you are just starting out, and you want a quick and easy way to get on the internet with your farm, there are a several options. The granddaddy of them all is AlpacaNation. 75% of respondents said that they visited AlpacaNation to look for alpacas for purchase. AlpacaNation offers an easy, affordable way to list your farm with a description of it, pictures, and you can list your alpacas for sale. I highly recommend this avenue as affordable, easy, and adequate for your first couple of years of selling. Check it out, but I must warn you: It is very addicting. Say goodbye to your loved ones as you will be spending hours on this site. AlpacaStreet is another option for listing your farm and animals for sale. The newer and slightly less sophisticated AlpacaStreet is a growing entity. It has lots of add-ons, spreadsheets, and bulletin board features which should increase their traffic over time. Alpacaficionado is yet another place where your alpacas can be offered for sale. I'm not sure if it is enough to be your main web presence, but they have a lot to offer with content and advertising.

Another possible way to have a web presence is through your local AOBA affiliate. For example, our regional affiliate, The Deep South Alpaca Connection, has a terrific website where it's members can list their animals and tell visitors about their farm. Being a part of the website is included in DSAC's membership dues, which are only $60. This is a great value.

The main thing is to get started with some type of web address where people can find you, a picture of an alpaca or two, and your contact information. Have fun, and share with us your experiences getting your farm on the internet!

*Visit Alpaca Livestock Company, a division of AOBA, for more information in participating in the Farm and Ranch Guide mentioned in Secrets that Sell Alpacas - #1.

The Doe - Walker Story

2008-09-30T11:03:00.000-07:00

"Hi, I live down the street."

"Nice to meet you short stuff."
"So, what are you, like a horse?"
"No, I'm an alpaca, kinda like a goat with a long neck."

"Mom, can I have one?"
"I gotta go have a nap. Later my parents and I will discuss the how the world's finest livestock investment can help me save money for college. "

"Excellent. Don't be a stranger Champ!"

National Alpaca Farm Day - Sunday

2008-09-29T08:33:00.001-07:00

Mac and Mary, the MVP's of Farm Days. Their spinning demos were a big hit!

Farm visitors shopping for alpaca products
The guys talk alpacas

This weekend we had well over 100 people join us to learn more about alpacas, and to buy alpaca yarn and products. It was a really fun weekend. Our dedicated spinning friends, Mac and Mary taught several people how to spin alpaca fiber into yarn. I think the kid's corner was also a success. Thanks to all who visited, and thanks to all who helped us pull it off! What a great industry, full of great people.

National Alpaca Farm Day - Saturday

2008-09-28T04:03:00.000-07:00

Spinning Demonstrations with Mac and Mary

photo: Cheryl Bowen

Saturday's Open House was a big success. With around 70 people in attendance, we had a great day introducing visitors to the world of alpacas. Interestingly, at 2:20pm, the last person left. No one else showed up, though we were open til 3pm. It was so quiet, you could've herd a pellet drop (an alpaca food pellet of course. Don't get me started on how my kids, who normally love bathroom humor, have reprimanded me for putting the word "POOP" into the alpaca word search for kids...). Oh yeah, the Auburn game started at 2:30pm. Life in the SEC... don't you just love it?

Kids love Doe, reigning alpaca PR Queen

above photo: Keith Stewart

Zachary, age 6, learns to spin

Sorry I didn't get these up last night as promised. Fell asleep watching "America's Toughest Jobs" with my son. Who knew bull fighters made that kind of money?

Today's the Big Day!

2008-09-27T03:44:00.001-07:00

Today's a big day for the Alpaca Farm. It's the beginning of National Alpaca Farm Days! We expect many people to come visit our alpacas this weekend. We have 3 other local alpaca farms joining us for the event for the first time. Thanks to Humming Star Alpacas, Gulf Breeze Alpacas, and Ed! With the Artist gone, I couldn't have done this without you! The weather is supposed to be lovely. Will post pictures tonight.

Today is also a huge day for the Artist! His monument will be dedicated today on the beach at Normandy, in France. The Utah Beach Museum actually has a webcam so you can watch the dedication, and see the monument. At the moment, it is covered with a big white sheet that is blowing mightily, telling us how windy it is there. An except from the Artist in his last email,"This place has been crazy. I have been coming in to the museum at 8am every day and working all day helping with preparations for todays dedication. The French have been as wonderful as their countyside is beautiful. The Navy Seabees have been building the stages and color gaurds have been rehearsing. The speech I am supposed to give has been swirling around in my head every night while I try to sleep...." So exciting!

Sometimes you hear that the French don't like Americans. The Artist reports that in Normandy, the French love Americans. They are grateful to us, and fly American flags. (At other times of the year too, not just when the monument is being installed) The French have worked diligently to have this monument installed. An American film company is doing a documentary on the making of the monument. I will keep you updated when you can see that on the History channel.

Don't forget to comment to win FREE chocolate croissants!

Berry Good Smoothie

2008-09-25T05:38:00.000-07:00

Tired of the same ol' cereal bars for the kids and a "delicious slimfast shake for breakfast" for mom, I decided to try something different. This morning I made a smoothie with frozen berries and bananas and yogurt. Has to be healthy, right? It was very good, and a nice change of pace for us. Two of the kids ate/drank theirs. One didn't like all the seeds, and the pre-teen didn't make it to the table for breakfast, so busy primping was she. AFG loved it and can't wait to try this recipe out on the Artist. Here's what I did:

Berry Good Smoothie
1 medium banana that I had cut into several 1/2 inch slices and frozen, pieces separated, in a ziploc the night before.
2 cups plain fat-free yogurt
2 cups frozen strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and red raspberries. (These all came in a frozen sack labeled "Berry Medley")
2 T Honey

Throw it all in the blender and blend til smooth. My hand-me-down blender is apparently not meant for smoothies so I had to stir it around a few times to get the icy fruit at the top to go to the bottom. True confessions: I added a little, teeny, tiny bit of powdered sugar. Like 1 T. Okay, maybe 2. I was scared it wouldn't be sweet enough. But I will leave that out next time. Promise.

This was my first time to make a smoothie. It feels like I've just joined the smoothie club, and I understand now why it has so many members.

Barn Cats Defect to the Great Indoors

2008-09-24T18:02:00.001-07:00

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Secrets that Sell Alpacas - #1

2008-09-23T06:20:00.000-07:00

People are always asking me how to sell alpacas, so I will be posting tips on my blog.

If you want to sell some alpacas, first of all, take a deep breath and look at the picture on the right. These guys really sell themselves. A big part of your sales job is done by the alpacas themselves. No need to hard sell anyone or feel like a slimy used car salesman.

You just have to get people to your farm to see these cuties. How do we do that? Join AOBA and participate in the Farm & Ranch Guide Program. If you live in a state with a moderate number of alpaca farms, just a listing and maybe a 1/3 page ad will suffice. If you live in a state highly populated with alpacas you may have to spend a bit more to get noticed. The Farm and Ranch Guide will get people (qualified leads even) to call you or at least check out your website.

When people contact you, invite them to your farm. Tell them about your alpaca experience and what the animals have done for you (emotionally, financially, etc). Stick with the positive. This is not the time to talk about Fluffy's expensive vet trip. (I can never do this, I always wind up telling visitors tragic stories. I'm slapping myself on the wrist as I type) When they are at your farm, have them fill out a guest book or something that gives you their name, address, and email address. Be sure to ask permission to email them. You don't want them to think you're a spammer.

It's always nice to follow up a visit with a thank-you note. (I don't always remember to do this, but I should. more wrist slapping) If not, then call and follow-up in a few days to see if they have any more questions. There have been several instances where I have sold alpacas to people who told me, a) "You were the only person who contacted us after we visited them", and b) "No one else called us back."

Secret #1: Participate in the Farm & Ranch Guide (and Return Interested Parties phone calls!)

Addition to Secret #1: Visit the Alpaca Livestock Company for more info on participating in the Farm & Ranch Guide.

Bred Females come in all shapes and sizes

2008-09-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

You know how individual women carry their babies differently while pregnant? Some remain thin, and look like they merely tucked a basketball under their shirts. Others begin to develop third chins the minute the pregnancy test comes back positive. I will not comment here on which one I was (my reticence to share may provide a clue...hey, they were twins!)Well, Alpacas are the same way!

I have been totally fooled by a chunky alpaca who turned out NOT to even be pregnant, though I would have bet a week of barn chores that she WAS! That is heartbreaking. But what I find even more interesting are the girls who you would swear were NOT pregnant by looking at them. I had occasion to ponder that question today. One of our females who is due in early November looks downright svelte. I purchased this female after she gave birth last year. She came here and we bred her. There have been ultrasounds and spit tests, all indicating pregnancy. But she doesn't look it. So I called my friend and this alpaca's previous farm manager, Jamie at Windy Ridge Ranch. She tells me that Bella will carry low to the ground and not out to the side. It looks like her center of gravity may be getting lower, but nothing earth-shattering. I asked about Poquita as well, because she looks like she's carrying triplets and she's only about 90 days pregnant. (Alpacas gestate for 11-12 months so she has a ways to go.) Poquita, she says, will almost drag the ground with her belly once she's ready to deliver. Now this I gotta see! (and capture on film for you to see)

Last year, Delilah was shorn in the Fall so she was pretty much naked. She was due in November and her belly showed NO signs that she could be pregnant. I asked a long time alpaca breeder to look her over. "There's no way she could be pregnant", we agreed. But she kept spitting at the boys. Hmm. Had an ultrasound done. Um, baby. And when he was born he was a decent sized baby too! So some moms really pack them up tight, and others let it all hang out. An aside: The Australians call the process of the alpaca giving birth "unpacking". I love that!

I am sooo disappointed that I do not have photos for this post. I have to get some really pregnant alpaca pictures soon. Readers, if you have any pictures of really pregnant alpacas please send them to me, and I will post them. I remember Crimson used to get as wide as she was tall. Why didn't I photograph that? And if you have any funny alpaca pregnancy stories please share them with us in the comments section!

Alpaca Farmer Makes A Splash Abroad

2008-09-21T15:03:00.000-07:00

Alpaca Farmgirl's husband is an Artist. Yep, with a capital "A". In 2000, we BOTH quit our jobs and moved to the country to follow our dreams. (I do not recommend that two people in the same couple do this at the same time.) My dream was to be an alpaca farmer and stay at home mom. My husband's dream was to be a sculptor full-time. Can I just say that there is no overnight success. The term "paying your dues" could be the title of the Artist's life for the past 10 years. (He actually quit his very lucrative job as a computer engineer in 1998.)

Pictured at right is the Artist with his D-Day monument, "Operation Neptune". That's him, in France! He is there to install this monument on Utah Beach at Normandy. The work commemorates the U.S. Navy's role in the D-Day invasion. The Navy was the only branch of the service that did not have a monument at Normandy, until now. This is a really big bronze, as you can see. The Artist has been worried about it getting there in one piece. It was cast in Colorado, and was a foot too large to fit in an airplane. After the long trip across the pond, it has finally found its home, atop a German bunker. For more information about the monument visit the Utah Beach Museum. They have a fabulous website! You can see more about the Artist on his website.

To celebrate this HUGE feat, which has involved several years of loving support from the Artist's darling family, I am doing a giveaway! Don't you just love croissants? Alpaca Farmgirl is giving away fifteen chocolate croissants from William Sonoma. These are the BEST! We always have them for breakfast on Christmas and Valentine's mornings.

To participate in the giveaway, just answer one of the following questions in the comments section: Do you know anyone who was at the D-Day Invasion? Please tell us your D-Day stories! What is your favorite thing about France? I will leave the contest open until September 30. The winner will be chosen at random and prize will ship directly from William Sonoma.

Footnote: Thanks to the alpacas for supporting us while we got to this point!

Welcome to the Herd, Kid!

2008-09-17T06:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Parasites, Parasites Go Away!

2008-09-15T08:44:00.001-07:00

Yuck! I am so sick of dealing with parasites...C'mon Winter, please get here. Or dryness. Something. This summer has been so nice and cool, and wet. That's great for warding off heat problems, but it's an engraved invitation for parasites. Alpaca breeders in the Southeast have to be very careful and keep an eye on our alpacas, and our alpacas' poop! Do lots of fecal checks, and watch the animals for any signs of weakness or anemia. Have your vet perform the fecal or send it out to a lab if you don't have training in these procedures. We do fecal exams both at the farm and in conjunction with our vet's office to be on the safe side.

I remember the brilliant (and hysterical) Auburn Large animal veterinarian, Dr. Pugh, once saying that alpacas were like "glorified goats". So true. Both ruminants. Alpacas are more like sheep and goats than cattle in many regards. For a very informative website on parasite control click here. Of particular importance is the FAMACHA chart. Very helpful!

Don't Scare Me Like That!

2008-09-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

Cover Girl WITHOUT with her head stuck under the bar

This morning at the barn, I heard a commotion. I turned to see Cover Girl vigorously trying to extricate herself from between a rock and a hard place. She had her head under the panel bar and into the next pen. She must have scooted closer to the other stall while relaxing (or trying to eat her neighbors' food. The grass is always greener over there ya know...) because her body was all the way up to the edge of her pen. And her head was under and her whole neck was in the neighboring pen. Hmm. This is not terribly unusual. They usually figure it out and get where they want to go. So I didn't worry too much, especially when she started happily eating out of a feed dish that had been knocked to the ground in the neighbor's pen. After I finished the chore I was doing, I came over and helped her get her head and neck back into her own pen, the one that had her body in it.

That's when I got scared. I sent the rest of her group outside so that I could clean their stall and feed them. Alpacas have such a strong herd instinct that if you send the rest of the group outside, it is rare that one alpaca will stay inside. For the neurotically herd oriented alpacas, it's all about hanging with your buddies, kinda like it is for preteen humans. When Cover Girl did not get up to go outside, I went over and gave her a little nudge. Nothing. I nudged harder, the kind of nudge that almost always gets them up and bolting away from you. Her legs trembled and she appeared unable (unwilling?) to get up. Oh dear. I walked to my office with thoughts of heat stress, (heat stress in September? oh yes, it is usually the result of the cumulative effect of heat rather than one incident so August and September are probably the worst months for it) polio, neurologic diseases, and wondering if my vet was on call this Sunday. I was planning injections, thermometers to nether regions, and my next diagnostic steps. My concern was made worse by the fact that Cover Girl is due in about 60 days. Bred to Magnum, she's carrying possibly the best cria of the year in her belly. Fortunately, I turned to see Cover Girl standing there, in the stall...eating hay.

My thought now is that she had probably been stuck with her head under the panel bar for a long enough time for her to have panicked over it. I think she got herself worked up, and when she first tried to rise, her body was still so close to the other stall that she couldn't really get up the right way. Anyway, WHEW! She is fine and dandy. She seemed content to stay in the stall alone so when I fed her group she got to go around and eat from several of the feed buckets. She drank from all the water buckets, too. It was like Goldilocks trying out all of the bears' porridge. But Cover Girl was happy when her friends came in to eat. They had been peering over the double dutch door watching her and wondering what she was doing, and why she had gotten to eat before they did.

We have horse sized panels in the barn, and we put temporary fencing on the ones that have babies in them so that they don't slide under away from their moms. Cover Girl is in a group without the temporary fencing so she was able to scoot a little too far next door. We like the Priefert horse panels because they are strong, nice for when we had males and females housed in the same barn. This week I will post on the "Magnum" panels which are our new favorites. They hold males AND keep crias and alpacas inside.

I'm a Farmgirl!

2008-09-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

A true Alpaca Farm girl! (that's a poop scooping rake in her hand) My daughter loves to tell visitors that she's a farmgirl.

The last couple of weeks have been a blur of hurricane watches and warnings, tissues, cold medicine, and being glued to the Weather Channel. Between Ike, Gustav, Faye, Hannah, and Josephine and the dreadful cold that has been going around our house, I haven't been writing much. Hopefully that will change soon. The alpacas are all well, but looking forward to cooler weather. It will be in the mid-90's today.

Our first cria is due in November, and we won't be breeding until December 1. That is, if I can stand it that long. It drives me crazy for them to be open (not pregnant). I feel like there's a hole in my piggybank and money is just seeping out when they are open for a long time. When it gets cooler in late October and early November I usually get antsy and breed one. The problem is that that means a September or October baby and that's really too hot for us to be brithing down here in L.A. (lower Alabama). Fortunately there are only a couple that we had to hold over until Fall/Winter for breeding.

Secrets from the Alpaca Vault

2008-09-10T12:56:00.001-07:00

Doe Shares Her Paca Secrets with owner Andy Bowen Alpacas enjoy a visit from new breeders, Cheryl and Andy Bowen.

Last weekend, Cheryl and Andy Bowen, of Humming Star Alpacas, came by to visit their first cria, Moonshadow. (the brown in front looking at Andy) Their lovely foundation dam, Doe, was all snuggles and sweetness, giving Andy lots of kisses and sharing her secrets with him. Adorable, that's Doe sitting down giving Cheryl all her attention above.

Those of you will be attending our Open House on September 27th and 28th will have the chance to meet Cheryl and Andy in person. They will be on our Q & A Panel about the Business of Breeding Alpacas on Sunday from 3pm-4pm, September 28th. For more info click here.

Hurricane Season Shoes

2008-09-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

This hysterical photo was sent to me by Gulf Coast Alpaca Farmgirl, Cindy Labbie. Such a fun farmgal who would rather hang out with the alpacas outside than do housework inside. Amen, Sista!

National Alpaca Farm Days!

2008-09-09T08:17:00.001-07:00

This September 27th and 28th, Alpaca Farms around the country will be celebrating National Alpaca Farm Days! Visit the National Alpaca Farm Days official website for more info on the farms near you and the hours they will be open.

Our Farm will be open for visitors too! Click here for information about our Upcoming Events.

What's a Farmgirl to Wear?

2008-09-07T05:23:00.000-07:00

We want to look good, even when we're scooping poop. Right, ladies? Since I discovered the Super Birki clog, it has been hard to get me to wear other shoes to the barn. Last Fall I found a pink pair with poodles and the Eiffel tower printed on the inserts. I've worn them so much you can't still see the Eiffel tower - wish I had taken a picture of them when they were new. That pair seems to be sold out but they are always coming out with new fun colors. I have a purple pair, too. Here's a dusty pink pair. These shoes are great because they can get wet. When they get dirty you can just hose them off. Plus they cover enough of the top of the foot that it usually protects you from the occasional alpaca toenail that steps on you when doing herd health.

Okay, now that I think about it, maybe the Birks aren't THAT good looking. But they are comfortable, and they get the job done safely and effectively, and the color brings a little cheer to my day. The biggest problem that I have with Birks is that they have lead to my insisting on wearing Birkenstocks everywhere, not just to the barn. I am so addicted to comfortable shoes that I am going to be in serious trouble when I am expected to attend a wedding this Fall. This summer I branched out into FitFlops for daily wear, but I can't wear those to the wedding...... Can I?

Let me know what you think, and if you have some other recommendations for what Alpaca Farmgirls might like to wear!

Essential Resources for the New Breeder

2008-09-05T06:08:00.000-07:00

Today I thought I would provide some resources that are helpful for alpaca breeders.

For buying things like haybags, halters, leads, vaccinations, etc. I recommend Useful Lama Items. Some things they have will be cheaper at your local feed store so do check prices and local availability before you go hog wild online. Another great resource for medication, wormers, syringes, plastic gloves, fly control products, etc. is Jeffers. Both the equine and the livestock departments have items we use. Valley Vet supply is another resource for wormers, medications, and supplies.

We use Norm Evans, DVM formulated minerals. Dr. Evans' Book, The Veterinary Field Guide to Llamas and Alpacas is an essential reference that we use several times a week. I've heard that it's out of print right now so I will let you know where to get it as soon as I find out.

To learn more about handling and training your alpacas, we recommend Camelidynamics. For halters, this is the kind you want! It's really important that your halter fits your alpaca properly. If it slips down onto the cartilage just above the nose - THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO BREATHE! So make sure it fits tightly around the head, up by the eyes rather than down on the nose.

If you are expecting a new cria to be coming soon, you will want to have some plasma available in case he/she needs a transfusion. This will be a plasma transfusion given IP (in the gut), rather than a blood transfusion. It is important to have a bag of plasma in your freezer in case you need it. You can get this from Triple J Farms. In case their website is confusing, (I found it so since I am not a vet) just call them and tell them you need some lama plasma. More on this when we talk about cria care. Or leave questions in the comments section and I will answer them.

**FYI: When you see the word "lama" it refers to both llamas and alpacas. The one "l" instead of two means that they are talking about both types of camelids.**

Back to Normal

2008-09-02T06:23:00.000-07:00

Waiting for Gustav

Monday when Hurricane Gustav visited the Gulf Coast, I spent most of the day in pajamas hunkering down in the small hallway between my bedroom and my bathroom - with 5 other people. Some of them were really noisy. There were lots of feet in faces and other body parts trying to fit without offending others. Some tickling. Some complaining. A real family bonding experience.

After waking up at 5:00 to find out how we were faring the storm, I finally woke everyone up and rounded them into the "tornado safe" (yeah, right) hallway around 6am. These warnings lasted until 9am. I usually ignore. But this time the local weatherman was describing these twisters and telling us that in a few moments they would be at the local elementary school so I woke everyone and made them go to the hall. As soon as each warning expired, we all exited the hall and went to do something else until the next one. In total there were 6 tornado warnings yesterday and we took cover for all of them. I was supposed to clear out my big walk-in closet the day before (What? It's full of Creative Memories stuff from when I was a consultant years ago. very full) but I was so busy getting the alpacas ready I never got to it.

Steve boarded up half the house in prep of Gustav. I filled up every water bucket I could find for the alpacas in hopes that I wouldn't have to mess with the generator. That brings me to the big question you are all probably wondering..."How DO you prepare for a hurricane with over 50 alpacas?" Good question.

The Deep South Alpaca Connection has a good emergency preparedness document. For our farm, the first thing we do is decide if we should stay or go. This time I was sure that we had too many animals to evacuate so we were planning to stay. Thanks to the many alpaca breeders who offered to help us with evacuation. Turns out that was an option after all. But for Gustav we decided to stay because we were out of the "danger" cone a couple of days prior to landfall.

If you stay to ride out the storm you need to have one or more generators and plenty of gas to run them. This is necessary for when the power is out and you need to crank up the well for water and the fans to keep the animals cool. It is a good practice to start your generators once a month and run them for a half hour each time to make sure that they run properly when you need them. We try to do this the first Tuesday of each month. Having lots of water around is good during a storm, so fill all the buckets you can before it arrives. Other things you will need are chainsaws, extra chainsaw blades, tarps, medical emergency kits, (I even bought a few suture kits though I'm not sure exactly how they work. I figure if I need them I will learn how to use them quickly!) halters, and leads. Temporary panels are helpful in case your fencing becomes compromised and you need to quickly put together a pen to hold the animals.

Another thing you will have to determine is whether you will lock the alpacas into the barn/shelter or let them run outside in the storm if they so choose. We had Morton Buildings build our barn, and it has a 10 year wind warranty. Meaning that if it blows down within 10 years of being built they will come and rebuild it at no cost to us. Keeping that in mind, I generally will lock my alpacas in during a hurricane and some tropical storms. It depends on the wind speeds that are projected. Sustained winds above 70 miles an hour and I will lock mine inside. But this is only because I know my barn has withstood a category 3 storm (Ivan). This time it wasn't supposed to be quite that bad so I locked the North doors and let them roam in and out at will. During the lulls in the feeder bands the alpacas did go outside and graze. Some people will tell you to always leave them outside in a storm. If you aren't confident that your shelter will make it through the storm, do let them go outside so the building doesn't collapse on them. Personally, I worry that if they were in the field during a hurricane they would get hit in the head by a roofing tile from the construction next door or something. However in a tornado, alpacas are supposed to be safest outdoors, away from buildings. No one has a perfect answer. Let's face it, the best we can do is make a decision and live with it. So far we have been very fortunate.

You know you really live on a farm when...

2008-08-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

a stray cat leaves kittens in your barn. This is the type of thing that never happened to me when I was growing up in a house in a neighborhood. Random creatures taking up residence? How unusual, and fun! We once had a possum that liked to live on our porch eating our cats' food and sleeping in the cats' beds. But more on that another time.

One day in late June, we found 7 kittens on a shelf in our boys' barn. We did play with them, they were irrestistible. They also had fleas and were tiny so we found a box, put towels in it, put the kittens back in the box, and left some food and water for mom. Later momma cat did come back and she stayed in the box with them for a day or so. Then she moved the kittens. My children were heartbroken. We kept an eye out for them but never saw them again. Until...

About ten days later, I was having a conversation with our farm manager and we heard a loud meowing coming from under the machine shed. Out comes this adorable and very scraggly orange kitten. One of my girls had been telling me that she was dreaming of getting an orange kitten. Poof! Like at Disney World, wishes do come true!

We have been through a lot with this little one. We've had him since he was about 4 weeks old. His mom and littermates were never found. He's a hoodlum, decidedly naughty and wild, but he's now a part of the family. He should have made a terrific barn cat. He was practically born in a barn, but after enjoying life in air conditioning, he informs us that he is strictly an inside kitty and has no intention of being content with life "out there". So much for my allergies.

Note to self: buy stock in company that makes Claritin.

Gustav Brings Back That Old Feeling...

2008-08-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up with an unpleasant feeling in my stomach. It was that all too familiar feeling of being in the path of a hurricane. Since 1992, I have lived close enough to the water to be evacuating for hurricanes. We have been through all this with Hurricanes Andrew, Dennis, Ivan, and Katrina as well as some lesser known ones in South Florida. DH has about had it with the whole thing. I agree as being responsible for over 50 alpacas, 4 children, 8 dogs, 3 cats, and a rabbit is unbelievably stressful with a hurricane bearing down on you. We have had offers to help us evacuate the alpacas. THANKS so much. We will wait and see where the 3 day forecast puts Gustav. In the meantime I have to find evacuation places for the rest of the critters. The 6 Great Pyrenees are my biggest concern at this point.

To read about how we evacuated 42 alpacas and 4 Great Pyrs for Hurricane Ivan click here and go to the second half of the page. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

MagKenna Lei

2008-08-26T19:37:00.001-07:00

Here is 4 month old MagKenna Lei. She is truly our pride and joy! Our first Magnum cria, and can you believe that she is black? I mean really black. (Magnum is fawn and her dam, Antigia, is grey) She has been shorn and it is growing in BLACK! When she was born I thought that we needed a very different name for her. I was walking through the room with a basket of laundry and heard Kelly Ripa tell Helen Hunt that she loved her daughter's name (On Regis and Kelly). My ears perked up. Her daughter's name is "McKenna Lei". She said that it meant "many flowers from Heaven". That did it, we changed it a bit to give Magnum credit for this little doll, but we got the idea from Helen Hunt.

Here's To Good Health!

2008-08-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

"Nobody can be in good health if he does not have fresh air, sunshine, and good water."

~ Flying Hawk, Ogala Sioux Chief

Rainy Day on the Farm

2008-08-25T13:34:00.001-07:00

Rainy Day on the Farm

Tropical Storm Fay dissipated into a Tropical Depression and just about missed us. Hooray! We are having quite a bit of rain though. Wet alpacas look kinda funny like fluffy dogs do when they get wet. Always good for a giggle.

Prepping for Tropical Storm Faye

2008-08-23T07:41:00.001-07:00

Busy today preparing for a rainy weekend. Hubby has been tracking Faye since the beginning. Our favorite place to do this is noaa. Currently Faye has max sustained winds at 45MPH. She does seem to be leaving a lot of rain in her wake. Our ground is already saturated from a rainy summer, but we are high so I doubt we will have any bad flooding on our farm. Faye should be here this afternoon with the center of the storm coming around 4-6am.

I have gotten out the board games and am washing towels and sheets so I can let the kids help me fold later. We are all getting our computer time in early so we can unplug once the storm gets here. I have made rice krispy treats, always a huge hit at our house.

Here's the recipe:

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup clear Karo syrup
1 cup peanut butter (I use Peter Pan Plus to add vitamins)
6 cups rice crispies
12oz. semi-sweet chocolate morsels
12oz. butterscotch morsels

Melt butterscotch chips, then add chocolate chips. I use a double boiler for this.
Add sugar and Karo syrup to large saucepan. Heat on medium heat, stirring frequently, until it is clear and bubbles begin to form.
Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in peanut butter.
Stir in 6 cups rice crispies.
Grease 13x9 pan. Spoon rice crispy mixture into pan.
Spread the melted chocolate mixture over the rice crispies
Allow to cool completely and set before cutting.
Store covered. Enjoy!

See ya on the other side of Tropical Storm Faye.

Nothing Says Summer Like Belly Baths

2008-08-22T18:59:00.000-07:00

Our farm is in the Deep South. Alpacas can be raised in the South, but the heat and humidity is a challenge for alpaca farmers. Alpacas can actually die of heat stress so we are serious about keeping our critters cool. Fans are a must. Alpacas cool through their bellies so we water their tummies with a hose when we are concerned about an individual or the whole herd getting too hot. We want our alpacas to be acclimated to our Southern climate so we do not water everyone's belly every day, but we do use that technique when needed. Alpacas are like people. Some are hot natured. Others never seem to break a sweat all summer. They are all so different. I used to think that the black ones would be more hot. And I do think they would if they sat out in the sun all day with their deep pigment drawing the sun to them, but they sit in front of fans in the barn most of the day. In general black alpacas are not as dense as their lighter colored friends so most of the blacks aren't terribly hot relatively speaking. Density is probably the biggest factor after individual heat tolerance. If you want to raise alpacas in the Southeast I recommend you build your herd around fineness and not try to specialize in density at least at the beginning. The more follicles of fiber, the less room for their skin to breathe.

With regards to heat, we were told by our mentor to buy alpacas from our region when we were getting started. We followed that advice to a certain degee. But after a few years in the alpaca business, with some experience under our belt, we bought a herdsire from Maine. We brought him home after the AOBA National Conference in June. The next morning after we returned home, I opened that back door to go check on our new macho.

A wall of heat and humidity hit me in the face. I thought that I must have killed this poor alpaca to bring him down here as he was used to a much cooler and less humid existence. Panicked, I ran out and found him sunbathing in the field. For the rest of his life that boy loved to sunbathe and never appeared to be affected at all by our climate. We have also had a couple of alpacas who were born and raised here that don't like the heat. So you never know. A few look at me plaintively in the summer with nostrils flaring, their eyes saying "Can't you please do something about this?" I wish I could. Summers can be miserable here. For those gals I just pray that when they sell they go to cooler climates. For more on keeping alpacas cool in summer, here's an article on Preventing Heat Stress in Alpacas. Hang in there, it's almost over!

Got comments and/or tips for keeping animals cool in summer? Share them with us!

Walmart Thought of the Day and Veggies for Kids

2008-08-22T12:36:00.001-07:00

Max and Mitch

About a year ago a Super Walmart joined our town. It's about a mile and a half from our farm. Since it is on the way to everything we do, we go there alot. Unusual I know, to have a farm so close to such a big box store. Our town is really growing. Farmers are being slowly squeezed out of the picture. I still go to Bruno's every couple of weeks just to do my part to keep them in business. We really don't want Walmart to put the other grocery stores out of business so they can jack the prices way up.

As I was shopping at Walmart today, I noticed something odd. Only about 60% of one side of an aisle was devoted to canned vegetables. Our other local stores have at least one whole side of an aisle for these products. Walmart does have lots of fresh produce, and I know that fresh is better, but I was looking for some things for recipes (diced pimentos, quartered artichoke hearts, etc.). I was surprised to see how little they stocked in the vegetable category. It took me forever to find the canned pumpkin (it was in baking).

The updated food pyramid is loaded with fruits and vegetables at the base and topped with fats. I would say that what is available in this store is an upside down pyramid with more space devoted to selling snacks and fattier foods than fruits and veggies. Ice cream gets as much space as green canned vegetables and more space than the frozen vegetables. No wonder Americans are so chunky.

But are we as a nation obese because we are targeted by the retailers and their clever marketing? I mean, no one has ever made cabbage nearly as popular as the Keebler elves or the Pillsbury doughboy. Maybe the vegetable farmers should hire some veggie tale characters. Or is Walmart just giving the public what they want? Let's face it, ice cream tastes better to most of us than zucchini. (And if it doesn't to you, count that as a serious blessing. My youngest child adores vegetables, seeking out carrots for breakfast. Lucky child will be thin as a rail her whole life. Watch.) I'd love to hear your comments about this. What came first the fat Americans or the corporate world with their fat-making marketing and products?

Speaking of eating vegetables, Jessica Seinfeld wrote a book on how to get your kids to eat vegetables by sneaking them into their food. Has anybody read this? Any tips on getting kids to eat vegetables? I saw a recipe in a magazine that added beets and spinach to brownies. Ugh! I wondered, "Couldn't you just make them eat the brussel sprouts or lose the Nintendo?" Please let me hear your thoughts.

The Alpaca Registry (ARI)

2008-08-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

Sent in the bloodcard to ARI for this little angel today. All alpaca breeding stock are registered with the Alpaca Registry. (or should I say alpaca breeding stock should be) Each alpaca is DNA bloodtyped before they are registered. This assures everyone that when we say a certain alpaca is this one's sire, that information has been verified through DNA. On our farm we do handbreeding, which means that we put a male and a female together alone in a pen and observe the breeding. This helps us know when to expect a cria (baby alpaca), and it can help alert us to any problems or unusual behavior that might need to be noted. To send in the blood we draw a little, put it on a bloodcard designed for ARI, and mail it in. We should have her completed registration in a few weeks, hopefully in time to enter her in some Fall alpaca shows.

(Almost) Free Labor

2008-08-20T07:24:00.000-07:00

I have always wondered about making my kids work on the farm. I didn't grow up on the farm so I don't have a first hand example to follow. The dairy farmers who have all the members of the family working long hours, and the families where children have farm chores in the hours before dawn are foreign to me. (But I am also fascinated by this) One alpaca family we know has a single mom at the helm. Her teenage boys lay around on the couch while mom slaves in the fields. That doesn't seem right. Another family requires the children to have some contact with the animals each day. That sounds pretty good, but with 4 kids, I have too many other things to keep track of.

Having a farm is an excellent opportunity for us to instill a good work ethic in our children. They should work and learn the value in it. At the same time, I can't see myself making them do all the work. I don't want them to resent the farm where they are growing up. Plus we do have a full time farm manager, and I need to keep him! (For me, over 40 alpacas required a paid employee if I was ever to be able to leave the farm, even to go to the grocery store once a week.)

One example I love is a family with twin boys who have been required to help their parents on their alpaca farm in whatever way was age appropriate since they were about 5. The father of this family and I were talking this summer and he gave me an idea. His boys were working for $5/hour so they could buy a wii and games for it. The lightbulb went off in my head, and I put my son to work for $5/hour. He usually makes $35-45/week. Quite the builder, he buys legos. (You wouldn't believe the places we find tiny legos and arms of lego stormtoopers.)

This summer my seven-year-old boy has gotten to know the majority of our alpacas. He is perfecting the art of watering tummies of hot alpacas, and learning the ropes on how we run them out to graze at night and inside to sit in front of the fans during the day. To keep him from getting bored we let him do lots of different tasks rather than having to fill up 15+ water buckets day after day. He feeds, scoops poop, and helps herd the alpacas. On the weekends, he is even instructing his 5 year-old sisters how to do some of the farmwork. He is our resident expert on how to administer electrolytes. The above picture is of him and Caesar playing one summer evening.

Those of you who were raised on a farm or who are raising kids now on a farm, please leave some comments/thoughts/suggestions! How many chores are enough or too many? Should they be forced to do work or be paid? On a related note, should allowance be given or earned? I look forward to hearing from you.

SAHM and Alpaca Breeder

2008-08-19T11:49:00.000-07:00

One of the main reasons that the alpaca lifestyle worked for us was that it allowed mom to be home with the children and work at the same time. Being a stay at home mom (SAHM) was important to me.

When we first got the alpacas, my first child was three and I was pregnant with my second. Very pregnant. The only way that I was able to convince a vet to work with alpacas (remember this was several years ago) was because he felt sorry for me because my huge belly made me a sympathetic figure.

The fencing wasn't complete and the barn wasn't completely finished when the first 2 alpacas arrived. The couple we bought them from was nice enough to deliver them on their way to visit their daughter in TX for Thanksgiving. But we couldn't move the Thanksgiving holiday just because our barn wasn't ready. So the alpacas arrived and we put them in a stall on the end of the barn that was already finished. Problem was that we had a nice stall in the barn, and one nice fenced pasture on the other side of the property, but they weren't connected. To keep them safe from predators we wanted to put them in the barn at nigt. (We don't do this anymore.) You should have seen me eight months pregnant running, chasing, trying to herd 2 alpacas from out in the huge field into a door of the barn. Um, they weren't having it. Thanks to alpaca Joe for the advice to use ropes on t-posts to create a temporary alleyway for them to pass from pasture into barn. Alleyways are so key. Whew! That wore me out. I remember walking in and immediately popping in Marty McGee's video on handling alpacas, thinking I had so much to learn!

Why A Blog?

2008-08-19T10:52:00.000-07:00

Many people think that raising alpacas is weird. Perhaps. I wanted to write about what it is really like "in the trenches". The day after I graduated from my doctoral program (in clinical psychology), I moved to our alpaca farm. Burned out with being a receptacle for other people's crap, I moved to a place where my next job would involve shoveling animals' crap. Hmmm.

What makes someone want to continually take on this kind of life? In psychology there is the hope of healing. Without getting too involved in self-analysis, I believe that I found my calling in life when I became a mother. My desire to be a nurturer is stronger than my desire to heal others. In the book, The Contrary Farmer, author Gene Logsdon describes farmers as nurturers. They tend the soil, the flocks, the way a mother does her babies. Farming has traditionally been a socially acceptable way for men to be professional nurturers. It makes sense that this profession calls women to it. And once we see an alpaca, with that adorably cute face....are you kidding? We are hooked. Personally, I never stood a chance.