Growing up on a farm, one of my favourite things to do was spending time in the barn. The farm I grew up on wasn’t a conventional farm like you might see driving throughout Ontario – I grew up on a goat farm. We didn’t raise the goats to be food for our table rather for the milk that we could drink. We made cheese and butter from the milk as well as drank it every day in our cereal, tea and in the rice pudding my mom used to make.
Farms to me were chickens, pigs, sheep, cows, horses and of course goats. Then there were alpacas!
I heard about raising alpacas from a friend of mine. She had visited a local farm, asking lots of questions and eventually took the plunge buying her first alpaca! She added to her herd each year with cria (pronounced cree-ah which are baby alpacas) and sold their fibre and handmade products as well as cria to other alpaca breeders. And in that moment, A Moments Grace Alpacas was born.
Alpaca fibre is luxuriously soft and extremely warm and is perfect as hand knits or needle felted hats for our cold Canadian winters. Without the lanolin of sheep’s wool, alpaca fibre is perfect for any with allergies to lanolin or sensitivities to wool. With the beautiful natural colours of brown, white, black and gray you can enjoy the fibre in its natural state without dying. The fibre is highly prized and is actually the 3rd most valuable fibre in the world making it onto the fashion runways in New York.
The cost ratio of raising an alpaca (about the same per month as a dog) to what the fibre is worth is extraordinary! As very little space is required to raise an alpaca (approximately 8 animals per acre), with only an acre or two, a 3 sided shelter and a 4 ft fence; alpacas are perfect for a small hobby farm. The fibre is shorn once per year in similar fashion to sheep and sorted based on the quality of the fleece.
Intriguing isn’t it?
If you’re looking for something new and slightly out of the ordinary to do this weekend, here is your chance to visit an alpaca farm near you!
September 27 & 28 are National Alpaca Days throughout North America. If you’re in the Toronto area, Arriba Linea in Uxbridge, Ontario is just a short drive away. Open from 10am-4pm September 27 & 28, not only will you meet some alpacas up close, you can enjoy spinning and felting demonstrations, learn about an alpaca lifestyle and for the kids – face painting and balloons with Malibu Bob, The Party Guy from 12pm-2pm.
With most farms having an on-site store with alpaca products, you can even get a jump start on your Christmas list! Or for those that like to knit or felt themselves, purchase a roving and make your own Christmas gifts.
Visit http://www.alpacainfo.ca/canadian-alpaca-farm-days.php to find an alpaca farm near you in Canada and http://nationalalpacafarmdays.com/ in the United States.
By Nancy T.