I've wanted to visit this farm for quite some time. The farm opened in 2006 and has several alpacas that the family uses to harvest their fiber and spin yarn.
The shop also sells Fair Trade items from Peru and teaches fiber classes.
Alpacas are related to llamas, but are shorter and not as cuddly. They're more wary of people and don't readily let you pet them. But they're gentle animals.
They're fun to watch and the yarn that's made from their fiber is soft and wonderful. The little one above is the newest addition. He was only 2 days old when I took this picture!
While at the store, one of the owners gave us a quick tour and introduced us to their alpacas, including some newborns that were up and running around in the maternity pasture with their moms, the males in a barn and other female alpacas out in other fields.
He said that alpacas are pregnant most of the time and are depressed when they're not pregnant or nursing. Could you imagine being pregnant all the time?
In the store, I picked up two skeins of yarn and a pattern to make into Christmas presents. I also picked up two shawl pins for me.
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Want to learn more about alpacas? Check this book out:
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Josh bought me an alpaca scarf when he was in Chile and I cant wait to try it out this winter. It feels like it is going to be super warm!
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