Kids | Alpaca Meadows

Alpaca 4-H Program 2020

Four kids from local 4-H clubs came to Alpaca Meadows this summer, adopted alpacas to work with and prepare to show at the Richland County Fair. This gives kids an opportunity to learn about alpacas and select alpacas as a 4-H project, without the commitment of owning one. Kat Krietemeyer showed Shiya, Anna Irwin showed Annalise, Arica Uplinger showed Amelia, and Carson Abbott showed Alvira. Impressive how well they all cleaned up for the fair!

Though nervous about how to re-open our farm in a safe way during a pandemic, I’m happy we were able to offer this opportunity to a few kids whose activities have been cancelled everywhere they turn (along with the rest of the world). Parents and kids seemed to all enjoy the diversion and a chance to focus on something besides what’s going on in the world right now.

Alpaca Bird Nesting Balls

What is an Alpaca Bird Nesting Ball, you ask? It is a ball made of grapevine stuffed full of alpaca fiber, for the birds to pluck out and carry away to build nests for their young! Alpaca fiber is very soft, and very warm. Can you just imagine what a comfortable nest a mama bird could build for her babies!

BIRDS REALLY DO USE

The birds really do use this fiber and I frequently find it when cleaning out birdhouses in the Fall. The grapevine balls are approximately 4″ in diameter and generously filled with 3 ounces or more of alpaca fiber inside, and sticking out of them. Nesting balls hang from a piece of twine, and can be hung on a branch or tied.

Morning Chores

My husband is gone this week, so I’m doing double duty while he’s away, his work and mine. Along with shipping orders and a number of other things that he normally takes care of, I’m doing the morning chores. I should rephrase this … I get to do the morning chores! There are definitely days I’d trade the time I sit in front of the computer a good share of the day, for the stress relieving, sometimes down and dirty, tasks of caring for our animals.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease is a phrase used to convey the idea that the most noticeable (or loudest) problems are the ones most likely to get attention, and that’s true when it comes to our Angora goats. Quieting the bleating of our three goats, Mike, Ike, and Lola comes first. They act like they are starving, and I can hardly get the feed in the tubs as they push each other out of the way. Not very mannerly.

Spring Open House Pictures

We had more families with children at our Spring Open House than we’ve probably ever had. Fortunately I remembered to take some pictures, especially of kids and alpacas! Gentle and curious by nature, alpacas respond very well to children. Kids got a chance to pet the alpacas and walk Sunscape, one of our Spring babies … Read more

Spring Break and Grandchildren

Keandre’ and Zavier, our eleven and six year old grandchildren, couldn’t wait, were coming out of their skin excited, to come help Papa on the alpaca farm yesterday. I don’t think they had any idea what they were in for. My husband wasn’t sure what they would be able to do, would be willing to … Read more