Inspiration for this episode came from a blog post by Sue, my wife, - Quiet Disruptors - Yes, we’ve heard of ‘be more pirate’, and some of us have encountered ‘be more camel’.But what about being more alpaca?On a day when the final outcome of collective decisions that will affect the whole world is probably not yet clear, I thought a light-hearted invitation to be more alpaca might be rather attractive. After all, alpacas are: Calm–they rarely rush around, and their gentle disposition soothes th...
Nov 04, 2020•13 min•Ep. 97
Many people say they find alpacas calming to be around - I agree! So why is that? They are inquisitive, seem to like being around safe people and know how to watch you while looking like they are ignoring you. Having eyes on the side of their heads helps but in the end I think they are just magical creatures to be around and transfer their calmness to people in their vicinity. Listen to today's episode for my musings on this and what to look out for the next time you are around an alpaca. Stay w...
Oct 28, 2020•13 min•Ep. 96
Alpaca activity - theirs and your husbandry work - changes with the season. At this time in the UK it is usually slowing down as we go into Autumn and on to Winter. The grass slows down too, which means more hay. Find a good supply of leafy soft hay and store it well so you have supplies as you need them. Listen in for an update on how the cria are getting on. This is episode 95 which means we are a few short weeks from reaching 100! I know it is just a number and maybe 104 would be more signifi...
Oct 21, 2020•15 min•Ep. 95
Katie Lorenz of Campo Alpaca has made many connections in Peru with producers of alpaca based products. This collaboration helps women and collectives in Peru generate income to support families and communities there. It also means Campo Alpaca can share wonderful products with customers around the world. The emphasis is on creating unique alpaca clothing & accessories, ethically made in Peru combined with being a Social Impact Business Katie has strong connections with the University of Wis...
Oct 14, 2020•29 min•Ep. 94
When you introduce yourself, how long does it take before you mention alpacas? Are they part of who you are? They are for me and I am guessing you too. Taking time to be aware of how we talk about alpacas and improving this is likely to be helpful. When you next get the chance, listen to a good judge sum up the finer points of the winners - note the language. In this episode, I give a quick update of the alpacas on the farm and talk about some news items you may not have seen. Oscar the alpaca i...
Oct 07, 2020•17 min•Ep. 93
Seasons come and go - the sign of growing older is said to be that everything speeds up. Maybe, but 2020 has been an unusual slow-fast year, very variable. I finished off the pen-matings for this year and this episode is an update and reflection on the process. Did you know that alpacas have a reverse gear? And that they are star-gazers by nature. At least this has been my experience. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy...
Sep 30, 2020•10 min•Ep. 92
Having covered alpaca behaviour last time with Marty McGee Bennet of Camelidynamics, we should know everything about 'our' alpacas and understand them perfectly. But they still bring some surprises to our everyday living with alpacas. I have been supervising some matings here on the farm and it is a complex set of behaviours to fully understand. On this occasion, we had some 'run-off' tests as well as 'spit-off's'. Nearly done for the year with the matings, Autumn has made an appearance so thoug...
Sep 23, 2020•15 min•Ep. 91
In part two of my conversation with Marty Mcgee Bennett, we continue exploring how Marty built her knowledge and experience and how she has been teaching camelid owners in clinics and through books and videos. Marty is to be found on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pintrest but you will find all of the information, links and the way to purchase resources on her website at camelidynamics.com You can also sign up for her newsletter and join the Camelidynamics Guild community. As we talk a...
Sep 16, 2020•26 min•Ep. 90
I am delighted to bring you an interview with a special guest for this episode of Alpaca Tribe. I first met Marty McGee Bennett on one of her four-day intensive CamelDynamics Courses back in 2009. The impact remains to this day. Marty describes Camelidynamics as having five pillars: "I want to do things that feel safe. I want to be kind. I want to be respectful. I want to have fun. And I want all of that to be supported by good science. By a scientific approach to the behaviour of animals and ho...
Sep 09, 2020•27 min•Ep. 89
In this episode I catch up with my friend Tanya Russell - we talk about how much we have to learn, about being prepared and coping with the unexpected. Also the importance of knowing where to find help and finally the frustration she feels at having not been able to create a sculpture of her alpacas yet. If anyone wanted to commission one... do contact her. https://tanyarussell.com/ https://www.facebook.com/tanyarussellsculpture/ For our earlier discussions on the podcast - https://alpacatribe.c...
Sep 02, 2020•25 min•Ep. 88
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Aug 26, 2020•9 min•Ep. 87
If you only produce a little fleece from your alpacas, it can be more difficult to do something meaningful with it. In this podcast episode, we discuss some ideas and thoughts that might relieve the guilt and bring some definite benefit. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Aug 19, 2020•14 min•Ep. 86
SHOW NOTES That Alpaca Question lurks and troubles us - it is different for each of us but we need to find our answer to it. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Aug 12, 2020•10 min•Ep. 85
While musing on where alpacas come from, my thoughts turned to a recent guest, Suzanna James and her project with the women knotters from Antuata - part of the Awamaki Fair Trade Organisation. I caught up with Suzanna in a busy week where she has launched a new range of hats - Yura - knitted by the ladies of Antuata with a limited number available for order now. Visit https://www.suzannajamesknitwear.com/ and sign up for the newsletter to receive information about how to order and support the wo...
Aug 05, 2020•24 min•Ep. 84
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Jul 29, 2020•23 min•Ep. 83
SHOW NOTES In the last episode, I told you about the unexpected arrival of an extra cria - Lewys. Sadly we lost him 4 days later to septicaemia caused by fly-strike between the toes of one foot. Unusual and with little sign - his size age and lack of active immune system meant he was unable to fight it off. We need to learn from such events without overly blaming ourselves. Keeping records help be clear which animal (and their offspring) may be susceptible to certain conditions. Sometimes the si...
Jul 22, 2020•17 min•Ep. 82
I love receiving emails and especially when it is from people with alpacas and even more so when they listen to the podcast! Jennifer Eckels of Alder Creek Cellars and Farm wrote to me to say she had been listening and to say that the information we have covered was part of her preparation for taking on four alpacas of her own. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy...
Jul 14, 2020•28 min•Ep. 81
It has been another interesting week in the valley. Still waiting on two births, we have seven cria on the ground (2 male 5 female). They continue to be very relaxed and apparently appreciating my presence which is slightly unusual when dealing with pregnant alpacas. They even seem to approach and look for reassurance with my presence. I am getting used to spotting new-born cria at a distance in the field. Unfortunately, my accuracy could do with improvement. In my intensity in not wanting to mi...
Jul 08, 2020•12 min•Ep. 80
Cria Watch continues as the last few pregnant alpacas hold out for good weather. They are OK at the immediate and very near weather forecasting but the longer range is more of a challenge and the lovely fine sun has given way to heavy showers and lower temperatures. We have some coats to protect the cria in their first few days and nights so they have been coming in handy. The best we have found for new born are made my Mary Roach and have a good covering of the underneath belly area as well as ...
Jul 01, 2020•18 min•Ep. 79
Births of our cria continue - with some surprises! Involved when you need to be, being in the right place at the right time. Leaving things alone when you can - which is most of the time. Nona and Iona have followed on from last week's female cria with two males. Follow the signs but be patient - they arrive eventually but sometimes when you are not looking Check the website for video clips. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy...
Jun 24, 2020•25 min•Ep. 78
In this episode you will hear about the arrival of our first two cria this year and the names we chose for them. Angharad daughter of Betsi weighed in at 8 kg and is strong and doing well. Her mother, Betsi still grumbles and calls the cria away whenever she sees me (normal for her) but is starting to settle more quickly than previous occasions. Amelia broke her streak of boys by giving birth to her first daughter. Beautifully white and 6.5 kg for which I am sure Amelia as a smaller, more compac...
Jun 17, 2020•25 min•Ep. 77
Kerry Lord of Toft UK has grown a successful British based retail business supplying internationally, selling crochet kits and helping people learn the simple skills that are flexible enough to produce over 500 different animals. It began with Edwards Menagerie with 50 patterns including the perennial favourites (which one is your favourite? - I tell you mine in the episode). Patterns and kits are available from the website and there is a strong and active community to be found on Instagram and ...
Jun 10, 2020•44 min•Ep. 76
Do you go out in the rain or are you more of a stay indoors kind of person - I know some alpacas like that but you never can tell quite what they are going to do. Today was outside in the rain - which we had very little of in May after having had the wettest February on record. What is next? Just when you think you are finished... we have a few off-farm shearings to do to help out with some animals we sold previously. I talked last time about how loud Millie screams when being sheared - here you...
Jun 03, 2020•11 min•Ep. 75
It has been coming for a while but finally arrived this week - alpaca shearing. Preparation makes the job easier and more enjoyable, though it is still a necessary, physical, dirty and smelly job - it is lucky we like the smell of alpacas! Millie is always first because everything else is easier after that. A good crop of fleece this year and the girls seem in good condition. Cria watch begins soon for us! I like this time of year. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysi...
May 27, 2020•11 min•Ep. 74
Suzanna James of the eponymous Suzanna James Knitwear has a thing about traceability - and it is a good thing. What is its origin? Whose hands did it pass through, and what is their story? An interest in the origin of her raw materials has meant Suzanna visited farms to meet those who had a literal hand in the journey from sheep to workshop. It even involved a trip from Cardiff to Peru to a village 4,000m up in the Andes. Shearing, spinning and community pride Peruvian style. Natural dyeing usin...
May 20, 2020•31 min•Ep. 73
Do you have a happy place? A place where you can go, physical or metaphorical? My happy place is with my alpacas. Come and join me as I think about what makes them so calming to be around. May you know quiet, interested and accepting relationships in your life - both people and alpacas. What is your favourite colour? What are you doing with your fleece? Drop me a line to steve@alpacatribe.com or leave me a recorded message here . This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:...
May 13, 2020•8 min•Ep. 72
This episode is with a lovely artist from Tennessee who happens to have the surname of Llamas - (pronounced Ya-mass in Spanish - listen here ). Kristin Llamas began with an art project to link people's names to paintings of llamas - the Spanish for "what is your name" is ¿Como te llamas? - so the play on words all came together delightfully and resulted in many paintings of both llamas and alpacas plus a book - available through all good book stores. ( This link is via Barnes and Noble ) The ini...
May 06, 2020•25 min•Ep. 71
It is nice to have some rain after. long dry spell and the alpacas seem to be enjoying it too. Recently people have been contacting me to see if we have any alpacas for sale. The answer... it depends on what you are looking for. 5 questions to consider when buying alpacas and 5 take aways. Is keeping alpacas really for you? - think carefully about what is involved and the long term commitment that it is. What is your goal? - fleece, breeding, showing, business, or pets. Where will you get them f...
Apr 29, 2020•9 min•Ep. 70
All the days can seem the same at the moment so having something to make Thursday special can be relaly helpful - like listening to the Alpaca Tribe Podcast! Thanks for listening and subscribing. Feel free to drop us a line or leave an audio message using the SpeakPipe link Over the years of keeping alpacas I have learnt various lessons Lesson 1 - You have to learn Lesson 2 - Use the right equipment Lesson 3 - It is not a race Lesson 4 - Learn who to listen to Takeaways Keep calm Be prepared Alw...
Apr 22, 2020•15 min•Ep. 69
I caught up with our old friend Jeremiah Owen of Hireth Ranch, in Southern California. The aim was a bit of normal - well normal for an alpaca, goat and rabbit ranch with Anatolian Shepherd livestock guard who has just had puppies. That kind of normal. Join us in this weeks episode for a catch up and an alpaca chat. https://www.facebook.com/hiraethranch/ This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy...
Apr 15, 2020•30 min•Ep. 68
