Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I predictably complain about the weather. I am British, after all! Strangers on the farm and more welcome visitors - swallows, ducks and dragonflies . Keep the water topped up during the hot weather and try to spend some time with your alpacas - you may want to avoid direct sunlight! Take care and hope to see you again soon. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - ste...
Aug 10, 2022•17 min•Ep. 188
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, it is a great day for a walk and a talk with the alpacas. The lake is starting to fill again (slowly, though it might not last) The girls were nicely arranged around the buildings waiting for my arrival. Pic omn the website for you. If you can, go spend some time with an alpaca. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail fr...
Aug 03, 2022•20 min•Ep. 187
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I explore how I think about normal and variations from it. A laid-back summer episode. Also do go check out this podcast from The Carbon Almanac https://carbon-sessions.captivate.fm/episodes/1#showEpisodes Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatheringto...
Jul 27, 2022•18 min•Ep. 186
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I am thinking about how funny alpacas can be and how they are a delight to be around. Remember to always laugh with them, not at them - that goes for those significant humans in your life too! Millie the matriarch and Megan and Alys all get a mention. What do you do with your alpacas for fun? Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me ...
Jul 20, 2022•21 min•Ep. 185
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, we hear some sounds and reflect on what you think of when someone says "the sound of summer". We also have a valley update and yet more sounds we are hearing. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works , which is part of T...
Jul 13, 2022•16 min•Ep. 184
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I am thinking about the march of time and how it is marked by seasons and regular activities. I also share how I am particularly grateful for the benefits of alpaca pace to my life. What about you? Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Goo...
Jul 06, 2022•17 min•Ep. 183
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I am considering how to make sense of the things that happen. Sometimes they are random, sometimes they are the result of our actions and sometimes they mean something. But not always. For example, there is no connection between me planning to shear and it starting to rain - at least I don't think so! Make your plans, stay flexible and include some contingencies and then make peace with not knowing. The circumstances may not change but w...
Jun 29, 2022•16 min•Ep. 182
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, we will be thinking about what success means to us. It could be the first time you do something, the repeats that increase your skill, or it could be consistency over time. Success means different things to different people and also over time. The Carbon Almanac is going to be an amazing printed resource for people who care about the planet and all life on it, including alpacas. To be published soon - paper supplies permitting. Meanwhile...
Jun 22, 2022•17 min•Ep. 181
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, we are thinking about the future and change and how we can prepare, or at least ask the right kind of questions. When change happens slowly we may not notice it as much but we will still experience the impact at some point. Climate change, sourcing feed, delivery challenges, sustainability and regeneration. We have to take account of so much. But don't panic, or slide into eco-anxiety. There are things we can do. LINKS https://thecarbona...
Jun 15, 2022•20 min•Ep. 180
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, we talk about finishing the shearing for the whole herd. So welcome! Learning as always - about the alpacas, individually and collectively. Learning about ourselves. Confidence and clarity. Preparation and mindset. It all works in together. What does success look like to you? Moving target, so take the small wins and let them build together to make progress. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch...
Jun 08, 2022•19 min•Ep. 179
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, we talk shearing and give a valley update. I had forgotten how physical shearing is and am now suitably tired and we are only partway through! Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works , which is part of The Waterside (Sw...
Jun 01, 2022•21 min•Ep. 178
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I explore some things I have found that surprise alpacas. Their curiosity normally intervenes but sometimes they do make a little jump first. It includes: sudden movements loud sounds unexpected objects things underfoot things being blown around Check out your local environment to reduce potential impact. What things have surprised your alpacas? Drop me a line and let me know. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would ...
May 25, 2022•19 min•Ep. 177
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I want to explore how we can talk with our alpacas. I am sure we talk to them but do you know when they talk back? Our aim is to better understand what our alpacas need. If we listen (including watching) they will talk to us. Three questions: What do you notice? What does it mean? What should I do about it (and when)? Not a magic wand, just a step along the way to being better alpaca owners. Let me know what you hear. Thanks for listenin...
May 18, 2022•16 min•Ep. 176
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I explore change, considering how we approach it and the difference between things we have no control over and things we can affect. World scale changes will affect us, maybe not today or even tomorrow, but soon. As always, I encourage you to go spend some time with your alpacas and enjoy the moment. Let me know your thoughts. The podcasting timeline and where the term podcast came from https://internationalpodcastday.com/podcasting-hist...
May 11, 2022•18 min•Ep. 175
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I encourage us to be kind to ourselves and allow mistakes to be learning opportunities - but it is not easy. Listen in to a valley update and Amelia's latest strangeness. Planning for a mini-series on growing older - both our alpacas and us! Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hoste...
May 04, 2022•19 min•Ep. 174
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! I have learnt many things while keeping alpacas - obviously about them but also about me. In this episode, I share three of those life lessons that transfer to 'normal living' not just alpacas. Patience Attention Loss and love What have you learnt from alpacas? Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is ho...
Apr 27, 2022•16 min•Ep. 173
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I give a valley update, talk about what spooked the girls and what we can do about it and consider how we move forward in our experience of keeping alpacas by increasing traction and reducing friction. A CAMELIDynamics Virtual Conference - 2-day virtual conference with amazing guest speakers and camelid focussed knowledge. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve...
Apr 20, 2022•19 min•Ep. 172
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I notice some things and invite you to become more aware of what you notice. Alpacas are great to be around when your head is spinning with problems and questions that don't have answers. It kind of puts things into perspective. So do yourself a favour and spend some time with an alpaca - or the next best thing, an episode of alpaca tribe! A CAMELIDynamics Virtual Conference - Amazing speaker line up - you need to check it out! Paka Appa...
Apr 13, 2022•18 min•Ep. 171
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I am in conversation with Lanette Frietag of FeltLOOM. Lanette has long-term experience of alpacas and other fibre animals, and even owned some of the early imports of alpacas to the US. Before that she had llamas. How do you scale up your use of fleece to make living, or at least cover the costs of feeding your alpacas? We all face that challenge. Lanette discovered first wet-felting and then needle-felting, by hand. Recognising a machi...
Apr 06, 2022•20 min•Ep. 170
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, we will be revisiting the first episode of the podcast - over three years ago - hardly seems possible. It was a good reminder to me of where we started and why - I would love to know what you think and what you would like more of - drop me an email to steve@alpacatribe.com. Can't wait to hear from you. Spring is my favourite time of year - well today is my favourite time of year really but currently, that means Spring. On the website, we...
Mar 30, 2022•18 min•Ep. 169
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, we are thinking about Spring. As we pass the spring equinox the sun gets stronger and warmer. Ideal alpaca sunbathing weather. Thoughts also turn towards... spring things. What is the word that comes after Spring? In the US it may well be... Break as in Spring Break. Here in the UK my thoughts turn to Spring Cleaning Listen in to find out more. Foxgloves - Easy to see the leaf rosettes in the Spring. Uproot them while you can see them be...
Mar 23, 2022•14 min•Ep. 168
We look at the alpaca dam and sire but may still not have a clue about the cria that will result. Join me as I muse on breeding decisions. The first consideration is the bloodlines and avoiding potential inbreeding. Next, we should be considering the desirable traits and how to increase the likelihood of adding to them in the next and following generations. At one level it seems simple but there are issues of genotype and phenotype and which traits are clustered together. One of the important fa...
Mar 16, 2022•16 min•Ep. 167
Change is the one constant. Join me on the alpaca feeding round on a wet late-winter afternoon. For basic equipment like troughs and buckets, investing in some long-lasting ones will serve you well. Take care of yourself. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Mar 09, 2022•24 min•Ep. 166
We are all creatures of habit but alpacas especially so. From feeding preferences and positions to grazing routes and times of the day. Millie and her daughters have particular behaviours that are noticeable but so do the others, even if they tend to hang back. Noticing the tendency to form habits, how do we make good use of it? Calling them, feeding them at the same time in the same place and knowing where they are likely to be at different times of the day can all be used to our advantage in s...
Mar 02, 2022•18 min•Ep. 165
Here in the UK, we survived the three named storms in five days, with some trees down in the valley but not any serious damage thankfully. The alpacas kept themselves indoors when the winds were strong and were producing driving rain. Millie was a little unwell with some diarrhoea but we were able to get her balanced up again pretty quickly. To give a little extra protection we added a waterproof coat. We got a couple to help the older girls and they are really appreciating them. Bright red so I...
Feb 23, 2022•18 min•Ep. 164
Alpacas recognise each other - and us. From a distance and close up, they pick up on cues from all of their senses to know where they are and who they are with. What can we learn from them? The herd group dynamics of alpacas always amaze me with their complexity and detail. From who they will share a feeding trough with, to who they will sit down next to. From who they know to be part of their family to who they count as friends. It is easy to anthropomorphize but from my experience, I would say...
Feb 16, 2022•18 min•Ep. 163
Listen in to find out about the fox drama followed by the lifebuoy drama. The things these alpacas get up to! I always loved the concept of managing by wandering around since I first came across it in a previous life (ie before alpacas). Who knew you could apply it to managing your alpacas? "What are you doing Steve?" "Oh, I am just managing the alpacas!" - no really! Some things to look out for when having your risk assessment wander Tangles Gaps Risk of physical injury - thorns, nails, collaps...
Feb 09, 2022•20 min•Ep. 162
How do you make decisions? It's a process and the final decision starts with the first consideration of maybe. We build a series of choices and data gathering into our final decision of commitment. But it all begins with the first small decision to stop and take a look. If you are thinking of keeping alpacas, we owe it to ourselves to consider chasing and fulfilling our ambitions. At the same time, we owe it to everyone else to make sure we weigh up the pros and cons seriously. We don't have to ...
Feb 02, 2022•15 min•Ep. 161
So, alpaca feet are a little different. They have two toes and they have long nails associated with those toes. And then the toes kind of merge into a little bit of web, but it merges into a flat, but fleshy pad, quite like a dog's paw, It's quite distinct. There's nothing quite like it. It's not like a sheep's foot where you have the hard hoof, so these are soft. They spread the weight. Now, occasionally you'll get stood on - no fairly regularly you'll get stood on. So you'll feel the weight of...
Jan 26, 2022•13 min•Ep. 160
When you start into a new year, there seem to be two things going on at the same time, more of the same, and different. Now, these are both happening at the same time, in the same space, in the same place. It's just another day in alpaca land. The alpacas don't seem to know anything about Christmas, new year or public holidays. And why should they? I have been delighting in the extra light that is continuing to appear making the day a little lighter for longer each day. The critical light window...
Jan 19, 2022•12 min•Ep. 159
