Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Feeding the boys on a glorious autumn (fall) day. Between storms, but the alpacas don't seem to mind. The sunlight shows off some of the long hairs around the eyes and ears. Glad I didn't take them all off at shearing time. Are you ready for the next storm? It seems to be that time of year. 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 yo...
Sep 27, 2023•17 min•Ep. 247
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Do you know what it feels like when you look and you are not seeing what you expect? This morning the stable was bare - in the rain! Where were they? The stress of keeping alpacas! I offer some suggestions on how to count alpacas and hold your nerve long enough to be sure there is a problem before you panic. They turned up - they had their breakfast, and everyone was OK. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, pl...
Sep 20, 2023•20 min•Ep. 246
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I muse on three things that will make living with alpacas easier - there is no easy. Do the right hard work. Keep going. Think like an Alpaca I also considered click-bait and how to avoid it - not sure I succeeded. 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 Hea...
Sep 13, 2023•22 min•Ep. 245
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I wonder out loud about ordinary days and being in the Doldrums. But each day can be a special day when you have alpacas - you never know what is coming next. Be seen and heard and see and hear. And tomorrow we get to do it all over again. What a privilege. 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. Alpac...
Sep 06, 2023•15 min•Ep. 244
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, a bonus episode, I tell the goldilocks and the three bears story for 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 Good Podcasting Works , which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd This podcast uses the following third-party services for an...
Aug 30, 2023•7 min•Ep. 243
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! We tell ourselves stories - of who we are and what we can do, or can't. Some are true but not all. Alpacas tell themselves stories about us too. Whether we are safe to be around. Whether we can be trusted. Whether we are unpredictable. Alpacas don't like to be rushed and they don't like surprises. We can help write their 'story-book' with simple small steps of good experiences. It is worth the time and effort. Look out for the bonus episode - Goldilocks ...
Aug 30, 2023•19 min•Ep. 243
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I talk about how I like to be noticed by my alpacas. I like to think it is more than just bringing the food, but I am not sure. Repetition of the right things will build your confidence. Experimentation is good - why not try some wet felting - here is a link for a simple tutorial. Go have 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...
Aug 23, 2023•17 min•Ep. 242
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I introduce you to our house guest, who I know from learning and teaching podcasting together - Craig Constantine from the US. He came to visit us and met some alpacas for the first time. We got some two-pairs-of-hands jobs done and moved some food around all in the good weather which Craig brought with him. Much appreciated. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - st...
Aug 16, 2023•19 min•Ep. 241
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! A fairly ordinary week - but then we talked last time about extraordinary being just out of sight. Do the preparations and keep things ticking along. It feels less exciting but is really important. LINK - Tristan Gooley https://www.naturalnavigator.com/ 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...
Aug 09, 2023•13 min•Ep. 240
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I am wondering about how the extraordinary is there with us just beyond the ordinary. Let the alpacas teach you to notice. Thank you Olwena (the large brown female alpaca with amazing eyes). 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 Podca...
Aug 02, 2023•16 min•Ep. 239
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Having been away for a few days made me realise how much I miss my alpacas when I am not there. Listen in for an update on what changed while I was away. 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 (Swansea)...
Jul 26, 2023•17 min•Ep. 238
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Alpacas have a rhythm and so do we. Sometimes we can get them to coincide. There are daily rhythms, weekly rhythms and seasonal rhythms. Rhythms are seen in the way alpacas walk; the growing seasons; the times of alpaca activity - shearing, birthing. Find the steady gentle rhythms of your alpacas and get in step. 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...
Jul 19, 2023•18 min•Ep. 237
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I have been reminiscing about some of the interviews I have done where we talked about alpaca fleece. Here are some clips to inspire you - at least, I hope so. 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 ...
Jul 12, 2023•22 min•Ep. 236
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I am thinking about the amazing alpaca journey that can begin when we meet our first alpaca. We don't all have the opportunity to keep our own alpacas, but for those fortunate to have some on the farm, they can be a never-ending source of delight. Confidence and curiosity are our best allies but probably in reverse order. Stay curious. But be warned, once they have some, many people find they want to add in some more! Thanks for listenin...
Jul 05, 2023•14 min•Ep. 235
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, if you are thinking of keeping alpacas, we suggest you start with what you good at. Consider: Where are you? Where do you want to go? How will you get there? Why do you want to keep 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 hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podca...
Jun 28, 2023•19 min•Ep. 234
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, we look at 'normal' alpaca behaviour - starting with their queuing. The RSPCA Five Freedoms and Five Domains give us some pointers about how we can ensure we care for our animals in the best way. Let me know if you come up with any good ideas for extra things we can do for our alpacas. Good news - the Canada Geese' eggs have hatched (3). Reducing numbers of horse-flies the hard way but we keep trying. Thanks for listening and I hope you ...
Jun 21, 2023•21 min•Ep. 233
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! I was hunting for large horseflies, but the alpacas thought I was after them. Not one of my most successful interventions. If you can identify a lifecycle for parasites and pests, you have a chance of breaking or at least interfering with it. It is one good reason for mucking out and collecting alpaca dung and moving it away from where the alpacas are housed. Not always possible, but something to think about. Geese with goslings continue to thrive, and g...
Jun 14, 2023•18 min•Ep. 232
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I offer some suggested guidelines for choosing alpacas. If you have any questions, please do let me know. What do you see when you look at an alpaca? Some guidelines (not exhaustive) Buy the best you can afford - but suitable for your purpose. Buy what you like - especially if they are going to be field companions buy for the characteristics you need do your homework think, talk and ask questions trust yourself Some extra questions you m...
Jun 07, 2023•19 min•Ep. 231
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! We are done dusted, and the alpacas looked pretty polished, even if I say so myself. They are in good shape this year and, most of the time, appreciate being free of their fleece. It is a significant undertaking but important for their welfare. It is also a harvest of their produce (fibre), and we gathered a lot this year. There are a few - in the process of shearing - photos on the website at https://alpacatribe.com if you want to check them out. Stay w...
May 31, 2023•21 min•Ep. 230
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! I have adjusted the old saying to "shear alpacas while the sun shines". We have started - listen in for an update. Sometimes I would like to speak alpaca but some of our alpacas made their feelings known and it is probably just as well I did not understand what they were saying in detail. I think we are friends again now! The sound of the shears gets in your head and I have even started dreaming about shearing! Still, it is only a short phase. We will al...
May 24, 2023•22 min•Ep. 229
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Do you ever find yourself saying - what are we going to do with you? This week it triggered a music earworm from The Sound of Music - what are we going to do with a problem like Maria? With your alpacas - what is the best way to solve problems? It depends on the problem, of course, so first, find your problem. This is usually a symptom so check for a deeper cause. What is the real problem here? Is it my behaviour, an alpaca's behaviour, environmental con...
May 17, 2023•20 min•Ep. 228
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I explore the benefits of limitations and how we see things. Are fences to keep us in or keep them out? It depends on how we choose to look at things. 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 Water...
May 10, 2023•18 min•Ep. 227
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, join me 'in the field' watching the alpacas watching me. Sat near the dust bath spot on bankside I am still not sure why this is the best place and why they love it so much - the alpacas tell me it is just how they roll! 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 Ste...
May 03, 2023•18 min•Ep. 226
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I reflect on how surprising it feels to consider where I am and how I got here. Could you keep alpacas? Probably but there are some big and smaller questions to consider. Alpacas are a delight but definitely a commitment. 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 St...
Apr 26, 2023•19 min•Ep. 225
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, noticing something about your alpacas is the first and most important step. But don't rush to conclusions. Most times, we should hold our conclusions lightly until we get more information. Try to find somewhere to park the question and stay curious. It could be in your head or on your phone. I like BearApp for this (sorry, Apple ecosystem only) - I can dictate, type, add photos and use hashtags for quick finding and grouping related reco...
Apr 19, 2023•20 min•Ep. 224
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I talk about the need to provide shelter and what works well. Especially helpful when you have a day of April showers. As well as built shelters, stables or barns, we can provide natural shelter using trees and bushes. And of course, a coat for the very young and very old also helps. Inclement weather = severe, rough, or harsh; stormy Stotting = Geordie word meaning bounce - some dictionaries seem to suggest it as an alternative word for...
Apr 12, 2023•17 min•Ep. 223
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Do you have a favourite place to sit and just be? In the sun, out of the wind, with a cup of tea, coffee or your favourite beverage? Somewhere with a view, or just really comfortable to sit - it is usually somewhere you feel safe and at home. It is like that for alpacas too. Sunbathing, dust bathing and chewing the cud. Alpacas have a favourite spot. If you can, spend some time with some alpacas and relax and see what you see. Thanks for listening and I ...
Apr 05, 2023•18 min•Ep. 222
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! I feel like a work-in-progress; how about you? Here are five things I think make for being a better alpaca shepherd. Courage and its close cousin, boldness Curiosity and its close cousin, teachability. Compassion and its close cousin, empathy. Felxibility and its close cousin, resilience. Organisation and its close cousin, planning. What do you think makes for being a good alpaca shepherd? Be kind to yourself and recognise you are still learning. I know ...
Mar 29, 2023•16 min•Ep. 221
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, Most of what we do around our alpacas creates some noise. Some sounds are more comforting than others. How do your alpacas respond to you singing to them? Or is it just me who often sounds foolish and gets funny looks from the alpacas? Humming to them can be problematic unless you are clear about what you are saying in the moment - reassuring or stress-inducing. Learning to speak alpaca is a good thing to aim for. Read the field, read th...
Mar 22, 2023•18 min•Ep. 220
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I muse on some examples of persistence and how they apply to keeping alpacas. Sometimes we should keep going, sometimes stop. Often we need to pivot. Find some good sources of support and wisdom to help you make your own decision. Take all of the factors into account. Just so you know, I am saying you should only stop something if you choose to - not because you think I am telling you to (which I am not). We do need to be flexible and wi...
Mar 15, 2023•17 min•Ep. 219
