Country Critters Alpaca Farming
Embracing the Craft of Alpaca Farming
With each fiber meticulously tended to, a symphony of purpose unfolded— a plan to build a sustainable legacy of softness rooted in the fine art of alpaca farming for their exquisite fleece. Every decision from the beginning was made with foresight, balancing the beauty of genetic lineage with the practicality of product development.
Alpacas turned companions, each contributing to a harmonious whole, Ezelle ensured that every fiber strand finds its place in the grand tapestry of creation.
“ Every animal on the farm needs to be contributing, so I make sure I can use all the fiber for some type of product. I have animals of varying ages. I always have fiber that can go to rug yarn or wearable products. I produce wearable fiber in the superfine range,” she said.
“ My goal is always to have alpacas that tolerate human engagement. Expecting them to enjoy human contact is probably too much, but being comfortable around humans and other animals is important. When I started, I was careful to find out about the temperament of the animals I was purchasing. I wanted to know how they are around each other, people and children.”
“ For breeding, I am careful not to mix two high-strung personalities. I have learned that there is a genetic component to personalities and one herd shire, though a fantastic animal, did not have the best temperament.”
“ For breeding, I am careful not to mix two high-strung personalities. I have learned that there is a genetic component to personalities and one herd shire, though a fantastic animal, did not have the best temperament.”
A Focus on Color Diversity and Softness
With an eye for diversity in natural tones and dyed shades, Ezelle embarked on a quest to bring forth a kaleidoscope of colors that ignite the senses. In the realm of alpaca breeding, where there are 22 basic coat colors, her focus sharpens on hues that lend themselves beautifully to the art of dyeing.
She is guided by a desire for softness and luxury.“ I have several alpacas with superfine fiber that we will process into yarn, making hats, scarfs, or felted products. Anything that touches the skin should be soft,” she said.
Crafting a Fusion of Clay and Fiber
As seasons ebb and flow, so does the artist within. Ezelle transitions seamlessly between clay and fiber, shaping functional art pieces that speak of passion and creativity.“ When I started with clay, the goal was to support the fiber art side of the business. I was doing a lot of braided cords that I used for necklaces, so I made clay pendants. I sold at fiber markets, and everyone wanted a unique yarn bowl. So, I made yarn bowls from templates with a square shape. I have always found it challenging to do the same thing repeatedly,” she said.
“ In the cold weather, I work more with fiber; when the weather warms up, I switch to clay. This seems to work well, except in the summer, I can be found elbowdeep in buckets of washed and dyed fiber. The summer is also the best time to dye since it can be done outside. There is always a season and time for art.”
Ezelle told AcreageLife that one of the challenges for hobby farms is staying current and appealing to a broad audience. During this economy, artists like her struggle.
“ I am always looking for something that will appeal to other homesteaders and draw interest,” she concluded.
Monte, one of the Moonville alpacas, struts his stuff.
16 AcreageLife September 2024 AcreageLife. com