Our Open Day

Alpaca Crafts

The words Warp and Weft are terms used in weaving. Warp is the vertical thread on a loom, and the weft is the horizontal thread which is woven in and out of the warp. Both together form the strength and shape of the fabric being made. These Newsletters are intended to show how this also relates to AzSu Alpacas and life here on the farm.

In the first sections we aim at the existing alpaca breeder/owner. The rest we hope will be enjoyed by all who have requested to receive a copy.

Important News

We now hold stock of GWF Camelibra, Fibregest and Joint Aid for dogs. So these are readily available from the farm. Contact us to come and collect. Yes the alpacas love this feed, but what a difference the joint aid has made to Chancellor and Oscar, our two yellow labs.

Our Open Day

In the dappled sunlight, looking across at the surrounding fields turning from green to butter gold, I am aware of the delicate perfume from the clover flowers as their white heads sit amidst the green of the grass in our paddocks. The honey bees are busy gathering as much nectar as they can whilst the alpacas graze gently all around me. A perfect setting for our Open Day!

In addition to the usual activities there will be for the first time exhibitions and demonstrations from local craftspeople and artists.

Diary Notes

On Saturday 2nd August we will be taking three alpacas to the Holme Hale Summer Fayre for the day. Come and see us and other local crafts persons and join in the fun.

Now is the time to consider next year's crias. Our pure black stud Farquhar's progeny are now on the farm for all to see. Click here to view all our studs.

Seasonal Alpaca Care Tips

Alpacas in this area will all have had their Bluetongue vaccination by now, but remember they are still at risk for a further 3 weeks AFTER the second jab. Keep a copy of your batch numbers handy in case of moving your alpacas. This should accompany all sales, transfers, and long term agistments. Don't forget this year's babies; they will need vaccinating when one month old.

Continued cold wet weather means little sunshine so badly needed by the alpaca after the winter. ADE as an injection is, so we understand, no longer available. On the farm we use VITAMIN GEL ADE with B12 in paste form which is given orally. This comes in two sizes to accommodate both the small and the larger herd.

Heard of FASTRACK? This is a pro-biotic paste, which gives alpacas a bit of a kick start if a little sluggish, is great as a boost to slow starters, and can also be given before setting out on a journey as a tummy settler. (Ideal to give them prior to departing for a show). They are both available from Eggsport. Their site can be found on our website in the Links page.

For those new ‘parents’ we suggest you buy at least one ‘cria’ coat. For the best quality coats in our opinion ring Mary Roach on 01299 896827. In the absence of a cria coat, bubble wrap around the tummy a couple of times acts as an insulator, but be careful how far down the tummy you put the wrap if you have a male cria, as his ‘call of nature’ may make him wet and therefore cold on the inside. Bubble wrap is also water repellent to a certain extent. Be careful not to wrap it too tightly and check it daily.

Show season is also here. Remember that it is not only you who gets stressed at times such as these. The alpaca also feels it. They are away from their natural environment and companions. To ease this, take as much as you can from the farm in the way of hay, feed and even water if going to a one day show. Remember they will not have the grass under their feet to eat as they would at home. Ensure halter training is not a last minute rush job and remember too, that they are cooped up in a small pen for a very long time in the scheme of things. Leave yourself time to settle them in with ease. Exercise them before they are penned. We also take with us, in a plastic bag, a small amount of their own dung. Emptied out in a discrete area ensures they relieve themselves quickly once they arrive at their destination and makes them feel more at home. Keep their pens clean too. Like a good dog owner, clean up after them, collect as they drop. If the show is longer than one day be sure you allow yourself enough time before and after the show to exercise them too.

Fly strike time is also here. Be watchful and observe! Know every mark on your alpacas. Inspect if something seems different on their fleece. Avoid castrating at this time if you can. If you are unfortunate to get an attack then act swiftly. See the article on our web site under ‘Calcite and Fly Strike’.

Keeping on top of the paddock cleanliness is important too as this is a sure way to help keep those pesky flies at bay. On the farm we poo hoover on a daily basis rotating all the paddocks at least once every week. Remember, if kept clean Alpacas will soil only 10% of their pasture. If not this will increase to 25%. Quite significant if you have limited grazing land!

All drinking bowls should be cleaned daily too. You may think only your alpacas drink from their bowls but what about the rest of nature too!

Jottings from the Herb Garden

One herb that is beginning to make an imposing clump is Tansy (Tanacetum Vulgare) which has been planted at the lowest part of the slope. It is a hardy, strong growing perennial which will put up with conditions that the more delicate herbs will not. In our good soil it may reach a height of 4 feet, and is most attractive with its deeply cut leaves and heads of egg-yolk yellow ‘buttons’ in August. Bees and hoverflies enjoy its flower heads and the hoverflies will eat aphids - we want to encourage those!

Tansy does have medicinal applications – but never attempt to dose yourself, as an overdose can be fatal, this is certainly one to leave to the trained medical herbalist. This does not mean it is without use to us, however. The flowers dry well and keep their lovely colour throughout the winter. The plant, both fresh and dried makes a very good insect repellent.

Thomas Tusser names Tansy in his list of ‘strewing herbs’ of 1577. If mixed with Elder leaves it was said to be very good at repelling flies. It had also been used to deter fleas, and sprigs of the plant were placed under rugs to this end. It is said also to be repellent to ants and even mice! The moth too is affected, so don’t be surprised if you see them hanging from the shop beams soon.

One last little point – Tansy is also a dye plant and is purported to dye wool green. So although we won’t be drinking Tansy Tea, it certainly deserves its place in our garden.

Seasonal Wildlife Notes from the Farm

We were visited by an oystercatcher in early spring. With its bright orange/red bill and legs, and immaculate black and white plumage, the oystercatcher brought quite a note of nautical crispness to the farm!

In the herb garden we have a family of bank voles. The bank vole's shaggy coat, blunt nose and short rounded ears almost hidden by its fur, distinguish it from a mouse. As it forms part of the diet of most carnivores, here on the farm it will include barn owls and stoats. The bank vole is found throughout the British Isles and watching these attractive busy little creatures go about their lives is the perfect excuse to stand very still, lean on the hoe and simply do nothing but enjoy the scene!

Seasonal Recipe

Ash Key Pickle

Ash keys are the winged seeds of the ash tree, of which we have plenty around the farm. It is said that wearing a bunch of ash keys ensures that you get noticed and that failure of the crop of ash keys foretells a death in the Royal Family within the year.

To make a pickle, first gather a quantity of young, green ash keys. It is important to use only young tender keys as they quickly get too tough to be worth eating (good thrown in to a salad). Pick them off the stems and boil them in water until they are quite tender. This may take some time, and it is worth changing their water two or three times during cooking in order to remove any trace of bitterness. During this time, prepare your pickling solution by boiling vinegar with your favourite choice of spices (cloves, peppercorns, coriander, chilli’s, mustard seeds etc). Drain the ash keys and pack them into warmed jars whilst still hot and pour over the boiling pickling solution and seal the jars.

A recipe for Ash Key Pickle was first published by John Evelyn more than 300 years ago, when they were often used as a substitute for capers.

Alpaca Crafts

No.2 Crewel Work

The term crewel work is used to describe embroidery which uses crewel wools. Traditionally the wools used are a two-ply worsted yarn in many colours. This type of embroidery has been worked for over a thousand years and the great Bayeux Tapestry is not in fact a tapestry at all, but a huge crewel embroidery. Various designs can be built up using stitches such as stem; chain; split; satin and the fabric used would most likely to have been linen. The Saxon word cleow probably gave rise to crewel and means a ‘ball of thread’.

In a move away from traditional crewel work we use some of its techniques when making items at The Alpaca Barn. Our 2-ply Shetland style alpaca yarn gives the same weight as crewel wool and the alpacas’ natural lustre enhances the effect of the stitches. Our eight blended natural shades, are not limiting to work with and many subtle colour changes and shadings can be achieved.

There is a joy to be known in decorating a hand-made item in a luxury natural fibre, be it for yourself or a gift, which is utterly absent from mass produced and soulless items. Just give yourself a little time and anything is possible. Pick up a needle and a ball of alpaca yarn and you will soon discover the hidden artist in yourself!