A day at the alpaca farm (Paca Pride)

On Monday, I drove down the Mtn Loop Hwy about 15 or so miles to the Paca Pride Homestead to join in on a day of farm activity.  The weather was perfect and even a bit hot at times, and ended up working in shorts, mud boots, and a straw hat.

The work day began in the kitchen of their hacienda with a piece of homemade cinnamon bun (amazing!) I was under a spell from that point forward.  So off to the outdoors, first on the days agenda was acts of husbandry, cleaning up after the alpaca and llama droppings in their primary yards, as well as raking up scattered straw and hay from their bedding and troughs.  We then headed to the barn where I witnessed the rotation of the hydroponic barley fodder feed trays, they are harvested and initiated on a daily basis.  This stuff was wicked neat to see, feel and smell.  David did his research and came up with this alternate, not just as a money saver from having to buy quality hay and pellets but as an even more nutritious source of nutrients and fuel for his animals.

Next on the agenda was to provide some much needed dental grooming and dremel the lower incisors of two of the alpaca's (Cusco and Little Brown).  So while David patiently dremeled a significant portion of their overgrown teeth I aided in ensuring the alpacas stayed in place and saw nothing. Lets just say no one really enjoyed the smell of the grinding, but boy was everyone happy after they were done.  What great smiles on these guys, especially Cusco here...

Then came the mud/manure routine.  Their exists this narrow alley nicknamed "muck alley", and you can guess why.  It is a mixture of straw, manure, dirt and water are trampled upon over a period of a year.  We gathered wheel barrels full and scattered the rich soil in several pastures to assist in the revitalization of growing hearty grass for Summer feed.  I also learned the nutrient rich mixture is also ideal for spreading on red ferns and moss in efforts to extinguish the non nutritional plant.

The last chore of the day was to clean up plant beds with removal of grass patches in an effort to replant them elsewhere on the land to help fill washouts or areas of poor growth.  The guys at Paca Pride were kind enough to allow me to use one of the guess shower houses to clean up after a day of mud flinging and I can't say I've been in a more pressurized shower, I could have stayed for hours.  But simply having a hot shower was a true treat.  Thank you again David, Tim and Glenn for allowing me to invite myself to your amazing homestead and par-taking in all the fun.  I will surely be back!

By the way, if you haven't been to the Paca Pride Homestead do stop by on your way up the Mtn Loop Hwy, it's a perfect place for retreats for your family, groups, reunions. They have yurts of all sizes, tent platforms and facilities to cook and wash up are also available on site.  Do check out their store inside where many products, especially those wicked nice alpaca socks are sold, fresh eggs from their free range chickens.  We are so fortunate to have them in the valley and you will not be disappointed when you make your visit, lemme know I might even come down and meet you there! http://www.pacapride.com/