Several years ago, as I contemplated retirement, I knew it would include raising animals. But alpacas?? Nope, they didn’t even make a blip in my mind’s eye. Then, a chance encounter when I was working in San Francisco changed everything. A drive down the coast highway and up into the Santa Cruz mountains brought me to my first alpaca farm. Ask anyone who’s met an alpaca, and they will most likely talk about those huge, black, soulful eyes. For me it was love at first sight. That was 2003 and the beginning of an adventure that brought me and my husband to Whidbey Island to build Olympic Mist Farm with a starter herd of five cute and fuzzy ‘pacas.
Alpacas are ancient animals indigenous to the high plains of the Andean mountains in South America, and were treasured by the ancient Incan civilization - their fiber once reserved for Incan royalty. Now, due to international recognition, their soft, warm, hypo-allergenic products are available to everyone.
Alpacas are ancient animals indigenous to the high plains of the Andean mountains in South America, and were treasured by the ancient Incan civilization - their fiber once reserved for Incan royalty. Now, due to international recognition, their soft, warm, hypo-allergenic products are available to everyone.
Initially my plan was to breed and sell animals, but after immersing my arms into a mound of freshly shorn fleece, that idea was quickly replaced with crafting a studio/farm store where I could create and sell hand-hewn products. With an island full of fiber artists, and visitors from around the world, it seemed only natural to share this amazing fiber with them.
I am very fortunate that every year my animals provide me with pounds of new fleece to be woven, spun, felted, and dyed. The soon-to-be-launched on-line store will continue to offer beautiful yarns in natural and blended colors, interesting homespun novelty yarns, soft roving for spinning, alpaca socks (trust me, your toes will thank you), eco-printed scarves, felted soaps, fiber-fusion vessels, and more. I never seem to run out of new projects to try.
Beyond these quality products, lower quality fiber can be used to stuff pillows, make dog beds, and to encircle plants during cold winters. And our alpaca manure helps fertilize the gardens of growers throughout the Island.
In the end, these wonderful gentle animals represent many things the world has too little of these days; peace, sustainable living, simple stillness, and love – and they beckon you to come visit and enjoy.
In the end, these wonderful gentle animals represent many things the world has too little of these days; peace, sustainable living, simple stillness, and love – and they beckon you to come visit and enjoy.
