A Decade Deep
It’s almost impossible to believe we’ve been at this “farm thing” for 10 full years now.
Each season brings with it new lessons, aspirations, and challenges.
To say that the farm is ever-evolving is a huge understatement. After all, we didn’t move to this farm to…start a farm. Rather it was just supposed to be our personal refuge, a hideaway, our slice of heaven.
But when the alpaca arrived —aka my cute lawnmowers— the farm started to take shape. And before that first full year had wrapped, we had ourselves a farm business.
A very small business, and one that I truly did on the side, in between greyhound potty breaks and the 9-to-5 stint at the office.
It’s funny meandering down a rabbit hole when you’re a “grown up” and stumbling onto a completely new vocation. I’m proud to say not a single person shamed us…at least not to our face…for attempting to be a couple of first-in-at-least-five generations to farm. And to farm…alpacas…of all things.
But here we are, staring 10 years in the face and learning every minute of the way.
And we will continue the meander by continuing on with some popular traditions…while hitting pause on some others.
Either way, it already feels like it’s going to be our best year yet! Here’s what to expect.
Meet & Greets
The best way we know how to share the alpaca love!
Our monthly hour-long alpaca feeding and selfie taking events will resume in March. They’ll remain a limited capacity and ticketed event to ensure a unique and memorable experience for all. As with all our events, we’ll offer tickets to our email subscribers first.
Farm Tours
This is NEW!
Because we get so many interesting questions about our operations during our Meet & Greets, we’re adding a couple pre-scheduled full farm tours throughout the season. Join the Shepherdess as she gives you a window into the full circle-ness of our fiber and flower farm.
The first will be in June 2024 to showcase the animals after shearing, while we’re knee deep processing fiber and beginning to harvest from the dye garden. The pastures will be green, the days warm and the cutting garden will be growing with anticipation of beautiful blooms.
The second will be in October 2024 to visit with the herd to admire how much their fleece has grown in. We’ll also explore the dye garden and studio where we’ll debut the newest Knitwear Collection. Sharing the farm-to-garment process is always as exciting as it is fascinating.
Private Tours & Experiences
Since people are traveling more now, we’ve seen a growing interest in private farm experiences. We’re setting aside extra time to accommodate small group visits that are tailored just for you — with a few days advanced notice, of course.
Yoga with the alpacas
Back after a year hiatus, we’ll invite the community to come and stretch out in the company of the herd. It’ll be an accessible practice for master yogis and the first-timers alike. This’ll be in late spring…with cool air and sunshine…aka knitwear weather.
Natural Dye Workshop
Back after a few years hiatus, I’m stoked to have a natural dye workshop on the calendar once again. This’ll be a half day immersive that I’m shooting to have in July — when the dye garden is in peak production and we’ll have fresh yarn and knits to dye. It’ll be a small group ticketed experience that will blend all the best parts of the farm into one day…and a few dye kettles!
Hula Hoop How-To
This is NEW!
After many years of quiet contemplation…and finally sharing videos of my hoop dance practice here on the farm…I think this is the year I teach my first class.
I’m excited to step into new vulnerabilities and share a practice that has brought me so much joy, play, flexibility, grounding and freedom. I’m targeting March 2024 for the inaugural spin-in!
Flower Happy Hour
This is NEW!
Modeled after green therapy, where being in nature has a way of infusing space into your life, come snip a few flowers to enjoy once you’re home. There’s nothing quite like golden hour on the farm and then being able to take a piece of it with you. Our new upcoming Flower Happy Hours will be your new favorite summer tradition that’s just as good for your soul as it is your new years resolutions.
Not Happening this year…
Babies.
Ugh, sad! But this is actually normal for us. With gestation at 11 months and a life expectancy of 15+ years, we just don’t have babies every year. While we will all miss seeing the little babies bounce in our pastures, these “off years” allow us to do other things…like the stuff I just mentioned!
Our next…and potentially final cohort of babies…will join the herd in 2025. That means that this is a breeding year, but you’ll have to come to one of our farm tours to learn more about that ;-)
Open Barn.
After 9 years, we’re taking a hiatus. As much as rounding out to a complete 10 years would’ve been nice, it’s become an event that’s so big and wonderful. But also exhausting. It takes me weeks to prepare the farm for an open-to-the-public event, and then it takes a whole crew of people to make it happen.
In 2023, we had over 400 people attend over the course of the 6 hour event. As incredible as it was to meet so many people, I never felt able to fully connect with everyone who made the effort to attend — and we’ve had people travel from several states away to be here.
But I couldn’t scrap showing off the farm entirely. That’s why I brought back the Farm Tours and am making room for Private Tours & Experiences.
Come see us!
I hope you’ll plan to attend one or some of these events. It’s a privilege to do this work and it’s an honor to share our farm with you in this tangible way.