Virtual Tour
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All things grow well at our Nobility Alpacas farm! When the winter is over and we begin to plant, it is very satisfying. Sometimes things grow faster than we can trim them back, weed them out or harvest them, but every stage is beautiful to see. We chose to raise our children in a farming environment because the natural cycles of life: the growth, harvest and even death in nature, are better understood when you are a direct part of it. We believe that it has also taught our children to work hard and has taught them valuable practical skills as well.
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Long view of the Farm
We cut and bale our own hay at Nobility Alpacas. There is a great benefit in knowing exactly where your hay comes from. We can then control the soil supplementation and the timing of cutting. It is a lot of work but worth it and also makes a beautiful picture.
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Spring Comes to the Farm
It is so wonderful to see spring break forth after a long, cold winter. We have spent the ten years that we have been on the farm rehabilitating buildings and fields and are not done yet. The only thing needed in this photo is an alpaca!
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Snuggly Baby!
After we had done most of our preparation for becoming alpaca owners, we went on our first "alpaca search" trip. At the first farm we visited, the breeder handed this cria to me and he snuggled right up. We did not bring him home but will never forget him! It was a really smart move by the breeder, though! This picture won first prize at the 2007 PAOBA Photo Competition.
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The renovated Cattle Shed
We used to call this the Gelding shed but the other boys didn't like it - so now we call it the "Young Lord's Lodge". It was previously a falling down cattle shed with good "bones". It now has 3 stalls, a feed area and a hayloft/storage area.
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One of the pastures
We housed horses on our farm before we began to own and breed alpacas. We made modifications for alpacas including breaking large pastures up into smaller areas so that we could control grazing. All of that horse "fertilizer" has given us some very rich pastures.
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Walking the Alpacas
When we brought our first alpacas home, the pasture was not attached to the barn where they were housed at night. So, every morning we walked them to the pasture and every evening back to the barn. I highly recommend this practice at times and with certain animals. The alpacas have more contact with us while haltered in a non-threatening, routine activity and they learn that not everything new out there is scary! Here, you see two of our daughters, Natalie and Emma, walking the girls back home.
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Makin' Hay While the Sun Still Shines
That is one of those phrases that people say all the time and have never really experienced it! Watching the weather for several dry, sunny days that coincide with when you want to cut hay can be nail-biting. It is a wonder to watch and we are so thankful for tractors and balers and hay wagons! We brought in 1400 small bales with this first cutting.
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Where the heavy work begins!
Once the hay is cut, teddered, rowed and baled, it is tossed onto the hay wagon by the baler and we race back to the barn to unload before the second trailer gets full. This is very labor intensive, even with a conveyor and lots of strong young men! No wonder agricultural families needed to be large!
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Is it time to eat yet?
Alpacas don't need to wear watches. Just like our cats, they seem to just know when it is dinnertime! So don't try to fool these guys with that silly daylight savings time stuff!
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Future Farm Girl
The skid loader is probably our most used and useful piece of equipment on the farm. All of the adults and my older girls drive it. It is also lots fun to drive. I guess even the littlest girls can't wait to grow up and be able to drive it, too!
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We call her "pigpen"!
Marina has always loved hay - rubbing up against any bales she could find, sticking her head in the feeder and burying it, pulling it out onto the ground in large mouthfuls and so she can roll in it. Tosca would NEVER lower herself to do such a thing!
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Icicles
The farm is so beautiful when it is covered with snow. There is a quiet beauty that is hard to match, especially when the sun glistens over all. The alpacas can be particularly silly in a light snow and even sit out in it. Our guard llama is often covered in snow or frost in the morning after cushing his large fleecey frame meditatively on the hill to watch the sun come up.
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The Hilltop Barn
This barn is the only larger building that we built entirely ourselves, for horses. It is more than adequate, even "over-built" for alpacas (who don't kick the walls, chew the wood or try to push down the gates!).
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Damascus: Gelded Buddy
Damascus is a funny gelded male who keeps the other males company -
alpacas don't like to be alone. He also likes to be the center of attention and doesn't mind being touched so he is a good animal to meet children and other visitors, who are just dying to touch one! He did a great job during National Alpaca Farm Days this year meeting all the folks.
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Where did your legs go!
It is funny how the alpacas are all wary of our other two dogs, but they are fascinated by our Corgi. Maybe it is his sweet, mellow personality or the hysterical way he runs or maybe it's the fact that he is so short! Our dogs are trained not to enter any alpaca areas. Dogs, being related to wolves and coyotes, are seen as natural enemies by alpacas and many alpacas are very afraid of them.
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Swimming anyone?
During our hottest days, we hose the alpacas down and keep the fans on high to keep everyone from heat stress. Our pregnant females particularly love it when we get this baby pool out and fill it for them. They compete like toddlers over who gets in next! Even our guard llama, Prince, tries to get in the act but the pool just isn't his size, poor guy. We never leave it unattended - just like with human toddlers!
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Double rainbow over the farm
We can not only be thankful for the rain after a dry summer, but also the beautiful sight in the sky! Perhaps because the farm is in the center of the valley, we get the most beautiful afternoon rainbows. They are so uplifting to behold - God's artwork!
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Time to rest
At the end of the day, when all critters: camelid, human, canine, feline, and avian have been fed and tucked in, watching the sun set over the western rim of our valley (more of God's artwork) is such a beautiful sight. Life is good!
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Location: Nobility Alpacas, Ltd
Sep 26, 2009
- Sep 27, 2009
This was our second Annual National Alpaca Farm Day and we had some rain but overall much better weather and still, lots of fun!
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Location: "The Heidelbergs of Berks"
Oct 3, 2009
- Oct 3, 2009
At Nobility Alpacas, Ltd., our agricultural venture is raising Peruvian Suri Alpacas for sale and to harvest the extraordinary fiber for processing. Many came to learn about this wonderful business and meet our newest alpacas and we had a lot of fun!.
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Watching a new cria arrive and learn how to interact with the world is a fascinating experience. Once they, literally, hit the ground, they learn to stand up on long, weak, wiggly legs and find their source of milk all by themselves. In their first day, they run, roll, and even play with other crias. Amazing!
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What is it? Camelidynamics is a handling and training system developed and continually refined by Marty McGee Bennett. Jeanne will continue learning these methods at the Advanced Clinic.
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