NSA Farm News
Would You Like To
Raise Alpacas?
Now is the time! Whether you're just getting started or adding to your existing herd, Northern Solstice is offering some wonderful animals for sale. If you're looking for show animals, fiber animals, pet quality companion animals, a starter herd or something else, we have it or can get it for you. We have considerable resources in collaboration with the Alpaca Center of New England group, opening up tremendous opportunity for you.
We're offering some wonderful alpacas and packages right now. Give us a call to set up an appointment for a visit. We'll be happy to introduce you to our herd and the alpaca lifestyle.
It's a wonderful time for an investment in alpacas. The tax incentives are available, prices are very reasonable and the market is growing.If you've even considered a future with alpacas, come see us for a complete and honest representation of the business and the industry.
Our alpacas are listed on Openherd at www.openherd.com and Alpacanation at www.alpacanation.com.
Memorial Weekend is Beauty Parlor Weekend at NSA!
Fleece and Fashion
Memorial weekend is the big date again this year. Hair-dos, manicures and pedicures are on the agenda. We're lucky enough to have schedule Jay Mariarcher again for the searing task and assembled a great team of volunteers for handling fiber and animals. With the warm end of winter we've had, we hope the weather doesn't get too hot, too soon so the alpacas have to be in the heat in May. We'll have the fans ready and on stand-by just in case. This year we have 15 alpacas to shear. Fortunately, the first cria isn't due until July 7th, so not a lot of worry of early deliveries on shearing day. Their fleece looks beautiful and full. We're looking at somewhere between 5 and 10 pounds per animal to be shorn. After shearing, the fleece is sorted. The blanket (saddle area) is the prime fleece and is bagged by itself. Then the leg, neck and belly fiber is bagged in a separate bag. Once it's taken from the alpaca, it's skirted (cleaned of debris). It's now ready to be processed. This can mean several things. Some blankets are saved to be sent in for competition in fleece shows. (Our AG Space Cowboy and CT Firestar have won blue ribbons this spring and Murphy took a 3rd placeand Mary Lou took a 4th at the Empire Fleece Show in New York this February.) The fleece may also be sent to a mill for processing into roving or yarn or the raw fleece can be used for multiple projects including home spinning. It is very desirable for hand spinners.
This will be the largest shearing we've had to date. We'll have a full story on how it goes along with photos after the exiting day is finished.
In The NSA Nursery...
Babies
We have 3 babies due on the farm this year. Posie is first, due on or about the 4th of July. Then will be Aria, due September 9th and Firestar on September 30th. We should be in good shape to have new babies for viewing during the Common Ground Fair.
Visit Facebook to learn more...
Fertilizer for Your Garden
Best Poo In Town!
Spring means gardening time is here. If you're looking for the ultimate fertilizer, look at alpaca manure. It can be applied directly to your garden and due to the low acidity, will not harm your plants. You'll have amazing results. We have plenty available if you're interested. Please give us a call for more information. Call 356-2464. For more information on alpaca poo fertilizer, click here: more »
Meet Mary Lou
Introducing the newest addition to the Northern Solstice Alpaca family, NM Mary Lou. We purchased Mary Louin September of 2009 from Pond View Alpacas in New York. She is a beautiful, gentle girl with incredible bloodlines, (she is sister to the famous Beethoven and her sire is Jedi Knight), amazing fiber and conformation. She has already won in the show ring and fiber competition. We plan on using her in our breeding program and have her as part of our foundation herd. She is on track to be bred with AG Space Cowboy after her spring show season is complete. Come by when you can and say hello. Events
Want to talk Alpaca with us? You can call us for a farm visit or catch us in the community at a fair, alpaca show or competition. Our schedule is as follows. more »
Borders Head to Virginia
For those of you who have visited our farm over the last year, you probably remember meeting Ruby, China and Cassie. Well, they have moved on to their new home in Virginia at By the Bay Alpacas. Ruby and China came to live with us in June. Ruby gave birth to Cassie in September. They quickly became part of our herd and part of the family.
Robin had to assist greatly when Cassie was reluctant to nurse properly after birth and for 3 days had to be shown what to do. We became quite attached to her, as you can imagine. Their true owners, Tara and Andrew, came to visit at the end of January. They stayed for 3 days and as this was going to be the first time they had alpacas on their farm, they wanted our Alpaca 101 care tutorial.
They got the full training on feeding, fecal exams, shots, scooping poop, barn cleaning, etc., and off they went to Virginia with the 3 girls in tow. We've heard from them since, saying how much they love alpaca farming and they've sent photos of their new herd. We miss having Cassie, Ruby and China here, but that's part of the package when you have boarders.
We love doing it.