An Awesome Alpaca Weekend

It’s become a holiday tradition for many, to skip the malls and the hustle and bustle of this shopping weekend and instead gather up the family and head out to the New England Alpaca Farm at 14 Bethke Road in Killingworth for a fun-filled day of Alpaca-friendly activities.

For the past 10 years, every Thanksgiving Weekend, Melissa and Lou Ferrera open the gates to their picturesque farm to visitors from all over.

Besides the chance to view the handsome herd of Alpacas of every size and color, including three very cute babies (Tuala, who was born in July, Kahannon who is 2 months old and tiny Kaharmine who is just two-and-a-half weeks old and loves people), visitors will be treated to free goodies and kid activities. In addition, there will be fiber demonstrations as well as various, well-educated Alpaca people around the farm to answer questions about these majestic camelids, indigenous to Peru, Chili, Bolivia and South America, who are among the oldest domesticated animals in the world.

Alpaca fiber is a plush, dense, extremely warm material that rivals Cashmere in its soft, supple texture. Each adult Alpaca generally yields 10 pounds of wool during the annual sheering, which typically takes place each year in May. Market price for one ounce of this sought-after knitting fiber is $3.50, explains Melissa.

Visitors of the open-house weekend extravaganza will also get the opportunity to choose from a host of authentic Alpaca goods that make the perfect, unique gift for the holidays for that special someone. Choose from Boucle hats, warm mittens, socks, scarves, sweaters, dolls and of course Alpaca fiber in yarn form for those knitters on your list.

With their large, expressive eyes, fuzzy heads and long legs it’s easy to see why Melissa thinks, “Alpacas are wonderful animals.” She says keeping her herd of Alpacas is very easy.

“Its not like usual farm work. We only really need to dedicate two hours per day to their care. Besides that, they are easy keepers, which is part of their allure to many. They are well-suited to the climate here in New England, you don’t need a lot of land. They are kept in a three-sided shed with simple fencing and they don’t take a lot of upkeep at all to be happy and healthy.”

Melissa, who has made Alpaca farming her full-time business since 1996, says that in the last couple of years, because of economics, the Alpaca industry in the country has seen a downturn. However for 2011 things are going very well.

“Financially, it is very nice to see this business back on the upswing,” she says.

To learn more about Alpacas or just to have some fun and pick up a few very unique holiday gifts, crowd-free, visit the New England Alpaca Farm on Nov. 26 and 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information, call 860-663-3482, or go to nealpacas.com.