Alpaca Tribe

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, listen in for a valley update - the alpacas, the birds, the warmth and the water levels. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoyed it. You can contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Waterside Voices . This podcast uses the fol...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, Alpacas are predictable until they are not. The same can be said of the weather. Join me for some musings and a valley update. What is predictable? Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoyed it. You can contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve He...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Alpacas are semi-ruminant. That means they have multiple stomach compartments (three) and chew the cud. This kind of digestion is similar to cows and sheep which are the ruminants most people know about. These are not separate stomachs but compartments. This seems amazingly simple to my alpacas but I can't easily get my head around how it all works the way...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Building cooperation comes by building trust. Being trustworthy to your alpacas is a worthwhile investment even if it takes time and effort. Start with the simple and take small steps and you can grow your alpacas' confidence in you - and also your own confidence in you. A clear win-win. Leading is different to managing. I vote for leading - listen in to f...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, we are thinking about how ordinary and extraordinary days can both start looking the same. But keep your eyes open, you never know when the extraordinary is going to show up and surprise and delight. Frequently around cria birthing time, I have found this to be true. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoyed it. You can contact me by em...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, the air was still and the valley was quiet. The alpacas were waiting for breakfast. What a great start to the day. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoyed it. You can contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Waterside Voices ....

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I finish the update on this year's shearing and happenings in the valley. It is always nice to clean up and pack away the shearing equipment for another year. It went well, we had a good crop of fleece and almost all of the herd were in good shape. Satisfying. Of course, another round of feeding and weather-watching follows straight after,...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, we revisit episode one when it all began. Unexpected commitments have kept me from my microphone this week but should be back to normal next. This is where we began. Hope you enjoy. Steve Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoyed it. You can contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, The weather shifted in the right direction, allowing us to start the shearing. A good crop of fleece - better than last year and the girls all seem to be in good shape, which is nice to see. Keeping records is a good idea - keep it simple and make it easy. I use this app on my phone to dictate notes or capture photos and website links etc....

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, walking with alpacas is a delight. Watch them move. Note the footfalls and the fluid motion. Watch them from many angles. It is a great reason to go spend time with your alpacas. We had some visitors to come talk alpaca fibre and fashion and regeneration. Lovely. Check out their wider work here https://www.fashionactnow.org/projects https:...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I offer a quick valley update and some alpaca musings. Join me for breakfast with the girls. Check out the bird listening/recording/identifying app Merlin Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoyed it. You can contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by S...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I muse on some of the realities we face when we choose to live with alpacas. I am not trying to put you off, well, only a little. But, I do want you to avoid having an unrealistic, romantic notion of what is will be like. If you already have alpacas, you already know they bring highs and lows - joy and sorrow. But I wouldn't be without the...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Grow in experience and confidence and get things done. Plan intentionally and add small steps together to make good progress. The geese continue to delight with their parenting skills. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoyed it. You can contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Spring continues to arrive including some new goslings that were not expected. It reminds me of some unexpected alpaca births we have had over the years. While you are sitting with your alpacas, maybe you can learn to identify the different grasses and add them to your personal encyclopaedia. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoyed it. You can contact...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Alpacas are such a delight to have in your life. I look at them and smile - and sometimes laugh. And then notice their eyes that look back. Hidden depths. I don't think I expected to be caught as much as I have been. Spring advances and the alpacas are happy to have the larger birds - Canada Geese and Pheasants around in their midst, literally. More grass...

Sheltering from a Spring shower reminds me of alpaca births here on the farm. Feeding at both ends of the day, mending fences and watching the swallows. A good day. Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoyed it. You can contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve He...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! I have talked about being more alpaca before ( episode 97 back in November 2020 ) I wanted to revisit it and found four areas that struck me as important as the moment. I hope they might inspire you to be more alpaca in your 'normal life' too. Peaceful Protective Connected Readers Sue Heatherington (my lovely wife) has just released two new podcasts. One i...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I share a lovely story about hats and her alpacas from a listener in France. Thanks for sharing with me and then letting me share it with everyone else. Spring continues to arrive - delightful. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoyed it. You can contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. A...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! I have many hats and I wear most of them. The alpacas sometimes seem to take exception. Of course, the metaphorical hats we wear connect to roles and responsibilities. Listen in as I talk hats and alpacas. LINKS Tilley Hats Claire Whitehead – UKAlpacaVet Marty McGee-Bennett – Camelidynamics The Podcasting Workshop Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Alpaca shows can be a great place to learn what to notice, how to describe and what to give priority to. Lots to be seen and heard. Animals to be seen and lovely alpaca people to be met. Often they are available online if you are not able to travel. This is the link for the British Alpaca National show here in the UK. Website: http://basnationalshow.co.uk/...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I offer you three things you can do to help you thrive. The good news is they will also help your alpacas. Find somewhere to sit. Be clear about what you want. Stay connected. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoyed it. You can contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hos...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Geese joined the alpacas in their field just before feeding time, which got a little complicated. A cold but dry frosty morning made for a lovely time standing with my female alpacas while they had breakfast. Unfortunately, the sun had not arrived at the spot I was standing, so I got a little chilled – especially the hand holding the phone as I recorded th...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! You may have heard it said that alpacas are basically the same as sheep but with long legs and necks. I know why people say that but I think they are wrong. Listen in as I share some of the unique characteristics of these amazing animals. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoyed it. You can contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a vo...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! There can be a strong driver towards growing your alpaca herd. But there is a comfortable limit which is determined by considering the amount of land you have, the amount of time you have and the amount of money you have. Slow deliberate growth to a maximum limit that you have decided on in advance is a good way to set the foundations of your herd. Thanks...

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Sadly, this week, we lost our herd matriarch, Millie. She has been mentioned on the podcast many times and has been with us for 15 years. Seeing her twice a day for that length of time is a lot of alpaca interaction. She had an amazing attitude and taught me a lot, including how to avoid being spat at. A clear leader of the herd, she will be missed, and th...