Alpacas
Fiber Tumbler
Contact us
Update, Build Your Own Tumbler: The
page below is rather out of date, but I thought I would add this info
for those of you already breeding alpacas. I have built a fleece
tumbler for our own use, and it works very well. If you are interested
in building your own (or purchasing one), you may find my how-to
useful. Please be forwarned, however, I have discovered many better
techniques since building this first prototype. Just click on the
image to the left to view the how-to.
Update, New Improved Tumbler (Ver. 3): I
have now produced a new, improved version of the tumbler with new, and
I believe unique, features. For information on the new tumbler, either
click the Fiber Tumbler tab to the left, or the image to the left.
Hi,
my name is Marissa, and I run Glacial Ridge Farm in Chardon, Ohio which
is in beautiful Geauga county. My People, Ted and Jeanne
Yurkon,
think THEY run the alpaca farm, but they're mistaken. I
originally came from Peru and have produced many beautiful
babies. My People think I'm old and pretty "bony" so they have
let me retire to a good life here, however, I've had many prize-winning
babies in my time. I am also in charge of every other animal, and
human,
who
lives here. So I kind of like life here--I think I'll just let
the younger ones move on to new places and explore the
world. My People have very good friends and neighbors, Ruthanne and Ed McCaslin, of Promised Land Alpacas. Ruthanne chose most of the other alpacas besides me, who live at our farm. They taught my People how to run a farm, and they still help whenever my People have problems--or don't know what they are doing.
I get pretty hot in the summer, and I was used to just lying down in a cool stream in Peru. It took a long time for my People to get the idea that I needed something LARGER than this stupid pail to stand in.
However,
they eventually got me a small wading pool, where I really love to cool
off. They also set up this sprinkler, but it doesn't work as
well-AND I have to share it! 
When
Skye Angel and I, and my baby cria Mona Lisa arrived here, we came from
a large farm with a large barn and lots of friends to socialize with.
When we got here, it was just the three of us and
we were
put in this tiny little barn--what a let down! We were so
lonely
and worried. And it only got worse. 
My Ted was a
strange
old man. He was destroying our pasture! I told
Skye: "Look
at him, digging up what little pasture we have and putting crooked
sticks in the ground. I think I'll spit on him every chance I
get."
Things
started looking better though. He straightened the sticks and
added more sticks and I couldn't wait to see what it would be.
Well, guess what--it turned out to be a brand new barn for
us!
Not
as big as we had before, but brand new and with plenty of room for new
friends. He even put a sliding door on the shelter in front
so we
could have nice breezes in the summer but block the cold winds in the
winter. It's just the place for my retirement home.
But even this barn wasn't enough space! What with little ones
needing room to run, and the bad boys needing to be kept away from us
girls, we needed more room. We now have a brand new 52x60 barn
including this nice 12 foot shelter which is open in the summer but is
covered in the winter so we can keep warm and still see outside (if we
don't spit too much on the cover). Even on cold winter days when we're
all in the barn, the little ones have room to romp and play. 
Plus,
a whole bunch of woods full of nasty multi-flora rose bushes
was cleared so we have a nice big pasture with a great big hill
to stand on. I'm so sorry I spit on the old man all those times.
I
think
I'll introduce you to all of my friends and family now.Click here to read about my friends and family