This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.

We have been working hard to get back to around 3 month processing time. We are about there. We just ran 40+ pounds of Romney wool and have another 40 pounds of white on the drying racks.

We have been working extra hard these past three weeks to get your yarn to you. Soon we will have to rachet it down as the pace we are working is unsustainable. This past week we produced more yarn than in any prior week since we opened. Thanks to larger runs we made up some time and hope to finalize a few more customers (if the silk ever gets here) this week. After the VAOBA show we will more back to a more normal production schedule as the farm work has been neglected for weeks now.

We lost Gem this morning. The old girl just kept getting thinner and thinner. Worming and food could not make a dent and she went down for good last night. We weened her baby a month early a few weeks ago, but that did not make a difference.

The last four weeks has seen a huge increased in delivered fiber for processing. We are at least 4 months out now and probably more. Once we plow through some of the larger runs I think we can give you all a better estimate on processing.

We will be at the VAOBA show on Dec 3/4. We will be collecting fiber for processing and delivering yarn and roving to those who wanted to pick it up at the show. Save on shipping and bring your fiber when you come.
Eric

I have been asked several times to outline how we make money in this business. I have outlined how we do it under the fiber processing tab. Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): We diversify what we sell which leads to different margins but a larger customer base. We blend a lot and use all 2nds where possible. We don't felt, but if we did our thirds would be made into felt for crafts or other Non-Skin items. The key to making this work starts at the time of shearing and then skirting to a debris free fiber. The rest......its in the math!

Looks like I will give a 1 hour seminar on preparing your fiber for the mill during the Alpaca show on the 4th and 5th at the Virginia State Fair Grounds. Time to start on that presentation today!! See you there.
Eric

We have been contacted by a guy who is working a project with UVA that utilizes different animal feces as fertilizers. This group is going to measure the growth of vegtables with different "fertilizers". We are providing the Alpaca feces for the project that should run ~ 4 years with spring and fall crops. Intention is to provide the "beans" and some that has been through the pasture vac and chopped up. We will keep you up to date!