Shearing 2018

Shearing day on an alpaca farm happens just once a year and this year it's Saturday, May 12th! This is the most important day on the farm where we harvest all the fiber the alpacas grew for the past year. They will be more comfortable for warmer weather that's on the way and we'll have plenty of fiber to turn into yarn or roving! If you'd like to see what the alpacas look like before and after and watch how shearing is done, stop by the farm! We will be very busy while shearing is taking place therefore the shop will not be open on this day, but we will be open 10 - 4 Sunday.

These photos of Buster Brown show how he looked before and after shearing!  What a difference! 

Alpacas in the Winter

The alpacas have plenty of fiber to keep them warm throughout the winter.  They don't mind to be out in the snow at all.  Here's some photos of the alpacas from this winter so far!

 Smokey 

 Mateo

 Rose Petal

 Peggy

 Acura

 Rose Petal and Acura

 Champ

 Thor

 Mateo

 Red

 Bella

 Chance

 Mikey

 Jerry

 Buster Brown

Buddy

It's the New Year!

And just like that we're onto 2018!  We had a very busy holiday season and have been able to keep our doors open on the weekends for all but two weekends where we had absolutely frigid temperatures.  We hope that those who received a gift of alpaca this holiday season are thoroughly enjoying the warmth and softness of them!  Here's some photos from the holiday season and this winter so far!

 We had two "Very Christmas Evening" events this year, one of which was on December 9th.

We got a beautiful show of snow that night!

Even the chicken coop was decorated for Christmas!

Holidays Are Approaching!

The holidays are approaching quick!  When you visit our farm you can head straight to the barn to visit our friendly alpacas or head into our gift shop where you'll find many unique items.  Here's a preview of what we have to offer!

Our year-round tree is decorated for the fall with beautiful warm colors.

 

We carry delicious local honey from Tuckerbees of Voluntown.  In addition to honey in many sizes, there are different body balms and chap sticks which use the bees wax from the hive.

 

These needle felted alpaca ornaments are handmade by us with fiber from our animals and come in many different colors and patterns!  They are a great way to remember your trip to our farm or would make a great stocking stuffer for the alpaca lover in your life!

 We also have local maple syrup from Sweet's Farm available!

If there's an alpaca you fall in love with during your visit,

 you can enjoy a photo of them with one of these magnets!

 

The apparel in our shop is made in Peru where alpacas originate, such as this sweater and hat.  You will also find the warmest socks, hats, gloves, mittens, glittens, scarves, shawls, and throws!  There are many one of a kind freestyle weavings throughout our shop handmade by us like this pretty pastel shawl.

We have a variety of roving available from our alpacas!

 

We also have a variety of yarn from our animals in their natural colors.

 

We have catnip grown right on the farm for the cat lover on your list!  You'll find these fuzzy bears along with alpacas and chickens all made with super soft alpaca too!

 

We have rag rugs and alpaca rugs available, all made at our farm.

 

This is just some of what we have to offer!  Stop by to see what unique gifts you may find for those on your shopping list!  Definitely stop in at the barn to meet our 21 alpacas and take some photos of your experience feeding them hay!

Lavender Hill Farm is open on weekends from 10:00 to 4:00 each day or by appointment.  

You can contact us for more info at lavenderalpacas@gmail.com or call or text Paulette at (860)917-5154.

National Alpaca Farm Days 2017

Visit Lavender Hill Farm during the last weekend of September while we participate in National Alpaca Farm Days! 

Saturday, September 23rd and Sunday, September 24th

10:00 - 4:00 PM

Touring the farm is FREE and fun for the whole family. Visitors of all ages enjoy feeding the alpacas hay while learning all about them. In addition to our 21 alpacas, you'll also see two horses and many chickens. There will be fiber demonstrations and you can browse our shop where you'll find alpaca products and unique handmade crafts. You'll also be able to feel just how soft an alpaca fleece really is!

Needle Felting Classes

Needle Felting Classes Offered

Lori Neumann of Menagerie will be at Lavender Hill Farm during National Alpaca Farm Days to teach classes on how to needle felt!  Each day she will hold a different beginner class where you will learn felting techniques and be able to take a finished piece home with you.  These beginner friendly classes will each be limited to six people ages 12 and up. 

Materials will include a felting pad, two felting needles and wool for the project.

Suggested materials to bring include a small sharp pair of pointed scissors, small tweezers, glasses for close up work if needed, and band-aids for the occasional accident.

Register by contacting Rose at lavenderalpacas@gmail.com with the name of the class you'd like to take!  Cash or check can be accepted on the day of class.

Painting with Wool - Snail
Saturday, September 23, 2017

12:00 - 2:00 PM

$30.00 Class Fee  $12.00 Materials Fee

​

Abstract Flower Globe Sunday, September 24, 2017

12:00 - 2:00 PM

$30.00 Class Fee  $12.00 Materials Fee

 

 

Shearing Day

We were very lucky to have such great weather for shearing day!  Rick and Jeremiah from Twist of Fate Spinnery were our professional shearers once again this year.  They are so efficient at what they do, making shearing as pleasant an experience as they can for the alpacas.  Each animal takes less than ten minutes to complete and this includes toenail and teeth trimming if necessary.  Our job during shearing is to keep our fingers away from the sharp clipper blades while we gather up the fiber as it's being sheared off the animal.  Alpacas are only sheared once a year, so this is a very important day on the farm.  It's so cool to see the fiber coming off the animal and to see how different they look once it's all removed!  Visitors are always welcome to come watch shearing and this year we had quite a few stop in to see this unique process.  We even had a Girl Scout group come to watch!  Now the alpacas are more comfortable for the summer weather that is upon us.  Here are some before and after photos!

MATEO

BUDDY

ACURA AND ROSE PETAL

BUSTER BROWN

EMBER

 CHAMP

ADONIS