|
Facts! While we do sell
garments made from qiviut, the under-coat of the musk ox, we do not
raise them. The climate in Vermont is too warm for the musk ox. Musk
oxen can easily tolerate a minus 60 degree Alaskan winter, but they
cannot tolerate the 80 - 90 degree summer days.
The Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, Alaska is engaged in a
program to domesticate the musk ox. Some of the research for this program was begun here in
in Vermont just a few miles from our farm, in the town of
Huntington, Vermont. For more information check out the
Musk Ox Farm.
|
|
Our Animals
Without our animals
where would we be? Our farm is always changing, but below we've
listed a few pictures with scenes from the pasture. Mountain Shadow
Farm currently consists of four llamas and two alpacas.
The vast majority of our items are
produced with the fiber from this small herd. However, as we grow, we
are purchasing fiber from other small farms from Vermont. Our musk ox
(qiviut) fibers are purchased from Alaska and Canada.
When in Vermont, you are always welcome to stop by and
visit the animals by appointment.
 |
This is Nicholas. He is
one our two alpacas. He is the loudest animal on the farm and
has no trouble pushing llamas twice his size out of the way when
dinner is served. |
| Bennie is the
newest member of out farm. Our second alpaca, he has wonderfully
soft cream fiber. |
 |
 |
Marge and Madeline
were Border Leicester / Romney crosses. Sadly, they are no
longer with us, but will not be forgotten as they were our first
(and most difficult) animals. |
| This is Keswick. He was the very first llama selected for our farm. A
wonderfully curious llama with nice fiber, he fancies himself the king
of the herd. (Though Nicholas would often dispute this.) |
 |
 |
This is Gulliver
just a few weeks after his birth. He was the first llama born at
our farm. |
| Watt came to our
the same time as Keswick and was one of our first two llamas. |
 |
 |
Verona is the sole
female llama we have at the farm now. She's extremely gentle and
well behaved. She is also Gulliver's mother. |
Interested in Raising Llamas or
Alpacas?
Check out the links below for quality information regarding
llama and alpaca ownership:
Contact us at
thellama@mountainshadowfarm.com
|
| |
|
| Did You Know?
Mountain Shadow Farm is small. We mean
really small. The farm consists of approximately 3.5 acres of
pasture, as well as occasionally borrowed pasture from neighbors.
In a typical year our eight animals will
consume about 270 bales of hay.
Mountain Shadow Farm realized its
first baby llama (called a cria) in June of 2002.
Our llamas and alpacas have their toes
trimmed once every 30 days.
Llama manure is an excellent garden
nutrient and will not burn plants. All manure at Mountain Shadow
Farm is recycled into our own gardens, as well as those of friends
in the area.
|
|
