Alpacazonia Fiber Collection Pilot Project – Update     1st July 2011

 

We’re at 350 lbs since project launch three weeks ago, with the help of alpaca fiber producers in CA & AZ…join us, if you own alpacas in these two states, to help meet our 2,000 lb goal by mid July deadline!

We can do this! Sorting for length is doable! It just takes time and determination.

Earning $1.50 lb for otherwise unwanted alpaca fiber means we can now cover some herd maintenance overhead costs – it’s a good beginning and we now have our foot in the door to establish USA alpaca fiber production on a commercial textile level – with the producer paid first in the development of alpaca end products via established USA manufacturers.  

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Current Participating Alpaca Owners:

Sandra Wallace - Alpacas at Crossroads Ranch - Paso Robles, SLO County.  805-237-9640  swallace@rain.org   “CEO” of project, & Resident Sorter. Dave Wallace – Tumbler in Chief.

Daphne Capaldi - Alpacas at Capaldi Ranch - Paso Robles, SLO County   818-515-2216   daphne@capaldiranch.com

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Yvonna Ray - Ray of Sunshine Alpacas - Oakdale, Stanislaus Co. 209-848-2917   yvonnaray@clearwire.net

    

Linda Snook -  Light Heart Ranch - Willcox, AZ   805-233-2782 linda@lightheartranch.com    

Pat Schulz – Five Oaks Alpacas  Templeton in SLO Co.  805-462-3525 fiveoaksalpacas@wildblue.net

Barbara Zachary – New Age Alpacas  Atascadero in SLO Co.  805-461-1815  barzac1@charter.net  

Cindy Mendiola  –   Critter Country Ranch   Moreno Vy in Riverside Co.  951-243-2574  mmend96466@aol.com 

Cindy Hager – Heaven Can Wait Alpacas   Victor Valley in San Bernardino Co.  760-949-8324 hcwalpacas@yahoo.com    

Shirley Ritter & Lisa Ritterbuck – Alpacas at Wind Dance   Avila in SLO Co.  805-595-2693  winddance@charter.net           

Beckie Perrell – Loomis Alpacas   Loomis in Placer Co.  916-768-0735  bperell@starstream.net 

                                                                                                                     

NEWS:

Beckie Perrell is traveling from Placer Co. on the I-5 this week, plus other freeways, and will be returning North from San Diego on July 12. Call her on her cell listed above to arrange meet up, in order to send your clean sorted fiber up to Paso Robles.  We will inspect and weigh bags here, then cut you a check for $1.50 per lb. Put any necessary I.D. on a file card, plus your determined weight and place in each of your clear plastic bags. Compress air out of large bags for easier transport.  If sending several small bags, press or suck out air with a vacuum and seal in box for less cargo space. Beckie is driving a Yukon.

                                                                                                                         

Daphne Capaldi will loan Alpacazonia Fiber Collection project a battery operated calibrated livestock scale…once we know exactly how much additional fiber needs to be collected closer to our deadline. Dave and I will make a run in our livestock trailer, prior to baling, to meet sellers at key locations, inspect fiber bags, weigh and pay $1.50 lb. on the spot. No date(s) set yet.

Daphne has made one run down south to collect and purchase raw fiber at $.50 lb usable, and then she’s sorting to specs and tumbles fiber clean and sells to project at S1.50 lb.

She's placed her tumbler indoors and put up a pop-up tent with plastic sheet sides to contain the dirt and 2nd cut or too short fiber pieces dropping out of it. A floor fan keeps all unwanted debris from invading her greater workshop sorting and fiber storage areas. 

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Cindy Hager is constructing what she’s dubbed “Fleece Baskets” out of PVC. She’s going to use canvas or mesh to form sides, to hold her fiber bags. I’m guess’n 5’ x 5’ x 4’. Very cool! I need several! A good way to tidy up your shop, garage or barn and keep your fiber storage chaos under control!

Photo by Cindy Hager

Keep sorting your clip(s) everyone – for now and for the future! Contact someone on the list and see if you can network together with them to sort, collect and sell.

                                                                                                                              

It will take more than a village!

Photo by Laurie Donnelly

Peruvian Women weaving together prolifically. Notice those on the sidelines doing nothing but watching and waiting for the spectacular results, missing out on the real fun and experience...

…hint, hint

Women in Textiles Around the World - It Takes a Village

We're beginning day 14 of our Alpacazonia Fiber Collection Project and learning how to iron out the crimps, as we sort stored fiber, network with other producers and track and document our progress regarding cost in time, effort and money for future project evaluation.

The following photo keeps me going!

Photo by Laurie Donnelly

My inspiration when sorting comes from this woman on the job at an alpaca mill in Peru.   The use of skirting table and sorting table at waist height, plus electric tumbler makes my job so much easier! I put on a support brace when back muscles  begin to ache from standing for lengthy periods of time and try not to complain too much. If I had to sort long hours off the floor, I’d have trouble ever getting up again…

                                                                                                                                                                 

Recent NBC Nightly News online report:  A family of 7 in Pakistan is showcased weaving together. All the women and girls in the family weave carpets as a group effort for 14 hours a day, every day, and earn $800 a month between them. The youngest child is in a program called “Bags for Bliss” where she can attend school, plus earn money for the family doing embroidery to be incorporated into hand bags as part of the school curriculum. I was inspired and moved to realize that 6-9 hours spent sorting for Alpacazonia Fiber Collection Project per day is no big deal in effort or accomplishment to the rest of the planet. We’ve been so spoiled in our country…it’s a blessing to have a reason to work hard - hand’s on! It’s nice to be able to work within our own village – our CA Fiber Friday groups!

Photo from Ruth Elvestad Fiber Workshop by Sandra Wallace

Photo by Josh Petray, Paso Robles Press.

Workshop participants delighting over alpaca blanket woven by Gretchen Nygaard.

                                                                                                                                                        

Women and Girls – Peruvian “Cottage” textile production

Photo by Altheo Cox

Group of women selling textile wares along side road in Peru                                      

Photo by Altheo Cox

Girl with naturally dyed yarns

Photo by Altheo Cox

Peruvian Woman Weaving on simple basic loom

Photo by Altheo Cox

...and spinning with simple drop spindle.

Photo by Altheo Cox

DAY 10 - FIBER DRUM TUMBLERS, ETC

June 22, 2011 

Day 10 of Alpacazonia Fiber Collection pilot project

Yesterday was the first day of Summer 2011 and temps reached 100 degrees here. We worked in the morning with friend/neighbor, Michelle Bauguess, who’s helping us sort at $1.00 lb, plus taking bag of tumbled too short fibers home to refill her dog’s beds. Our current sort hours: 8 am to hot, then “cooled down” to 8 pm.

 We’re also talking to community service groups to see if folks can help us sort as a fundraising project for their organization.

Fiber Drum Tumblers

We borrowed Daphne Capaldi’s fiber drum tumbler this weekend and now have way more tumbled fiber than sorted. We won’t know our real total until we get through those bags, but current sorted total is at 250 lbs….only 1,750 lbs to go!

Note the plastic bag holders. They used to be sold by Ace/True Value Hardware, but they’re no longer available. There’s a tinker toy like hard plastic connector on the bottom and 2 pieces of metal wire that connect to it to hold bags and four to connect pieces together for base…the best fiber bag holder we’ve found, because bags are easily pulled on and readily removed when full. Great for collecting fiber on shearing day! Too bad manufacturer stopped making this product, because we could use more than the two we own.

Bag holder parts

Connector & assembly

1. The tumbler on the left in top photo has 1/2“ screening. (Available via Light Livestock for $2,500. www.lightlivestockequipment.com/fiberdrum.asp ) We obtained our tumbler via a trade for breeding to one of our studs several years ago. Dirt, loose debris and fine fibers fall through. Only one design flaw – door has to be bungeed open when emptying drum, otherwise it can fall forward and knock you out on the top of your head or whack you sharply on your back! Otherwise, well engineered, efficient, balanced and reliable.

2. The tumbler on the right was made by Daphne’s dad and brother, without plans, and has 1” screening. It helps sort out some of the too small pieces, which we sweep up for compost material.  Each style has its advantages.  Daphne’s tumbler is on wheels, which is a great plus.  We advised her to purchase dishwasher replacement tips for tumbler prongs (inside drum to separate fibers while tumbling) and she did. Otherwise, our arms got scraped on the sharp metal edges when reaching in.

3. We tried a borrowed Jiffy Tumbler, but it was too low to the ground and too small a capacity for our “commercial” purposes. (Sells for $975 new, so good value for fiber artists and hobbyists).  It is best for small scale occasional use, IMHO. Door is completely removed, instead of hinging open. Beautiful wood work, crafted like a piece of furniture. 

 Contact: Mary Hagen
Alpaca Heights & Jiffy Fiber Tumbler LLC
5008 S. Ubly Rd.
Ubly, MI  48475www.alpacaheights.com

4. Stonehedge Fiber Milling Equipment has a drum tumbler that looks well designed, but we haven’t tried it. Looks like it has an easy “open and latch” door of adequate size for reaching into drum. Didn’t find price on web site: http://www.fibermillingequipment.com/    They sell other fiber processing equipment and also have a fiber mill in Michigan.  

Stonehedge Drum Tumbler

5.  MSA Fiber Drum Tumbler  http://www.chisholmtrailalpacas.com/Fiber_Tumbler.html  $2,750.

Needs to be assembled.

Google and you’ll find more “brands”. We have no financial interest in any drum tumbler manufacturer…info provided just for the sharing.

 6. The following link supplies free plans to build your own tumbler.  “Welding required”.   I like the “handle” on the end for easy portability.

http://www.gtyurkon.com/buildyourowntumbler/

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

We discovered that on some bags it’s best to presort for length on a skirting table first. Otherwise, too short pieces get jumbled up with longer fibers and results end up more difficult to sort. The tumblers are great for removing sand, grit and general dirt, which would add unwanted weight to shipping costs.

Daphne says Suri fiber is best sorted on skirting table and doesn’t tumble well. ..long or short. However, she reports that it’s easy to accomplish and she’s enjoying the cool silky feel of it compared to hand sorting robust Huacaya!  Incidentally, luster is not a factor on short leg/neck/blanket fibers for commercial usage. That’s a “show” criteria, which perhaps factors into elite yarns or fine fabrics and textiles?

This afternoon, all of our girls escaped and were eating garden salad and grapevine leaves, plus our lawn and rose bushes and honeysuckle vines. They meandered up to the fiber barn and we rushed to herd them back to their pens...forgetting to turn off tumbler. An hour later we returned to a mass of fiber that was so matted we had to toss it. Too bad....it would have sorted a lot of lbs for the project. Tumbling should take 5-10 minutes max, just enough to throw dirt out.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

 Three bags full! The measure is a yard stick. This represents 61 lbs of fiber, with each bag holding around 20 lbs. Volume = about 5’ x 3’.

To “vacuum pack” bags for more compact shipping, place mesh bag or nylon stocking over end of vacuum (this keeps fiber from being sucked into vac) …place vac extension in bag and seal opening with one hand…turn on vac with the other. When bag is  compressed to full extent, slide out vac extension and quickly twist bag end, then secure tightly with sturdy rubber band. Bag is at least ½ smaller and easier to pick up and carry.

                                                                                                                                                                                                 Sandra                         

SORTING NOTES - 17 Jun 2011

SORTING NOTES:

As of Friday, June 17 2011, we've sorted a total of 150 lbs within 6 days of project start. There are groups forming throughout CA with producers sorting to specs and we'll be able to add their totals by the end of next week. Next, we need to get fiber from various points in the state to Paso Robles, to reach our 2,000 lb goal for baling at SLO Cal Poly mid July.

Thanks to those in local Fiber Friday group who helped us on our shearing day! I was able to speed up Alpacazonia fiber collection project, because entire tumbled short blankets are usable without any waste and I was able to sort a total of 40 lbs quickly the past two days! Pre skirting and recording stats on shearing day is well worth the effort!

We received a piece of sample yarn from manufacturer to illustrate what they use in their product.  When the ends are unplyed, you can see what "grade 6" looks like. 8 ply - worsted.

                                       

The project's mill told me that Suri fiber is OK to include in bales, as long as it fits length/grade criteria! So, if you have robust Suri leg/neck/blanket that's short, we can add it to the 2,000 lb goal.

I found a missing brush, hidden in the middle of a leg bag, after I'd turned the tumbler on. What a racket! One more reason to skirt and sort soon after shearing day. Not a good thing to ship bags unexamined prior to sending out for processing....mills charge on incoming weight for washing, even if you're charged outgoing weight on resultant yarn/roving/felt or batts and goodbye object de arte forever!

Sorting isn't so bad, once you get started. Actually, getting intimate with one's fleeces tells you everything you need to know about your herd and future business decisions.

For example, it's silly to do stove pipe show cuts on legs, especially since we stopped dragging alpacas to shows, because fibers are then too short for production. It was also noted by local shearer that it’s not good for alpacas either, to leave leg fiber on during the heat of summer. From now on, shear those legs and harvest the fiber for maximum profit and less sorting labor! Your alpacas will benefit too!

Tip: Use hay bale string cut into short pieces to tie up noodled blankets. Easy to tie and great recycling! Tie with half hitch in order to untie easily. Once graded, these bags are ready to go into production.

1^st 20 lb bag – Grade 6 short, clean, sorted and ready to bale! Now, if I could only lose 20 lbs myself, I’d be that much smaller!

Sandra Wallace

Tumbling, Sorting and Grading

We're on day two of our Alpacazonia Fiber Collection Project, since launching this past weekend. Two of us have sorted a total of 48 lbs. Here's our fiberometer, so you can track our progress: 1,952 lbs to go

We're using grading system used by Ruth Elvestad. We made charts to assist us in our sorting. Here, we're sorting short grade 6 fibers. The paper plates on the left were made by Sandra Wallace (set includes all grades) and chart on left was created by Daphne Capaldi:

This is our tumbler in action, with fiber bags in waiting - a section of fiber is tossed into the air by rotation and separator bars inside. Dirt and small debris falls though the screening. I tumble short fiber for about 5 minutes per load.

I'm sorting out of the tumbler...clamped board for working surface, which includes inches marked on edge for quick measuring when needed.

We'll be back in a few days with more updates. Follow us on this journey to fill our first fiber order contract!

Sandra

WE'RE BUYING HUACAYA FIBER

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HUACAYA ALPACA FIBER WANTED

ALPACAS AT CROSSROADS RANCH - ALPACA FIBER COLLECTION:  ALPACAZONIA

Simple and direct…

WE ‘VE CONTRACTED WITH A USA MANUFACTURER FOR PURCHASE OF 2000 lbs of the following HUACAYA ALPACA FIBER STATS:

·         1 ½"  TO 3 ½ ” in length – no shorter, no longer.

·         ANY COLOR.

·         STRONG, ROBUST – neck/leg - 2nds, 3rds – Grade type  6.

      Not including too short, second cuts and guard hair leg tufts. (Use that for stuffing and fishing lures instead.)

·         CLEAN!!!!  Free of hardcore debris and other nasty junk, plus sorted for length.  Unwashed, but still clean - skirted and sorted - as dirt and debris free as possible, but residual VM (minimal Hay pieces) is OK.

Yup. We want the stuff that you didn’t have a use for in the past!

Not your finest and longest elite fleeces – but the fiber we didn’t have a direct commercial buyer for UNTIL NOW!

                                  $1.50 lb for CLEAN & SORTED alpaca huacaya fiber AS PER STATS ABOVE,

delivered to our collection site. Paid on incoming weight, upon inspection.  See contact information below.

                                $   .50 lb for RAW FIBER right out of storage – we’ll do the skirting and sorting prior to shipment to USA manufacturer. Priced on outgoing usable weight, post tumbling and sorting.

Paid upon acceptance of fiber, according to terms offered, after in-house weighing of SORTED fiber on calibrated floor scale.

 We reserve the right to refuse filthy, cotted, matted, tender fiber.  Use that in your garden instead! We won’t be shipping it back to you – too costly – so only send or deliver usable raw fiber to take advantage of this new grower opportunity.  Inspect your bags before shipping off farm for any processing!

FIRST RUN – INITIAL CALL:   1,500 lbs clean/sorted fiber still needed.  By invitation only to California producers.

Deadline July 1, 2011

                     Fiber baled and finally ready to ship!

                     Contact us to sign up for our initial sellers list and make arrangements for delivery. 

                  

 Dave and Sandra Wallace       Alpacas at Crossroads Ranch

            2950 Old Ford Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446      805-237-9640

                        swallace@rain.org        www.crossroadsranch.openherd.com  

Christmas at the Ranch December 2010

Today, this Christmas morning 2010. I awoke at 6:30 to a fiery red and green sunrise sky and watched the entrails of a distant plane write slowly across it, while marveling at the momentary connection to the human beings aboard, wondering if they also saw the Christmas tree colored morning from their vantage point. Did they notice all the dots of light representing the houses and streets filled with people below them?

Impossible to capture exactly with digital camera, so I etched this glory in my mind instead, as it shifted to a brilliant golden bright orange, outlining in crimson red the underbelly of storm clouds rolling in to define the rest of the day as expected. My Christmas present from God was a surreal vision of reality. There is nothing but peace in the beginning of a new day, if you’re present to witness it.

Once the sun fully rose, the landscape below us was grey, with a lighter grey fog rolling in, hyphenated by the smoke rising from our neighbor’s chimney. Wake up everybody! Santa came with gifts for everyone!  

Whatever religious Holiday you celebrate this season - or not - the end of the secular calendar year is a time of reflection, as well as celebration. There’s always hope for better days ahead, or at least no doubt different days, and the enticing promise of renewal.

My gift to you, passing it forward, is the following photograph taken last spring and my reflections on living with alpacas and why we love and care for them so much…

The Dance of Life, by Sandra C. Wallace ©                                            J[

Dedicated to my children and grandchildren.

Alpacas are our touchstone to life’s enduring spirit. They know we’re there, yet they accept us without much complaint. They acknowledge our presence, let us walk among them and do us no harm. They give us comfort and warmth and beauty and all they ask in return is that we remain good shepherds in their care.

They tread lightly on the ground, eat plants gingerly without destroying them, and then produce new life, milk for their babies and fiber for purposeful use.

We shear their fleeces late spring and imagine they’re grateful for the cooler option for the summer months ahead, despite their objections to the indignity of human wrangling to get the job done. We covet the fiber they create and look for ways to turn it into something wonderful for our own purpose and pleasure.

Truth be told, not all alpaca fiber is as soft and luxurious as advertized, but all of it IS wonderfully beneficial to a good end.  It’s simply brilliant in its invention.

Alpacas sustain us as well when we turn their composted manure into small garden paradises or other eco-friendly uses.  

Indeed alpacas do spit to express displeasure, but once done, it’s over.  They don’t carry perceived injustices forward. Instead, they just stay in the moment – alert and at the ready for what’s to come next.

They know and welcome another alpaca when they see one and they do not thrive unless they are in each other’s company, no matter the color or style of their individual fleeces.  They live best within a herd, but are not tribal. They never engage in perpetual war.  

They protect each other and their young from harm and danger.  First priority. They alarm call and come together for better security. It’s never another alpaca that they need fear for their life - yet they make their individual herd position/standings clear for safety, stability and longevity.  The strongest are in charge of most affairs, but they are never criminal, hateful or vengeful.  

They teach us about life and its challenges and the way to accept both good and bad events with grace as we live within earth’s rhythms and cycles.

So, I invite you to enjoy your many gifts and blessings of the day, as you tend to your herd – which is your own life in the moment.

Sandra