Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, we hear Jeremiah tell his story of the new arrival on their farm.I also consider some foundational skills for alpaca shepherds.We need to know specifics such as moving alpacas; holding an alpaca steady without wrangling or strangling; and trimming toenails so they think they have had a spa-treatment pedicure. But underlying those are my suggested foundations of:How to make decisions.Noticing and understanding what you are seeing.How to learn.What would you include as foundations?Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

Alpaca Shepherd Skills and Jeremiah's New Arrival

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, we catch up with my old friend Jeremiah Owen in California. We swap notes on a few things and get to hear what his biggest learnings have been this last year.Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

Alpacas keep you on your toes on both sides of the pond

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, we talk about those subtle interactions between alpacas - and us!Some people like people-watching, but I prefer alpaca-watching.There is also a catch-up on what has been happening with the girls.Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

Coats for the cold weather

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, we recognise the need to take a long view of almost everything to do with alpacas. They live a long time for livestock; they have a long gestation; the single cria a year means breeding decisions take a long time before you can judge success and repeat or vary for the next round.We need to think in seasons and years rather than weeks and months. It is a different timescale and rhythm but has its advantages.Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

Taking the long view with alpacas

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!I find myself craving normal in this episode, but it might have to wait a week. Don't get me wrong, I like special but plain food and less sugar, along with some routine, is all I want right now. The holidays are over but we haven't quite got back to normal. How about you?Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

Are you getting back to normal yet?

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, I am thinking about how we live in the in-between. Between holidays, extreme weather and what may be coming in 2023. We do what we can, what we need to, and plan for better times - though for many it is too early for planning for better times, we just hope for better times.I have also included a clip from a Carbon Sessions episode from the Carbon Almanac Collective, a project I am involved in. Here I am part of a roundtable talking about climate and weather.Take care, and see you next year!Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

Living in the in-between

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, I imagine that stable and that baby, but with some of my alpacas around too. Who would be the first to advance and check out the new arrival? I think I know. What do you think?Hoping your celebrations of the season and the year-end are full of love, thankfulness and hope for the coming year. Enjoy old Christmas memories and make new ones too.Happy holidays everyone!Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

Alpacas, a stable, and thoughts of Christmas

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, I remember some winter stories, particularly Hermione and her  Bambi impersonation.In the cold weather, it is good to be indoors with a hot chocolate. Take care of your alpacas and yourself in the challenging weather, and see you again soon.Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

An ice skating alpaca

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, I muse on keeping the alpacas fed and watered and keeping me warm via mucking out.Feed prices continue to rise - over the last year, hay went up by 15% and feed-wheat by 40%. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/animal-feed-prices). It works it's way through to the bags of feed and bales of hay we need to buy.Stay warm, stay well and if you can, spend some time with an alpaca.Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

My priorities in the cold weather - feeding and mucking out

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, you can come and join me as I spend some time with the alpacas.Why do we do what we do, and more importantly, why do we continue to do things the same way? I am not starting from the position of saying that what you are doing is wrong - not at all - but just encouraging you to reflect and think about what you are doing, how you are doing it and if there is a new way.I discovered today if I open the gate the other way when I am taking the wheelbarrow to the muck heap, it closes on its own and stops the alpacas wandering down the road after me and it is then in the right place for me to nudge open when I return - streamlined operation - and how long has it taken me to notice?Let me know what you end up doing differently.Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

What would make you do it differently?

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, we mark the start of the holiday season and wish our listeners in the US a happy Thanksgiving. With a valley update, I muse on the first frost, the joy of the sun on your back and the need to be more alpaca by being present in the moment and watching out for each other.  Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

Happy Thanksgiving and First Frost

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, we continue the musings about a roadmap you might develop for your alpaca journey.There are things to aim for and things to notice on the way. All are useful in becoming a seasoned alpaca traveller. And the great thing is that you get to travel with companions. Reach out when you need to - alpaca owners are a generous breed.Breeding decisions https://alpacatribe.com/podcast167/Birthing - https://alpacatribe.com/podcast78/Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

Landmarks and milestones on your roadmap

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, we consider a road map for keeping alpacas.Wet days sometimes bring out melancholy - or is that just feeling sorry for myself?I got a bit wet - no I don’t need a coat - but I did. Thankfully in a moment of sheer brilliance, I had left a spare waterproof coat and baseball cap in the tack room down at the stables - outstanding idea - for just such a moment as this. I learned early on being here in the valley that you can’t outrun a rain shower, and you will get soaking wetThink ahead and make your preparations. - Isn’t it great when things work out - when the plan works?So I am going to celebrate my small win - and enjoy it.But no complacency, of course - I have to put it back in the tack room for the next time - which was actually this morning. I exchanged a shouted conversation with my wife Sue as she was going up to feed the boys, and I was seeing to the girls. I noticed she wasn’t wearing a coat.And then I started feeling the drips of some rain coming and saw the glowering rain cloud advancing - as you know, I live by my MetOffice phone app, which keeps me up to date with the weather - it is pretty accurate - for a forecast - it is easy to be even more accurate after the event.So I finished feeding the girls grabbed the coat and hat, and set off up the hill to deliver them to Sue. It was a reasonably short-lived shower, but having the coat helped a bit - and then she returned them to the tack room for another next time as she made her way back to the house.Having a plan is a great idea - it can be an excellent way to spend a lot of time creating something that you never need. Theory is theory, and we need something practical and functional.I have noticed with the alpacas, that sometimes a detailed plan doesn’t quite do the job. What I have needed was more of a road map with some key way markers and the end destination clear to see.What if we could come up with something like that for your journey with alpacas - what if you could design your own road map?Where shall we start - begin at the beginning and keep going until the end - so what is the beginning? Where do you want to start or need to start?1. Is it real?2. When is the perfect time? - change that to best for you time3. What needs to be true for this actually to happen? - money, land, decisionWhat is the endpoint you are trying to get to - the destination on your alpaca road map?1. Are we there yet? - how will you know? - remember, it is a road  map to help you find where you want to go, so be clear enough2. If you are heading for a breeding herd, you may not want to start with castrated males - but then again, that could be a great low entry bar way of getting started and building your experience. We always knew we wanted to have a reasonably sized herd and started with our five pregnant females. That was us. Where would you start? Where do you want to get to? It could be numbers, show winners, or producing yarn, or havi

What is your road map for your alpaca adventure

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, we are celebrating 200 episodes of the podcast. Thank you for your support and encouragement. It is appreciated.I have indulged in some reminiscing from where we started and a few of my personal favourite episodes.Episode 1 - an introductionEpisode 27 - Alpacas as a Metaphor for LifeEpisode 97 - Be more alpacaEpisode 117 - Breakfast with the girls.I hope you enjoy the tasters, and I look forward to seeing you again soon.SteveThanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

That's a lot of alpaca episodes

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, I am musing about wisdom. That alchemy of knowledge and experience that allows for good decisions to be made. Wisdom is something we all want and aspire to - even if it is only accessing it somewhere convenient when we need it.I wonder if we can get it from being around alpacas - listen in to find out more.An old episode also springs to mind... Be more alpacaThanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

Going to your alpacas for wisdom

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, I will try to help you talk alpaca, or at least understand it. We will start by reading the ruffles and watching the ears. It is also a good reason to spend time with your alpacas.Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

Learning to read the ruffles alpacas sometimes have

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, we find Hywel catches me out with a lump on the jaw and the gravity levels seem up in the valley Read about Little Grebes here https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/little-grebe/Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

Alpacas and the green gym

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, I talk about feeding and what I noticed this week.Olaf and Joseff are sort of getting along. Hermione has an inscrutable stare. Rhoslyn fools me with some food.Spend some time with your alpacas and stay safe in the wild weather.Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

Boys will be boys and Hermione is inscrutable

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, I am joined by my wife Sue, as we talk about how the characters of alpacas in our herd are so different. Sue met them on the green path, and they all revealed themselves in their typical behaviours. Hear about Millie the Matriarch and Amelia, who always brings upon the rear - and everyone in between. It is fascinating the way behaviours seem to be passed down the generationsThanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

You never know who you might meet on the path

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, I talk bout fear. Yours and the alpacas'.Big fears - heights, fire etc are healthy and keep us safe. Lower-level fears of what people will think, what if we make a mistake, what if we don't do the right thing, can debilitate, lock us up and cause us to disengage. Alpacas can get locked up too, or opt-out of situations. We can do things to cause this or minimise it. Things that can help our alpacas engage and be present.I share some experiences from halter training some young males.Learn to reduce fear in yourself and in your alpacas. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd

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