Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!I feel like a work-in-progress; how about you? Here are five things I think make for being a better alpaca shepherd. Courage and its close cousin, boldness Curiosity and its close cousin, teachability. Compassion and its close cousin, empathy. Felxibility and its close cousin, resilience. Organisation and its close cousin, planning.What do you think makes for being a good alpaca shepherd?Be kind to yourself and recognise you are still learning. I know I am.Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - [email protected] - 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

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, Most of what we do around our alpacas creates some noise. Some sounds are more comforting than others. How do your alpacas respond to you singing to them? Or is it just me who often sounds foolish and gets funny looks from the alpacas? Humming to them can be problematic unless you are clear about what you are saying in the moment - reassuring or stress-inducing. Learning to speak alpaca is a good thing to aim for. Read the field, read the animal in front of you and read the sound or silence they are making.Finding new ways to communicate with your alpacas is excellent fun. Give it a try, and let me know which songs they prefer where you are.Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - [email protected] - 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

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, I muse on some examples of persistence and how they apply to keeping alpacas.Sometimes we should keep going, sometimes stop. Often we need to pivot. Find some good sources of support and wisdom to help you make your own decision. Take all of the factors into account.Just so you know, I am saying you should only stop something if you choose to - not because you think I am telling you to (which I am not). We do need to be flexible and wise. The future and our alpacas are relying on us.If you want to read more about the alpaca chromosome research, go here If you want to see the British Alpaca Society show online - start hereThanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - [email protected] - 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

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, a brief update on what's happening in the valley - snow features quite highly - mainly because of its rarity and surprising nature.Plus, hear about our new vet and unloading a feed delivery. Also, a shout-out to our listeners in Norway - I appreciate you listening; thanks to our old vets St James; and to Kris Cody and the team at https://www.pakaapparel.com/.Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - [email protected] - 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

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, I bring you some sad news about Nia - one of the older girls (almost 15) who we lost this week. Fascinating to see how the herd responds at times like this. They are all thrown and are significantly subdued. Nia was a favourite. They all are of course, but she was a particular one. She will be missed but has been greatly loved and appreciated, and we have many happy memories.Loss is also part of the package deal of keeping alpacas.Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - [email protected] - 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

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, I resume my conversation with Rita Soares of Campo Verde Alpacas in Australia. It is incredible how much is the same even at the other end of the world.We talk about climate change and being responsible and knowing when to intervene and when to try to restore balance a little. And spider webs in the home!Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - [email protected] - 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

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, I have a catch-up conversation with Rita in Australia with her 37 alpacas. We have had similar questions and musings about what we could do compared to what we wanted to do. When you start keeping alpacas, it is helpful to have an idea of the scale you want to grow to and the kind of activities - such as farm visits - that you want to do while keeping the balance of family life and happy alpacas.More to come next timeThanks to Rita Soares for the conversationThanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - [email protected] - 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

Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!In this episode, I invite you to think a bit more about making decisions while keeping your alpacas and some of the things I had to respond to this week.This includes:Do you need to do it now? How are you? How are they?Is it leaning in the right direction?Let me know your decision-making process so we can all learn together to be better alpaca shepherds.I hope you have a good week.Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - [email protected] - 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

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 - [email protected] - 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

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 - [email protected] - 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