Our
Story
In the beginning...
Our journey began in 2016 when we ‘upped sticks’ from Essex and moved across the country to the beautiful county of Shropshire to start an alpaca farm. We found a small Welsh long house in a tiny hamlet and then found 70 acres of rolling hills and ancient woodland on the edge of Clun.
After doing a lot of research we decided to start with just 6 alpacas. Shortly after we decided to add a small herd of Angora goats. These produce mohair and seemed the perfect partner to make luxury yarns.
We settled in to becoming a small fibre farm, learning as we went along with help from a goat club and other alpaca owners. Even the ‘beast from the east’ didn’t put us off, and if we got through that we could cope with whatever was thrown at us!
Time goes on...
We needed to grow our farm, so we began breeding. We had a head start as two of the alpacas were pregnant when we got them, and some of the goats had kids with them. We also bought a further 3 female alpacas to diversify the lines, and a couple of stud goats (bucks) to start the goat breeding programme.
We also wanted to use our farm to live more sustainably. We had been growing veg and fruit for many years on town allotments, so had plenty of experience in that area. We got a couple of pigs – Thelma and Louise to clear an area covered in bracken, breaking it up and fertilising it all in one go. This worked really well. Pigs actually eat the roots of the bracken, and we were getting an increasing amount of it, so we began moving the pigs is different areas on the farm to keep the bracken at bay.
The addition of chickens gave us eggs, which taste delicious. The veg and fruit started growing and we had planted cider and eating apple orchards. Planted more hedging, as well as building barns and shelters for the growing number of livestock. Plus growing and cutting our own hay – life as a farmer is very busy!
Where we up to now
As well as the farming there was the growing pile of fleece. The alpacas are shorn once a year, and the goats are done twice a year. This produces a lot of fleece, most of which is perfect for making into yarn. Quickly realising that although hand spinning is fun, it takes a huge amount of time, especially if you have to sort, wash, dry, pick and card each fleece before it is spun and plyed. We found a family run small mill in rural west Wales that would do this part for us, then we could dye it into a range of beautiful colours.
Jenny Knoll Yarns is now a well known local brand, selling at local farmers markets, craft fairs and online. Each skein is hand dyed, which brings an individuality to each one. It’s super soft and beautiful to knit with. We also knit a few winter accessories and make kits up too.
The alpaca fleece that is left over goes into our new line of hand made duvets. These are pocket filled with this soft and airy fibre. They breathe with you, so never seem too hot or cool. It is a great way to use this ‘waste’ part of the fleece.
As for the farm… we now have a pop up campsite each summer. Very low key, simple, ecologically sound facilities. We are beginning a programme of rewilding. Potentially getting pigs again (sadly Thelma and Louise passed on) to clear more bracken, planting more hedgerow and trees, and establishing wildflower meadows. The garden has grown as we begin to be more community based. Supplying local cafes and community shops, welcoming volunteers to learn, grow their own food, support their mental health and enjoy being in nature.