Take Sunset Baths And Long Walks At This Eco-Friendly Alpaca Farm Stay In The Hunter

Local Escapes by Urban List By Jessica Best
4th Sep 2020

Some stays in NSW are just too good to be true and Little Valley Farm is absolutely one of them.

Located about 90-minutes north of Sydney in Laguna, this charming farm brings together two great concepts—getting off the grid and… alpacas. 

Little Valley Farm is all about getting in touch with your surroundings and the stays here operate in a way that minimises your environmental footprint. The owners are also registered alpaca breeders (so yes, you could potentially go home with one of these fluffy beings).

There are two rustic accommodation options to choose from and each gives you the freedom to be completely surrounded by bushland, paddocks (filled with the aforementioned fluffy ‘pacas), and fresh produce depending on the time of year. 

The T4615 Red Rattler is a converted 1950s train carriage. This guy packs a spacious bedroom with a queen bed, a camp-style kitchen, an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven, an outdoor bath with hot water, hammocks, and two yoga mats that you can roll out on the deck.

Little Valley is truly off-grid so the Red Rattler only has 12-volt power, which means you’ll be able to charge up your phone and torches, but it’s not really suitable for your shaver or hair straightener.

If you have a few more people coming with you or you’d rather head out in full glamping mode, there’s also a handbuilt Shepherd’s Hut (think tiny home-style), which can be moved anywhere on the farm. The hut shares the train’s kitchen and glam bathroom and you can also opt-in for a tent for any extra friends.

To really top things off, these guys plant a tree for every visitor that stays, not only to remember all the people that have come by but to ensure every visit to the farm is carbon neutral. The trees planted remove around 10 times more carbon over their lifetime than the average two-day visit and overnight stay (plus, you can even ask the owners to pop your name on it).

You can book your stay here.

Looking for more delicious getaways in NSW? Head on over to our local escapes section. 

Image credit: Little Valley Farm

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Hunter Valley Agribusiness Cluster Action Plan aims to help agribusinesses grow

Helping Agribusinesses and Agritourism is what we are passionate about. So it is wonderful to see Cessnock City Council champion this initiative and get wide feedback from the community.

We were lucky to have Tony & Andrew come out and listen to some of our bigger plans as an agri-tourism consultancy and as a growing farm.

If we could live in communities with a foundation in our 'agri-past', with new ideas for 'agri-futures', we believe communities and people would be far better off for it.

Read more here

Special thanks to Cessnock City Council, Boutique PR and Cessnock Advertiser.

Alpaca Sales and Workshops in the Wollombi Valley

Alpacas are fascinating animals, but they require special management. Join Daniela at Little Valley Farm for their unique and hands-on workshop that is perfect for people living on small farms or acerage and that are thinking of having alpacas as pets.

You will also be given a copy of the AgGuide - Farming Alpacas book to take home.

A basic guide to some of the skills and practices of alpaca production. This guide covers information on alpaca production including health, breeding and farming, nutritional needs and breeding to improve fleece.

Book in now for Sept and October 2020 dates in the Hunter Valley.

Click here for workshop info.

Alpaca Workshops for small farms and acerages

"Knowledge will give you the opportunity to make a difference on the farm and for your new herd of wonderful alpacas."

Join us for our unique alpaca workshops at Little Valley Farm.

Simply contact Daniela for availability in 2020. Classes are kept small due to our COVID safe procedure.

Click here to see our workshop info.

The 10 Best Cabin Escapes Around NSW - Australian Traveller

AS SEEN IN THE MEDIA

We are number 2 of the top ten list - Thanks to Australian Traveller 2020.

Read more here.

The 10 Best Cabin Escapes Around NSW - Australian Traveller

AS SEEN IN THE MEDIA

We are number 2 of the top ten list - Thanks to Australian Traveller 2020.

“In need of an escape from the daily 9-5? Want to get out of the city and get back to nature? Well, haven’t we got a treat for you.

 There’s nothing quite as restorative as a weekend in nature, breathing fresh air and switching off your phone.

Check out our list for the top cosy cabin escapes in NSW and spend your days bushwalking, bird-watching, star-gazing and sleeping in.

A truly unique experience, the 1950’s Sydney Train Carriage and Tiny Shepherd’s Hut is 100% tranquil, and completely surrounded by bushland.

 Satisfy those outdoor cravings and check out this eco off-the-grid farm accommodation. The two separate cabins can sleep up to four adults.

 The train deck is the perfect spot to spend the afternoon watching the farm’s alpacas, guinea fowl and chickens roam about.

Rates from $149 per night.”

Read here Australian Traveller Magazine here.

BY ALICIA POOLE of Australian Traveller magazine.

Alpaca GOLD

The beauty of alpaca manure - big beautiful sunflowers and amazing produce at the farm.

Alpaca manure is called alpaca gold and for very good reason.

Although lower in organic matter than other traditional manures, alpaca manure has a lot of value in the garden. In fact, many gardeners find this type of manure to be an excellent source of nutrients for optimal soil and plant health.

Using alpaca manure as fertiliser is beneficial. Even with its lower organic content, alpaca manure is considered a rich soil conditioner. Alpaca fertiliser improves the soil quality and its ability to retain water. It is also good for plants, providing a fair amount of nitrogen and potassium and about average levels of phosphorus. Since alpaca manure is mostly found in pellet form and is weed free, it does not need to be aged or composted before use. You can spread it directly onto garden plants without burning them.

Best of all, it does not contain any weed seeds to contaminate your garden beds.

This years large sunflowers. nothing added except organic matter and alpaca gold.

Millions of fungi spawn after rain.

Great pumpkin growing.

Bloopers at Little Valley Farm staring Neve the alpaca

Neve decides to spend the afternoon with us filming in the paddock. She is a real star and the video bloopers are hysterical.

The humans have been in isolation way to long and look forward to re-opening our farm stay mid year as we have been closed since November due to the Summer bush fire season.

Fingers crossed, stay covid safe and hope to see you mid year.

Covid19 farmstay safe

Back in March we were prepared for Covid19 and cancelled all of our bookings as well as self-isolating which is pretty much the norm when you live out here.

Daniela also quickly completed the Certificate in Acknowledgment in infection control training Covid19.

This week we downloaded the CovidSafe app and so should you. We really want to get back to normal and start to run our business once again. Our valley suffered through the horrendous Summer bush fires of 2019/2020, and really we have been shut down since November 2019. Its now time to support our business, our valley and the Hunter Valley community.

We hope to see you all after the ISO lockdown. In the meantime, stay safe and keep social distancing.

Visit our online shop for alpaca fleece, alpaca yarn, farmstay and alpaca workshop gift vouchers.

We have downloaded it. Have you?

Alpacas on the Old Wheat Paddock

Taking some of our alpacas for a stroll past Platypus Walk and into the Old Wheat Paddock on this hot summer afternoon.

Its always fun having the alpacas follow me around the farm. Highly recommended and alpacas love a new paddock every couple of weeks. Paddock rotation is extremely important for us and for the health of our herd. Find out why, when you book into on our on-farm workshops.

If you are looking at starting your own herd, why not book in for one of our alpaca training workshops and we will show you how we manage of herd of huacaya and suri alpacas.

See more on our website.

Add us onto your isolation bucket list!

Our wonderful farm stay may be closed for now but you can still add us on your 'isolation bucket list'.

Enjoy reading about Charlotte's alpaca farm stay here and be inspired.

We hope to see you all after Covid19.

For now, stay safe. Daniela

Photo credit Charlotte Curd for Riparide

Parasite Control and Conditions in Alpacas

Though we had a nasty start to the season due to the effects of prolonged drought exacerbating the fire season, and now the current Covid19. We now have predictions for a wet winter.

With rainfall comes insects and parasites, and we are reminding alpaca owners to remain vigilant as we approach winter, especially since we have been enjoying warmer weather right through to late April.

Conditions are right in many regions for insect populations to ramp up, which is reportedly already happening with flies across Australia’s central region and brings a host of issues for livestock owners. 

Pasture growth is always a blessing, however, it can drastically increase survivability for internal and external parasites in paddocks. That means greater monitoring to ensure the health of our alpacas. 

Conditions from tics due to the remaining warmth keeps them active in the ground, roaming snakes seeking shelter and food, ryegrass seed complications, weed poisoning and conditions such as rickets, barbers pole and staggers, just to name a few.

We recommend you visit the Australia Alpaca Association for a list of known weeds, plants and tree’s that are toxic to alpacas.

Wet weather also brings us an ample growth of wild mushrooms so please remove them safety with gloves and dispose of carefully. 

If we do have a wet winter, parasite control is another thing to consider, as the seasonal conditions have meant there are much higher risks of worms and flystrike in some areas. So please ask your vet to conduct a worm count before drenching and remember - paddock rotation is the best natural method you can do. 

If you have coloured alpacas we recommend ADE for this time of the year - vitamin boost for colours but also recommend for all. 

Feel free to talk to us about which appropriate worming/drenching method to use. 

Here’s a photo of me with one of my breeding girls, Neve.

Daniela

If you are looking at starting your own herd of alpacas keep an eye on our website on alpaca sales or join our mailing list for the next herd dispersal sale.

2020 Spring/Summer Open Day

We sadly had to cancel our Australian Alpaca Association Open Day for May 2020 but hope to re-schedule for Spring/Summer 2020 sometime.

As numbers are always limited when visiting our farm please make sure you sign up so you don’t miss out on this unique alpaca farm experience with our amazing herd.

Our Little Valley Farm open days are a great way to find out more about alpaca’s for your farm, how to take care of them, handle them in a safe manner, what to feed, best shelters and pens required plus so much more. You also have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you want, get some hands-on experience and take some memorable photos and interact with our alpacas.

Sign up here for 2020 dates.

Hop on our alpaca list - https://www.littlevalleyfarm.com.au/about

Its called Alpaca 'Gold'

The alpaca is a ruminent with three stomachs. It converts grass and hay to energy very quickly, eating far less (as a percentage of its body weight) than other farm animals. Alpaca manure is lower in organic matter content than the manure from most other barnyard livestock (cows, horses, goats and sheep) but still has enough to improve soil texture and water-holding capacity. This lower organic content allows alpaca manure to be spread directly onto plants without burning them. It is the decomposition of organic matter content of the manure that indicates their efficient digestion system.

The nitrogen and potassium content of alpaca dung is comparatively high, an indication of good fertilizer value. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the major plant nutrients. Phosphorus is relatively low as in most livestock manure. The calcium and magnesium content is about average. South American Indians use the alpaca waste for fuel, and local gardeners find the alpaca's rich fertilizer perfect for growing fruits and vegetables. A herd of alpacas consolidates its waste in one or two spots in the paddocks, thereby controlling the spread of parasites and making it easier to collect and use on our garden beds. 

Photo credit to Richard of Incamon Alpaca Stud.

Welcome cria, Oberon

Hello Oberon. Born to Dam Suki-Oberon and cute as a button. Was an easy birth, which we are grateful for as Suki was bitten by a red belly snake when she was four month pregnant. So glad this worked out wonderfully and happy to be isolation with our herd of alpacas. There are many more births due later this month.

Alpaca Yarn and Fleece Little Valley Farm

Great news, you can now purchase our alpaca fleece and yarn for sale. Here is the fleece from our wonderful Stud, Sir Richmond. Soft and luxurious fleece that is handspun in Wollombi Valley.

Purchase online here.

Types of Alpaca's

Our most common question is what is the difference between a Huacaya and a Suri alpaca. Our favourite shop, The Australian Alpaca Barn states it perfectly below.

At Little Valley Farm we have both types of Alpacas and we adore working with both. We are now venturing in the world of coloured alpacas in the next couple of months - and we are super excited!

We currently have super soft handspun alpaca yarn for sale and also raw (unprocessed) fleece for sale. Click here to purchase online.

Photo credit The Alpaca Barn. Check them out in the Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains and Sydney Rocks area.

The Top 10 Birds at Little Valley Farm

It is impossible to say these are our favourite birds - but they are the birds that are mostly likely to make an impact on our guests. In a way they are favourites as we love seeing and hearing them all the time.

No.10 - Chickens

Of course our Barnvelder, Wine-dot, Italian White cross Silkie chickens make an impact, the Rooster loves to crow and the girls are pretty regular with eggs to eat and at hatching new chicks. But they are introduced here, and despite their exotic cross breeding, we know them all to well.

No.9 - Guiena Fowl

You can’t miss . Guinea Fowl especially if you are new to the farm. If anything is out of place they will let you know about it at XX decibles, and they will most likely block you from driving down towards the train. However they are again an introduced bird albeit still quite exotic outside of the homeland Africa.

No.8 Barking Owl

No.7 Bellbird

No.6 Butcher Bird

No. 5 Magpie

No.4 Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo

No.3 Magnificent Blue Wren

No.2 Bower Bird

No1. Superb Lyrebird

Discover more about them when you come and create your own unique farm stay experience at Little Valley Farm.

Yoga with the Alpacas at Little Valley Farm

That’s right, we did it! I am not sure if we did impress our alpacas but we certainly had a great time trying, stretching and laughing.

It was absolutely relaxing doing yoga in the middle of the paddocks with the alpacas surrounding us. A huge thank you to Joy, (it was Pure Joy!) and our amazing three guests.

Let’s do it again!

Follow us for our next yoga-with-the-alpacas.

Book your four-person glamping weekend farm stay here.

Yoga with the Alpacas

Coming soon to Little Valley Farm. Yoga with the alpacas. Let’s see if we can impresses Abigail and Lilly.