This week we had the pleasure of talking about our bush fire preparations for livestock at Little Valley Farm. A three part series created by SES, DPI & LLS.
Thanks to the amazing film crew and of course the guest appearance from the LVF alpacas.
April-May the series will be released.
Due to a cancellation, we have one spot available at our Alpaca workshop Sunday 7th February from 10:30am.
The following workshop date is now Sunday 14th March.
Read more about our workshops for small farms or acreage.
Photo credit: Miss Majestic the alpaca also known as the photo-bomber!
Today we had the pleasure of talking about our bush fire preparations for livestock at Little Valley Farm. A three-part series created by SES, DPI and LLS.
Thanks to the amazing film crew and of course the guest appearance from the LVF alpacas.
April-May the series will be released. đ
Besides running workshops in the Hunter Valley, Little Valley Farm also provides mentoring and guidance for new alpaca owners.
If you are looking into having alpacas on your farm and are not 100% sure then this booklet by AAA called "Managing Alpacas in Australia", is a great and super easy read to get you started.
Also, at our workshops, we provide the Ag guide 'Farming Alpacas' which is a more in-depth overview of managing alpacas.
For now, check out the booklet on alpacas and you can purchase online from us. Simply click here.
We will be updating our livestock sales list later this month. Click here to see what is currently available.
Our February workshops are fully booked but we do have four places available for March 14th.
Alpacas are fascinating animals, but they require special management. Join us for our unique alpaca workshop that is perfect for people living on small farms or acreage. A great introduction to see if alpacas are the right fit for your farm.
Read more here
Little Valley Farm ~ Alpaca Workshop and Training for small farms & acreage in the Hunter Valley
If you are heading to the Hunter Valley and require accommodation let us know as we have a list of places to stay that are close by in Laguna, Wollombi and Cessnock (near the vineyards) so you may as well make a weekend out of it).
Baby Piaf strikes a pose!
You get to meet this little beauty when you book your exclusive farm stay with us or book in for an alpaca workshop.
Learn more about these majestic creatures before you venture into your own alpaca journey.
Workshops for small farms and acreage
www.littlevalleyfarm.com.au/online-products/alpacatraining
Alpacas are fascinating animals, but they require special management. Join us for our unique alpaca workshop that is perfect for people living on small farms or acreage. A great introduction to see if alpacas are the right fit for your farm.
Photo credit Little Valley Farm â
Which alpaca is four weeks old and the other is six weeks old can you guess? Huacaya or Suri can you tell? Why...
Posted by Little Valley Farm - Alpaca Farm on Wednesday, January 13, 2021
No rain today and we are pretty happy. It's kinda soggy out there on some of the paddocks.
Snowy and Panna keeping me in good company today. The rest of the girls are chilling under the amber trees.
Alpaca workshops for 2021 now available. Jump on our website for more details.
What a beautiful way to end our week!
Another wonderful alpaca workshop with our fabulous alpacas and wonderful guests. We had such a great time hosting everyone and talking alpacas.
We ended the workshop with a sitdown grazing platter from @Lagunavillageprovidore and a cool down affogato caffee. My fav coffee with ice cream on a hot summers day.
January workshops are fully booked and our next one is scheduled for February 7th.
Discover more on our alpaca workshops in the Hunter Valley here.
Stay up to date on our alpaca farm in the Hunter Valley. There is lots going on from farm stays, to alpaca workshops for new owners including the annual open day to the public including yarn and fleece for sale.
Sustainable, renewable, ethical, biodegradable. Alpaca is one of the finest animal fibres in the world, comparable to mohair, cashmere and other rare fibres.
No wonder its referred to as the Fibre of the Gods!
There are two types of alpacas â Huacaya (pronounced Wuh-kai-ya) and the Suri. Huacaya fibre is similar to sheep fibre with a crimpy structure to the fibre but without the lanolin. Suri fibre can be described as a flat fibre that handles and behaves like silk when processed and dyed. The fibre hangs in locks from the alpacas and is considered a premium fibre.
Check out this four-star chart comparing alpaca to wool, cotton and feather/down.
So be sustainable and get into alpaca now.
Contact us for raw fleece, yarn supplies and also in-fills for cushions, bean bags and soft toys.
Shearing has been done for 2020 and our beautiful alpacas are now ready for Summertime.
We have now saddles available to purchase for $10, $20 and $30 in white, fawn and chocolate in Huacaya and Suri fleece.
Pick up is in Laguna via appointment only from November 1st. We have over 40 saddles currently available that are perfect for spinning and felting.
We also have raw fleece available suitable for stuffing for handmade knitted toys or cushions from $10 per bag.
Handspun 8 ply alpaca huacaya fleece
Three words for you â alpaca farm stay. Little Valley Farm is about a 90-minute drive from Sydney, located in Laguna. The farm is totally off-grid and although the alpacas here are no doubt the main attraction (of the Huacaya and Suri) kind, youâll also find a whole heap of garlic and tomatoes grown here as well.
The owners at this farm are registered alpaca breeders with the Australian Alpaca Association (so your conscience can rest easy) and you can quite literally go for gold with the alpaca antics while glamping or staying for a few nights in the farmâs vintage train cabin and shepherds hut. Plus, the best part is that this farm stay is all about minimising your environmental footprint which means a whole lot of relaxing, wine-drinking, exploring and stargazing.
Itâs been dubbed by those that have stayed there to be a complete âalpaca oasisâ with alpacas grazing in front of your stay all day long, hammocks, a fire pit, an outdoor bathtub for prime alpaca views (plus, the owners spoil you with fresh eggs and tomatoes straight off the vine).
Photo credit Urban List
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 conceptsâgetting off the grid andâĻ 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 âpacas), 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 youâll be able to charge up your phone and torches, but itâs not really suitable for your shaver or hair straightener.
If you have a few more people coming with you or youâd rather head out in full glamping mode, thereâs also a handbuilt Shepherdâs Hut (think tiny home-style), which can be moved anywhere on the farm. The hut shares the trainâs 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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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.
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.
"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.
AS SEEN IN THE MEDIA
We are number 2 of the top ten list - Thanks to Australian Traveller 2020.
Read more here.
AS SEEN IN THE MEDIA
We are number 2 of the top ten list - Thanks to Australian Traveller 2020.
âIn need of an escape from the daily 9-5? Want to get out of the city and get back to nature? Well, havenât we got a treat for you.
Thereâs 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 1950âs Sydney Train Carriage and Tiny Shepherdâs 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 farmâs alpacas, guinea fowl and chickens roam about.
Rates from $149 per night.â
Read here Australian Traveller Magazine here.
BY ALICIA POOLE of Australian Traveller magazine.
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.