After visiting Benson Alpaca Meadows, Judy Benson referred us to Golden Eagle Alpaca and Produce Farm to visit because they have Southdown Babydoll Sheep. Every time I sit down to email a new farm, I get nervous and try not to ramble on. After hitting send, I checked my email every hour in anticipation. Whew! John & Iris Gasser responded promptly and a date to visit Golden Eagle Alpaca and Produce Farm was set.
When we pulled up to the farm, the day was sunny with minimal breeze and just like any good farm dogs, we were greeted by two wagging tails. Here is Cha-Cha punishing sticks.
John was our tour guide and he first took us to the peach orchard where the Southdown Babydoll Ewes were currently grazing. I wouldn't say the sheep were high-fivin' me but they did sign my photo release to publish their photos.
Shy Sheep
Southdown Babydoll Sheep are an ancient breed and their job on this farm is to mow the grass. John said, "Every animal here has to have a job to live on the farm." After several attempts of mowing carefully in the orchard and shredding the soaker hoses, they read about babydoll sheep and their ability groom the grounds and fertilize with raisinets wherever they go. (I just ruined raisinets for you.)
Keep your distance, peasant.
Still not impressed with me. I love you anyway.
The sheep intensively graze in the orchard and farm. They are moved daily in weed/grass season with the use of solar electric fencing. Next to the peach orchard is the blackberry patch, you can pick your own blackberries in the height of the season while visiting the farm.
Where's the chicken?
Of course, where are the Alpacas? I am getting to that. First, check out these chickens working in the Megalodon Greenhouse. Once the harvest was over, John moved a set of chickens into the greenhouse to work the left over collard greens, cabbage, and broccoli to the stubs you see today. While they are scratching and clucking, the greenhouse garden dirt is receiving fertilizer out of their fluffy rears.
Get to work.
Then we met the alpacas and their guardian llamas. John spoke about diversity on a farm. Not only does he have alpacas as a source of income but he also has chicken eggs, fruit, vegetables and he even sells some of his own firewood from down trees.
John Gasser with alpacas and llamas
Motley Crew
Just like the alpacas before, a lone strand of hay jutting from their mouth. Chickens live with the alpacas and work on the parasites. We even saw Tommy's arch-nemesis, guineas. Guineas got a hold of Tommy when he was younger so he has sworn off guineas. But John might have convinced him otherwise.
After reading about guineas, their ability to surround an enemy like a snake and then attack it as a group is amazing to me.
The best advice we took from John was that we are going to make mistakes that we won't be able to foresee on a project. Don't beat yourself up too much, just try it another way. That first genius idea you had can be easily replaced with another genius idea!
Thank you John & Iris Gasser at Golden Eagle Alpaca and Produce Farm for extending your farming knowledge and letting us call upon you with questions.
For my readers, you can purchase Alpaca Goods (I have the alpaca insoles), find out their schedule at local farmer's markets, plan a visit or support a local business by following their Facebook Page at Golden Eagle Alpaca or visiting their website at Golden Eagle Alpaca and Produce Farm.