News from Blue Moon Ranch

March 2009
In This Issue
Alpacas?
Shearing day
Talk to the animals
Weaving class
The new scoop on poop
 
Alpacas?

Are you considering alpacas as an  investment? Come visit Blue Moon Ranch and we'll answer your questions with no pressure, no hype. We can share more than 10 years of experience with you as you consider your options in the wonderful world of alpacas.
 

shearing dayShearing Day 2009

Our shearing day for 2009 has been scheduled for Saturday June 6, 2009.  We are pleased to have Eddie Dunham, our favorite Australian shearer return to Blue Moon Ranch to give the herd their summer haircuts.  If you want to reserve a fleece while it is still walking around, let me know soon.  Prices are between $20 and $30 per pound depending on the quality, and we prefer to sell whole blanket fleeces. Gray, black, chocolate brown, light fawn and white fleeces will be available this year.
 
We are able to have a few additional alpacas brought to Blue Moon Ranch for shearing so if you are interested in having Eddie shear your herd, let us know as soon as possible. Also, we need a few energetic helpers to assist with animal handling, and fiber bagging.  Let me know ASAP if you are available to help. Guaranteed you will sleep well that night!
 
Talk to the animals!  
 
Call us the Doolittles, but we do talk to our animals  Most all of them know their names and many of them will come when we call them!  really!  (however, they don't seem to do this when we have visitors - especially when we say they will!)
A good time to teach an alpaca his or her name is when feeding, spraying with a hose on a hot summer day or in the case of  the boys, when being called for breeding!  Bull and Teewinot will both come to the gate when I call them, walk right to the holding pen near the girls barn and wait for me to show them which way their date is!  No halters, they simply go where I ask them to. I do halter the other boys but these two are exceptional!   Petora knows when I call her to come into the barn for extra pellets and Isabella waits to hear her name because she knows I will find a quiet place for her to eat away from the others.
Talk to an alpaca!  You'll enjoy it and so will they.  Need an alpaca to talk to?   Come visit - we have plenty.

woven pouchWeaving class with Rita Miller  April 25

This class filled up quickly last year and we had to turn some people away so we are doing a repeat!  Mark April 25 on your calendar, then email me today and reserve your place.   Class will start at 10 a.m. By noon you will know enough to be able to take your project home to finish it.  Pictured above is the pouch I wove in class last year. It is perfect for holding my business cards!  This is  a great way to use up small bits of leftover alpaca yarn.  Class fee is $20 which includes all supplies.  After you send an email to reserve your spot, you can send a check to Blue Moon Ranch  3535 S 1000 E. Woodland Utah 84036.
 
 The new scoop on poop
Our bean piles have become very popular with local gardeners and we are happy that our alpacas produce such a nice "end product".  (pun intended) We compost it all year to insure that weed seeds are killed and any parasites have been nicely cooked.  The picture here shows the pile steaming on a mid-winter day.  The temperature inside the pile can reach 165 degrees!
 
We have also invested in our own manure spreader so now we can add this soil amendment back on to our pastures each fall.  What a way to recycle!  We have small packages of composted beans for sale in the store and if you want to get free beans, and start your own bean recycling pile - you can have them by scooping them out of the pastures just like I do every day!  Bring a bucket or 2, I'll even let you borrow my rakes and shovels.    Limited times for pick up - please email if this opportunity interests you. linda@bluemoonranch.net
Upcoming Events
 
Weaving class  April 25,2009 
Shearing day  June 6, 2009
Open barn days  Sept 26-27 2009
Crias arriving - May through September! 


3535 S 1000 E
Woodland, Utah 84036
Thanks for reading our newsletter! We know your time is valuable and we appreciate the time you spent to read it.  If you have any suggestions, we'd like to hear them. linda@bluemoonranch.net  
 

Contact Info
Linda Gardner
435 783 4428
Save 50%
Spring breeding special!!!  
Book a drive by breeding to any BMR owned herdsire in the month of March and we will reduce the breeding fee by 50%. Check out our boys here.  Drive by means you bring your female to our ranch when she is receptive, and she (and her cria if she has one) can go home with you after "the date"  - confirmation of pregnancies is the responsibility of the female owner. Our 30 day live birth guarantee applies.  Book your females now, pay the reduced fee in March, and have until July 2009 to use it!
Offer Expires: March 31, 2009