Park City & Deer Valley

Meet a Clan of Wacky Alpacas

Blue Moon Ranch will Host Its 6th Annual Open Barn Day

September 25th - 26th, 2010 from 10:00am - 4:00pm

Thirteen years ago, Linda Gardner picked up a magazine in an airport and came face-to-face with photos of an unfamiliar creature, the alpaca.

"I just looked at their faces and said, 'I'm in love. If there's a way I can make a living and be around these animals for the rest of my life, by golly I'm going to do it,'" she says.

Her husband, Ed Heintz, recognized the look on her face immediately and thought, "Here we go again."

Not long after returning to their home in Herriman, Gardner purchased a female Huacaya the type of alpaca with short, crimpy, fleece-like fiber. That alpaca had a baby, and "That was so much fun, we decided to buy more," she says.

In 2003, the couple purchased seven acres of property in Woodland to accommodate their growing brood and started Blue Moon Ranch.

As for the spontaneous career move, "I've never regretted it for a minute," Gardner says. "Alpacas are the most gentle, intelligent, fascinating creatures, and the fiber is a bonus."

This weekend, Sept. 25-26, Blue Moon Ranch will host its sixth annual Open Barn Days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. The event coincides with National Alpaca Farm Days, which is sponsored by the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association.

Blue Moon Ranch is home to about 75 alpacas. They are all Huacayas and there are more females than males. Nine babies, or cria, were born this summer. All of the alpacas are for sale.

Gardner and Heintz shear the alpacas once a year, in late May or early June, and collect an average of five pounds of prime blanket fiber from each animal. "Then it's just a mad scramble to get everything ready for this weekend," she says.

According to the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association, alpaca fiber is as warm as wool and as soft as cashmere. It's lightweight, naturally hypoallergenic, and can be dyed any shade. It's also water repellent and odor- and wrinkle-resistant.

Gardner carefully breeds her animals for the highest quality fleece. "I'm very fussy about who gets to make the babies," she says. "It's good to be the goddess."

She spins the fiber herself and makes mostly skeins of yarn. She sometimes creates clothing items for family members, but she doesn't purport to be a talented knitter. She does like to press the fiber into felt for scarves, which, she notes, is one way the fiber goes straight from the bag to a finished product and "has zero carbon footprint."

Aside from the profitable aspects of raising alpacas, Gardner does what she does because she finds them fascinating. "They're very intelligent," she says. "They have very strong family ties and exceptionally good memories. They tug at my heartstrings. They're very valued and loved here."

Each of the alpacas at Blue Moon Ranch has a different name and a distinct personality. If there's food involved, they will come when called, Gardner says. If she's wielding a syringe, on the other hand, they are likely to ignore her.

Alpacas make good pets, but their cuddly appearance can be deceiving. "They don't love to be handled," she says. "If you enjoy working creatively with fiber and have an acre for a couple of non-breeding boys, it's great. If you want a pet for your emotional needs, I think you best go to Furburbia and get a puppy."

Open Barn Days will provide an opportunity for visitors to interact with the alpacas and take guided tours of the ranch. Gardner can't promise that guests won't get spit on, which is a common fear-based response for alpacas, but she says she hasn't been caught in spitting crossfire for years.

The event will also feature spinning demonstrations on a wheel and on a traditional drop spindle. Knitters will be on hand to answer questions and alpaca yarn, hand-woven rugs, felted scarves, handmade soaps and knitted items including gloves, hats and socks ("the warmest things you'll ever put your toes in," according to Gardner) will be available for purchase.

Blue Moon Ranch is located at 3535 South 1000 East in Woodland. Driving directions and more information are available online at www.bluemoonranch.net.

For More Information on Park City and Deer Valley Contact:
Michael Lapay
Prudential Utah Real Estate
Mobile: 435-640-5700
Toll Free: 888-410-7653

mlapay@pureparkcityrealestate.com

by Alisha Self OF THE RECORD STAFF : The Park Record