Beans, barns and Yaks

Garbanzo beans

Picking dried beans...not too much fun in the cold, blowing wind. Spent 20 minutes and still have so much to do. How many hours? I have a lot of respect for people who pick dried beans by hand. A little each day, I guess, and it will get done. While I pick the beans, Richard works on the barn for the animals.

Goat barn, newly expanded. Goats on turkey box.

Yesterday we went to the Yaktoberfest held by Cho Ku Rei Ranch, in Crestone, Colorado, which was entertaining (Yaks are cool).

Baby Yak at the Yaktoberfest, Crestone, Colorado.

We also went up toward Saguache and a house that is for sale up that way on 40 acres. The house needs work, but it's a great old Victorian, much like the house we used to have in Colorado Springs. I always used to think if I could move that house to a piece of land in the country, it would be just about perfect. So, here is a house, much like that one, in the San Luis Valley, on acreage enough for our critters and our Sanctuary...

Wouldn't it be something to live in a real house again? A solid, old house with hard wood floors, and enough bedrooms for all of the family? There was even a barn, big enough for all of our animals, and another little room that could serve as a milking parlor for the goats. So, there's that. The owner may do owner financing.
But, I'm a little nervous to ask now. I sent a lengthy e-mail to the owner of the church on 40 acres that I really want. It's about ten miles from where we are renting now. It has a stable area and a well in, but no electricity or running water. It would be a lot of work, but I'm game. But the owner wouldn't rent it to us now. He wants a sizable down payment before he will do an owner carry.

The house up near Saguache is surrounded by farms--big, commercial farms, growing potatoes and grains. I have to wonder if they spray? It feels a lot different up there, energetically. And it's a long way away from my beloved NM. I feel safe down here in the southern end of the valley. I will leave it to the Universe and see what transpires.

Alfonso...herd sire?

Alfonso has been getting friendly with the female llamas. We may have some crias next year after all, and can try out that llama milk for the kids, hoping it might relieve some of their autism symptoms. We finally had enough money saved to get some more tests run on the kids. We found out they are indeed gluten and casein sensitive, big time, and also peanut butter, almond butter, eggs, flax, some citrus, beef, lamb...and some other things. Wow. This limits their diet even more. No goat milk. No eggs. What is the point of the farm? Oh yes, we enjoy it so, and maybe one day when we can heal their insides, the kids will be able to have some of these things again.

There is some speculation that camel milk will help kids with autism, or help kids with leaky gut syndrome. This is why we picked up the female llamas, to breed them for the milk, because llamas are genetically close enough to camels that the milk should be about the same as far as benefits go. Now, how do you milk a llama? I have no idea. I hear it is quite difficult, but we are willing to try for the few precious ounces of milk that may make a significant difference in our kids' behaviors.

A hybrid alpaca/llama is called a Huarizo. A llamas gestation is about a year, so maybe next October we will have some little Huarizos/crias running about. They should have lovely fiber and be a manageable size. Just what I was hoping for. Or am hoping for. We shall see what kind of critters we get.

Alfonso has been busy with the ladies and has taken to chasing off the three gelded males whenever they come near the fence. And he wins, too. The male llamas run away whenever little Alfonso charges at them at the fence. That Napolean complex seems to be big around our farm. Makes me laugh to see proud Turbo brought down a notch. Barnyard antics...more entertaining than a television...any day.