Island Alpaca Open until 4 pm, Christmas Eve Day. Closed Christmas. Open every day 10 am to 4 pm, December 26 onward!

Martha's Vineyard: The Off-Season Version!

Thinking about visiting Martha's Vineyard during the off season? Here are a number of reasons to come in addition to a trip to Island Alpaca Co. of Martha's Vineyard -- A great read, thanks to Mike Benjamin an island local who wrote this piece in yesterdays Times... Click NYT to read!

Weekend Story Time @ Island Alpaca Co.

Bring your children for a 1/2 hour of story telling in the barn-- hosted by a member of Island Alpaca staff, Daisy Moreau!
Saturday and Sunday, November 19 and 20, 11 am and 2 pm.


"Blue Ribbon Alpaca", This first-ever, hard-cover children's alpaca story-book is the story of an alpaca, her envious companions, her awesome fleece and the children who love her! Recommended for ages 4+, (Dress very warmly!) Donation welcome.

1 Head of the Pond Road, Oak Bluffs 508-693-5554

Island Alpaca airs on WCVB TV's Channel 5, "Chronicle"!

Share with us on Monday, November 14 @ 7:30 pm,  

WCVB TV's "Chronicle" Shayna Seymour's visit to  

Island Alpaca Co. of Martha's Vineyard​.

Shayna is an Emmy award winning reporter, producer
and host of "Main Street's and Back Road's", Chronicle's
Evening Magazine program.

Watch as Shayna Seymour meets and greets our alpaca,
and explores the beautiful island of Martha's Vineyard!

Welcome Back Ivy Ashe! 

We found this photo of our former staff member Ivy Ashe, now a journalist in Hawaii, ( taken this summer) with Ralph Stewart! It was a welcomed surprise to have you back for even a short visit!
We wish you well in HI -

Island Alpaca Sweeps Big at the "Big E" Massachusetts Eastern States Exposition! 

This past weekend, Island Alpaca Co. participated in the 2016 Alpaca Fleece Competition (Sept. 29 to October 1) and was thrilled to learn that our alpaca Marquesa took the Color Champion ...And the only Championship awarded in the show!
Drumroll please for the full report to include the rest...
Click on alpaca name for more info.
First Place!  Estrada's Lucca of Island Alpaca
(Fawn Fleece-2+ Years/Adult/Mature) This is Lucca's thirteenth Blue Ribbon... to add to his prior two Championships.
First Place!  KBA'S Boondocker
(Grey Fleece-Yearling) This is Boondockers Fourth Blue Ribbon!
First Place!  Silver Angel of Island Alpaca
(Grey Fleece-2+Years/Adult/Mature) This is Silver Angel's Eighth Blue Ribbon...
First Place!  Marquesa of Island Alpaca
(Dark Fleece-Juvi) 
CHAMPION! Marquesa of Island Alpaca 
(Dark Fleece -- out of 11 Alpaca and the only Championship awarded in the show!)
First Place! Lucca's Luciana of Island Alpaca 
(Fawn Fleece-Juvi)  
First Place!  Milo of Island Alpaca 
(Dark Fleece-2+Years/Adult/Mature) This is Milo's sixth Blue Ribbon... to add to his prior Judges Choice Fleece Award!
A "BIG T" to  Judge Arturo Pena,  Show Superintendent Peg Stephens and to the Big E Agricultural Show Staff.

ISLAND ALPACA ATTENDS MARTHA'S VINEYARD LIVING LOCAL HARVEST FEST!

Volunteers Evelyn & David, with our willing alpaca, Atticus & Hunter in tow!

Simone at the helm!

Some of our Island Alpaca "home grown" products!

On a drizzly Saturday, the first of October...  (Can't believe it is already October!) Island Alpaca Co. had the pleasure of joining many other local businesses and organizations who support island sustainability. This year's theme for Living Local was "Re-use and Recycle". The event celebrates and educates on important island issues such as; sustainable agriculture, local food advocacy and education, marine life, renewable energy, resource and land conservation and local living economies. Learn more about Living Local here! Many thanks to all of the organizers to include but not limited to: Nevette Previn, and the generous volunteers-- especially those who helped us pack in time for the evening pot-luck dinner. Hats off to staff to help make this event possible, and to those on the scene,  Rosmarie Jost and Simone Brewer, and our generous volunteers, Evelyn Brewer and David Hannon. THANK YOU!
** Sadly we were not able to bring a valuable by-product of our alpaca.. our fabulous "Alpaca Gold" Paca-Poo Fertilizer... but we do have available at our farm! 

Meditative Moment

A BIG WELCOME to Eric DeWitt our new Barn Manager @ Island Alpaca! We look forward to working with you... and thank you for sharing this photo with all of us!

Island Alpaca Cria, born July 27 is doing well! (Lunette, dam, and Lucca Sire).  Here he is photographed with our staff member Rosmarie Jost.. He is looking forward to a play-mate -- maybe if Purl has her baby soon.. expected in the next few days, so keep an eye out!
He still is without a name but it is coming soon... Stay tuned!

It's a Boy! Island Alpaca's Herd Expands

Thank you to the Gazette to helping us spread the news: Click here to read, "It's a Boy! Island Alpaca's Herd Expands"

THE TASTING TABLE VISITS MARTHA'S VINEYARD!

Enjoy a special feature about Island food, dining and culture in the Tasting Table which includes Island Alpaca! According to the new editor, Joshua David Stein, The Tasting Table features, not just the culinary side of things, but the scene-y side too! Find it here:

Nunoa, Peru Blanket Project

The blanket project was in response to the very cold temperatures in the highlands over the past several years that contribute to both animal and human mortality, especially among the young. Two remote and very high villages, one at 16,500 feet elevation, were selected for distribution. These are some of the highest human habitation sites in the Andes and being above the agricultural zone are solely dependent on their camelid products. The blanket distribution was a great success, and we have Author Morris and many others to thank!140 high quality Peruvian blankets were gratefully received by community members who arrived at the village meeting house from miles away. In the background were patches of snow and above these the receding permanent snow fields. Pumas, largely absent below near the town, come out of the hills and prey on the alpacas and vicuña, and during the birthing season condors are reported to take newborns. Clearly these folks are living on the edge as climate change is imposing increasingly unpredictable conditions on their pastoral way of life. Thanks to everyone who supported this campaign and helped spread a little warmth where the need is great!

Visiting Island Alpaca:
Arthur Morris & Valerie Calhoun

Recently Island Alpaca had the pleasure of a visit by Arthur E. Morris, a big supporter of the Nunoa Blanket project! Arthur traveled to Nunoa as part of the PSU "Human Performance Laboratory" department research funded by the U.S. Olympic Committee and Fed Gov. They spent parts of most of our summer of 1965 in Peru. Part of the research was to study the effects of altitude on athletes but we also participated in studies conducted with the PSU anthropology department and Brooke Thomas was, he believes, performing graduate study work and that resulted in our meeting in Cusco and Nunoa! Nice that they are still in touch and together support such a great cause.

 In case you did not know.. Some of the goals of the Nunoa Project: 
....to make a positive difference in the lives of herders and townspeople of the southern Peruvian highlands ...to address immediate needs through humanitarian aid and veterinary support for the animals in the region.  ...to establish self sustaining programs in the areas of support for herding families and veterinary assistance for livestock in the Department of Puño region.
To learn more: Visit: http://nunoaproject.org/

Brooke Thomas, VP of the Nunoa Project distributes alpaca blankets!

Meet Chuck (a.k.a. Charlotte) Island Alpaca Co.'s Feline friend! 

Thank you to Island Alpaca Co.'s newest, most unique on-line customer.
Chuck is now busy nurturing his newest purchase, the Island Alpaca Piccolo Bear! According to Chucks owner, Ellen from Herndon, VA, Chuck loves cuddling with her Teddy Bear!  Thank you for sharing your photo with us! :O)

MUSIC TO THEIR EARS!

Island Alpaca Co. Alpaca were fortunate to have their first experience with the harmonica.. as you can see from the video below, they were quite curious!
.... the harp was played by our special visiting guest ( all the way from CA ) Reta... Thank you for sharing with all of us.. we all thoroughly enjoyed!

2016 Island Alpaca Annual Neonatal Clinic

Island Alpaca Neonatal / Birthing Clinic hosted by Barbara Ronchetti and Dr. Cheryl DeWitt was a big success!! Breeders and soon to be breeders from far and wide were in attendance ... Texas, Florida, Michigan, Connecticut and New Hampshire and locally, to learn the basics of alpaca neonatal care, and experience hands-on alpaca birthing simulations and more!

Please enjoy the video presentation by clicking here or on image.

Next clinic tentatively set for Saturday May 6, 2017 For information and registration, click here!  Interested in a Fall 2016 clinic.. please send us and email to let us know!!

Thank you to all of those who attended, and many thanks to Ashleigh for this wonderful video production!

Alpaca visit the "BIKE MS: Ride The Vineyard" Finish Line!

It was a bright, sunny Spring day on the island this past Saturday, April 30, and it was the perfect temp for the ride! Island Alpaca joined in the finish-line festivities at the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School with our two alpaca, Revelation and Atticus Rex.  The alpacas were welcomed by many participants of this annual fundraiser for MS including David Cunningham of Sharon, MA. Thank you for sharing your photo with us!

Matt Best, expert shearer!

Thank you to the Martha's Vineyard Times and to Lisa Vanderhoop for your wonderful coverage and photography this past week on the cover of the Calendar section in The Times and on MVTIMES.com --What a surprise that was to see! It was such a wonderful event (click on image to see the coverage!)

Many thanks to the efforts of our shearers and our fabulous non-stop volunteers. Nicola Blake of West Tisbury,  Jason Grovenburg of Chicago, Ethan Howard of Falmouth, Samuel and Caleb Hannon of Boston, and David Hannon of Edgartown, Charles and Luise Ronchetti of Lexington... you all went above and beyond!

Our staff was most impressive, coordinating efforts to make it possible to shear the 56 alpaca in record time-- averaging 7-1/2 minutes per alpaca! Many thanks to all: Simone Brewer, Andrea Figarato, Courtney Nigro Fitzgerald, Keily Hathaway, Rosmarie Jost, Ashliegh Plante, Elizabeth Stevenson -- it would not have been possible without any one of you!

 

Please take a moment to check out the link to our wonderful coverage writing by Betsy Abraham of the Long Island Weekly about Island Alpaca.. She really captured the essence of our farm!! Kudos and Thank you Betsy! Just click on their logo below!

BIRTHDAY SURPRISE!!

Nicola and Philippe arrived at the farm to inspect the alpaca teeth with Ashleigh to see how they were coming along... (*taking Ashleigh out of the Gift Shop she was managing... ) During this time, one by one the guests arrived into the shop and gathered around the cake with lit candles, when Ash and the others returned from outside.... Everyone sang the requisite song...     
                     HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ASH!

March 8, Marks Ashleigh Plante, our Barn Manager-Extraordinare's Twenty-First Birthday... the BIG TWO-ONE!!

"Let Them Eat Cake"?? You may ask? YES is the answer. Black Dog Bakery's, "Chocolate Majesty" (not Brioche from the origins of the traditional French "Cake")

Fun was had by all of our staff and former staff and Island friends! 

Above, the BIG... TWO-ONE!!
Wishing you many more Happy B-Days to come Ashleigh!

HGTV this Sunday, Feb. 14 @ 10 pm / Monday, Feb. 15 Monday @ 1am to see a brief appearance of Island Alpaca on new episode of "Island Life" set here on Martha's Vineyard! Congrats to Rose @ Sandpiper Realty and Classic Aviators featured on the show! 
Island Life features everyday families hoping to find their own slice of paradise in various island locations.

January 4, 2016: Island Alpaca Appears on State Calendar! Congratulations to Island Staff Member Asheigh Plante!

The photograph of Ashleigh Plante of Island Alpaca Co., has recently been chosen for the 2016 Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar. The calendar is an excellent resource that serves as an educational tool for teachers, legislators and the public. The calendar is a collaboration between the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Massachusetts Farm to School, and the Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom (MAC).  Great work! To order visit our site here!

Cape Cod Life Loves Alpaca!

Island Alpaca is thrilled to be included in Cape Cod Life Publication for their Holiday Issue - Find it on the newsstands now through December. Please find a link to the piece here!

It was a pleasure meeting the editor"
Matt Gill and Photographer, Charles Sternaimolo.