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Visitors are greeted by Renata Meleškienė, who now sells tickets, provides education and discusses new prospects for activities. Her and her husband Roland’s concerns over the weekend revolve around alpacas, which are visited by families from almost all of Lithuania.
“There are few places in the Panevėžys district where families have something to do. We just wanted to grow and raise alpacas, but people flocked to the fence and were curious. We had to raise the doors and accept people in groups, ”says Renata.
Thus, a gazebo to sit, a playground, a photo booth and a souvenir shop appeared on the farm. Celebrations have also started to be organized.
“We had one in autumn, the second in early July and another in August. There was a relay, a drawing contest, we made soap bubbles. Both children and adults participated. We received visitors from Marijampolė, Kaunas and Kupiškis. Obviously, after quarantine, people tend to move, ”says the woman.
He directs the education “The way of wool: from animal to thread”. It tells how alpaca wool is cut, how it is processed, spun, washed, and then hot products are made. She also lets people into the enclosure with alpacas, but does not leave any there.
“Some people think that it is necessary to gnaw or touch animals such as puppies or kittens. Clearly curious to touch the soft wool. But it is not like a puppy or a kitten. Alpacas are therapeutic animals. They only need to be among them: walk, observe how they behave, what they do. It works in a very relaxing way. No one has realized that alpacas are lovely animals. They are completely different from the sheep or goats of Lithuania ”, says the alpaca breeder.
Do not mow
With the acquisition of the alpaca, a woman’s life took a 180 degree turn. Having nothing to do with animals, not raising pets as a child, now Renata rushes to care not only for alpacas, but also for five ornamental goats and two llamas every day.
“I love animals very much. They fill the space in the house, says the interlocutor. – At the beginning of the farm, we started to grow alpacas: we bought a farm, a lot of land, we discussed what to do with it, and the first alpacas had just settled in Lithuania. We decided to cultivate them for their beauty, to reproduce, but the appetite comes from eating ”.
After the Melele family acquired the first four alpacas, information was lacking in Lithuania on how to farm them. Current experience and knowledge are the result of seven years of practice.
“Now there are more alpacas in the country, they are becoming more popular. Many like the idea that you don’t need to mow your lawn to grow them, and they are cute and neat themselves. But it is an animal that gets sick and needs care. Long-lasting Alpaca: Lives up to 30 years. You can’t just make a casual decision about raising an animal, “says Renata.
According to her, there is now an increase in alpaca sales.
“It’s probably a bad decision for people to grow them. If the animal is only interested in lawn care, it is definitely better to buy a lawn mower.”
Alpaca wool works
Renata herself takes care of almost everything related to the alpacas on the farm: she treats the animals, feeds them, washes the wool and delivers the products. Once a year, when it is necessary to cut alpaca skins, helpers from Poland also come to the rescue.
“There is a lack of specialists in Lithuania who quickly, without much stress for the animal, cut the wool correctly without damaging it. Alpaca legs are tied while treating nails and teeth at the same time, and when cutting wool, it is important not to grind it so that the thread can still be made. This year we cut 46 alpacas in 12 hours in three hours ”, says the interlocutor.
The shorn wool is transported to a carder, where it is transformed into threads, each of which is washed and washed by the alpaca grower himself. Last year 80 kg of wool had to be sorted.
The threads are sold or used for products: socks, gloves, scarves or blankets with alpaca wool cardboard. The blankets are universal, suitable for both winter and summer, because alpaca wool does not absorb sweat. Light and warm. The threads are generally not dyed: colorful alpaca animals.
“Hands do not spoil the shadows. As a result, all over Lithuania I am looking for someone who can produce printed knitwear for a souvenir shop, where you can see the variety of colors. It is difficult to find someone else who prints socks or gloves with traditional patterns. I mean not only the district of Panevėžys, but also the whole country, “opens Renata.
Despite the difficulties, the souvenir shop is full of handicrafts and the Meleškės family’s desire to cultivate an alpaca farm has not yet been exhausted. Plans include new teachings, joint projects with the carder, and another summer celebration.
Source: jp.lt, author: ARNETA MATUZEVIČIŪTĖ
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