[AlpacaTalk] Buying alpaca fiber?
Hi everyone!
I suppose you all got the mass email today for "CASH FOR YOUR ALPACA
FIBER" from the American Alpaca Fiber Federation, LLC. I followed the
link and what I garnered from scanning the page was that they will be
making 80% cotton 20% alpaca denim??? I didn't see what they planned to
pay for the fleece they buy. I apologize in advance for being a bit
skeptical, but I don't really want alpaca in my denim, and I do want to
know what someone will pay me for my fleece.
Here in Oregon, we have a really great project going, thanks 100% to
Peter and Carol Lundberg. It's the Pendleton Alpaca Blanket Project. I
have donated almost 30 pounds of fleece. That was all of the "good
stuff" I was willing to part with! Many others have donated far more,
and people are still donating fleece! Please follow this link to learn
about this very exciting project!
http://www.elderber
The idea is, we donate fleece, and those who have made donations by
June 15th (yes, that date has passed but they may be flexible on this)
have the opportunity to purchase throws at cost plus 3%, which they
estimate will come to less than $40 per blanket. We can then re-sell
them at an estimated retail price of... I dunno, what does a 100%
alpaca throw go for today? $100, $200? No matter, good return on your
investment.
In the future, they plan to and really want to be able to purchase
fleece from growers (us) at a minimum of $2 per pound. I know, that
sounds like peanuts... sort of. It is an avenue to sell your product.
It is a place to grow our industry. I know they want to offer more than
that in the future.
Wanna know what I think might be happening with that American alpaca
"co-op"? I think they gather up all the fleece, have it processed, sell
it at very low prices to Red Maple and other partner vendors, and then
sell the finished product back to us, the producers. They don't offer
cone yarn to us. They just want our free fleece. And then maybe they
write a token check for a couple 100 bucks for your 10 years of
membership, donations, and participation. Plus members have to pay
shipping costs. I don't think those dividend payments even pay the
shipping!
The Lundbergs and Pendleton Wool are different. We're Oregonians! We
want to make good stuff and reward people for their hard work! It's
hard work raising alpacas! We think everyone deserves compensation for
their efforts!
So that's my limited view. I also know that I am going to be working
hard to make product from my 2nds and 3rds. Hey, that's the throw-away
stuff! If we can make product from every bit of fleece that comes off
our alpacas, we can make a go of this industry.
Heather
Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
(formerly West Wind Alpacas)
Eugene, OR
541.895.0964
Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece
http://www.alpacana
http://tech.
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posted by Chaddo at 4:39 PM
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