On The Record, Vol. 4, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, July 13, 2012 Page: 6 of 32
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' ATI IF RECORD
WEEKEND WITH ALPACAS
FAMILY'S PASTURES OFFER FIBER, F
BY NICOLE BALDERA8
When Jim Patrick and his family
happened upon the swampy
property off of U.S. Highway
380, they had almost given up searching
for a place to retire in the aiva.
Tall grass had taken over the seemingly
uninhabitable estate, but for Jim, his wife,
Rita, and daughter Stephanie, it was the
perfect location to raise alpacas.
"We originally were going to. get some
goats and sheep for the ranch,'' Jim said.
"Thru my son Jayson called me and told
me about alpacas. I said 'What the hell is
an alpaca?"
After looking into the animals, which
n s< •nil >li' a mix of llamas and camels, Jim
made his mind up.
"This might just be me, but when I look
at alpacas I see unicorns," Jim said. ''They
look mythical to me."
More than 100 alpacas populate the
secluded ranch and Irish-styled bed and
breakfast.
"If you stay out there long enough
you will get to know them all," Jim said.
"People ask me, "How do you remember
100 names?,' but I ask them. 'How do
you remember 100 people?' It's the same
thing."
The couple put all their savings into the
construction of the just-out-of-Denton
getaway, which Jim describes as "close to
humanity, but still feels rural."
"I hope this all works out," he said
jokingly "Or we'll be under a bridge with
some alpacas and a dog.'"
Patricks' Pastures Alpaca Ranch and
Qlde Irish Bed and Breakfast officially
opened for business on June 29. Although
the ranch is unique in North Texas,
breeders around the Country prize the
domesticated camelids for their fiber
coats, which are used to create items such
as blankets, gloves and scarves.
Jimbegan work on I lie land in December
by planting more than 100 fruit-bearing
treeSs Peach, plum and apricot trees
sprinkle the property, and Jim plans to
add more in the fall.
The ranch features three secluded
lodges, each with a pair of custom-made
rocking chairs on the front porch.
A handful of fluffy, white Great Pyrenees
puppies live on the land and instinctively
guard the alpacas along with a small herd
of llamas, who also act protectively of the.
alpacas.
"Llamas will circle around the alpacas
and sound the horn when danger is near,"
Stephanie said. 'A llama will field goal
kick a coyote ''
The Patricks sell fiber and the alpacas
themselves to patrons with enough
acreage to host the funy animals - prices
for an individual alpaca at the ranch range
from, about $.1,000 to S>S,000.
"I always say it's not the alpaca you're
buying, it's the alpaca knowledge," Jim
said. '"I ll help them set up, make sure they
have the right kind of fence."
Alpacas live for about 20 years, making
them a long-term Commitment. Jim said
caring for I lie creatures is relatively easy,
even when it comes to dispersing of the
animals' droppings.
"We vacuum it up and grind it up into
a powder and use it as fertilizer," he said.
"Because of slow-released nitrogen in
their digestive system it doesn't smell."
Jim is happy with his decision to go with
alpacas rather than more traditional farm
animals.
"Alpacas are really different animals,'' fas
said. If you bring a baby in they all gather
around, and if one dies they all parade
around the animal, almost ceremoniously
They're curious and charming creatures."
ALPACAS GRAZE ON THE RANCH AT
PATRICK'S PASTURES.
PHOTO BY MICHELLE HEATH
6
JULY 201
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Bottoni, Paul. On The Record, Vol. 4, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, July 13, 2012, periodical, July 13, 2012; Denton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth255945/m1/6/: accessed May 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .