Here a boundless love for these funny creatures reigns. Everything revolves around their well-being.<\/strong> To the point that if you call and insist on seeing them at unexpected times or days or periods, Ladina will firmly tell you that it is not possible if it involves an inconvenience, an effort or a fatigue for her “kids”. “First the welfare of the animals, then the whims”, she explains to me with a resoluteness that hides loving tenderness for the alpacas.<\/p>\r\nIn the first episode on this enchanting place, we tell you about the protagonists, the alpacas. Do not miss the second episode<\/strong>, in which we will talk about the wool that comes from the alpacas, facing the thorny theme “is it torture or is it not torture for the animal?”. We will also tell you about the balls of wool and the creations that you can buy from Ladina and Simona, we will listen to them talking about it in a video!<\/p>\r\nLet’s begin from where the wool originates: the animals.<\/p>\r\n
How did you start raising alpacas?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\nWe saw a report of Melaverde<\/em> on these animals, we were curious and we started looking for information on the internet about the farms. We went to visit them, to learn more. When we saw those animals, we fell immediately in love with them! We started in 2010 with three alpacas: Kelita, Rodrigo and Fernando.<\/p>\r\nDid you read up on these beautiful animals?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\nYes, I read a book, I searched the internet, I subscribed to Lamas magazine. Mostly from foreign sources (German or American) because there is little in Italy. A book by an American author who developed a very valid method of approach to alpacas, which respects both their world, their way of thinking, understanding of their movements helped me a lot. These are important aspects to comprehend before acting and dealing with these animals.<\/p>\r\n
Understanding alpacas is crucial, because we are not talking about simple pets, they have very special characters!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\nYes exactly. They are so curious and at the same time reserved. It is precisely this confidentiality that must be understood! We must understand that they do not like physical contact.<\/p>\r\n
So we can’t come here and rush to stroke them, running after them, right?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\nNot really… They have this need to not always want to be touched, caressed, carried around. They are very, very intelligent animals. They have their own way of expressing themselves and they understand what you want from them. If I enter the enclosure with empty hands, they look at me, they study me: “She comes alone to see, she comes to visit us”. If I enter with the cavezza<\/em> (an accessory that, with the lead, serves to lead the animals), they understand that it is time to walk around and behave very differently.<\/p>\r\nThey make themselves understood even with verses. By the way, what does an alpaca’s call sound like?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\nHumming<\/em>! It is their way of communicating with each other and also with us. Even with the movement of the ears “they talk” or with the way they recline the head. It is different from the language of a dog or cat, for example. We must understand one thing: the alpaca in nature is a prey. So when we enter the fence they see us as predators. If a stranger enters, they ask themselves, “Is he\/she at peace or is he\/she a potential aggressor?”. Their body language comes into play there.<\/p>\r\nWhen they accompany us on walks, is it then a pain for them?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\nNo, if I saw a suffering for them I would not let them out. We let them get closer to us for the walk. It happened to me to leave one at home. When I arrive with the little “cavezza”<\/em> and they see some people lined up, they immediately understand that it’s time to go out. If they didn’t want to walk, they wouldn’t let themselves be caught and I wouldn’t force them first. We set schedules and days just to respect their well-being. In July and August, we define a schedule of pre-arranged visits (3 days a week, of which 2 here at the laboratory with educational farm activities for children and 1 excursion on the paths to the mountain pastures). In the other months only on weekends or on request. From November onwards we expect a period of rest, to let the alpacas live their natural life in peace, graze, eat and sleep peacefully.<\/strong> When I’m in front of those who insist a lot to get them out of the fence at inappropriate times for animals, without understanding the reasons, I think: “It’s not a circus… nor a zoo…”. Unfortunately, alpaca has become a fashion trend lately.<\/strong> They phoned me to ask to buy one of them to keep it at home… It’s not a stuffed animal, it’s not a pet<\/strong>. I was also contacted to borrow one for an advertisement, but we said no because it meant a great inconvenience to the animal, both in transport and in the enclosed place where they wanted to shoot”.<\/p>\r\nThe alpacas, Ladina, seem to me to help us understand a great lesson on nature: we must approach it with respect, not wanting to dominate it, as we often do. These animals, with their peculiar character, invite us to understand natural needs. If we love them, we respect them. Right?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\nYes, for example, they teach us by observing their low propensity to be caressed. In walks, we advise not to touch them without being careful: a few times and only on the neck. When they walk they do not want to be touched, better at the stops. They don’t like physical contact, even between them, except between mum and puppies. The alpaca mother is very protective, the baby becomes her shadow up to 8-10 months. Otherwise, between adults, they don’t even lie down next to each other, and if during the trek they touch by chance walking they spit! (Spit is a sign of disappointment or defense).<\/p>\r\n
I smile, because I understand them and I think a little I feel like an alpaca (not for spitting), when I am in the rush hours on the subway or on the bus! Another curiosity that we can tell is the dynamics between the males of the group.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\nYes, Sancho is currently the leader of the herd, an alpaca in the midst of youth, over three years old, with a strong character. Fernando, who is 15 years old, would never want to be a leader because he loves being on his own. Yavari and Misky instead try to take Sancho’s place, clashing for leadership.<\/p>\r\n
A moment of tenderness between them to tell us?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\nAmong females, Kelita has some skin problems so she needs creams and drops. When I put the drops in, Lonquimai comes to check, puts her nose in the jar to see what it is, she controls everything!<\/p>\r\n
Here it is who the 12 alpacas are! My favorites are the engaged couple Yuma – Lonquimai.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n-end of the first episode-<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Italiano\/English below pictures Puoi ascoltare qui l’articolo: Audio-\u00e0-porter – Alpaca, Ladina e Simona 1 Circondata dalle montagne della Valmalenco con le punte innevate, accerchiata dalla natura e dai fiori della padrona di casa, siedo al sole nel giardino di Ladina, allevatrice di alpaca, davanti alla veranda del suo laboratorio. Sono di nuovo in questo posto speciale, dopo aver frequentato qualche anno fa un corso di filatura e tintura naturale della lana, per scrivere di Ladina, sua figlia Simona e dei loro “ragazzi”. Cos\u00ec sono affettuosamente nominati infatti i veri padroni di casa di Alpacas la Foppa, quando non vengono chiamati uno a uno per nome: di fianco all’abitazione e al negozio, in una stalla e due ampi recinti, vivono 12 alpaca, accanto a capre e pecore. Qui regna un amore smisurato per queste simpatiche creature. Tutto ruota intorno al loro benessere. Al punto che se chiamate e insistete per vederli in orari o giornate o periodi non previsti, Ladina vi dir\u00e0 fermamente che non \u00e8 possibile se comporta un disagio, uno sforzo o un affaticamento per i suoi “ragazzi”. “Prima il benessere degli animali, poi i capricci”, mi spiega con una risolutezza che nasconde amorevole tenerezza per gli alpaca. Nella prima puntata su questo posto incantevole, vi raccontiamo dei protagonisti, gli alpaca. Non perdete la seconda puntata, in cui parleremo della lana che proviene da questi animali, affrontando lo spinoso tema “\u00e8 una tortura o non \u00e8 una tortura per l’animale?”. Vi racconteremo anche dei gomitoli e delle creazioni che si possono acquistare da Ladina e Simona, le ascolteremo parlarne in un video! Partiamo da dove la lana ha origine: gli animali. Come avete iniziato ad allevare alpaca?\u00a0 Abbiamo visto un servizio di Melaverde su questi animali, ci siamo incuriositi e abbiamo iniziato a cercare informazioni su internet riguardo gli allevamenti. Siamo andate a visitarne, per saperne di pi\u00f9. Quando li abbiamo visti da subito ce ne siamo innamorati! Abbiamo cominciato nel 2010 con tre alpaca: Kelita, Rodrigo e Fernando.\u00a0 Vi eravate documentate su questi splendidi animali? S\u00ec, ho letto un libro, ho cercato su internet, mi sono abbonata alla rivista Lamas. Fonti per lo pi\u00f9 straniere (tedesche o americane) perch\u00e9 in Italia si trova poco. Mi ha aiutato molto un libro di un’autrice americana che ha sviluppato un metodo di approccio agli alpaca molto valido, che rispetta tanto il loro mondo, il loro modo di pensare, la comprensione dei loro movimenti. Sono aspetti importanti da capire prima di agire e avere a che fare con loro. Capire gli alpaca \u00e8 cruciale, perch\u00e9 non parliamo di semplici animali domestici, hanno caratteri ben particolari! S\u00ec, esatto. Sono tanto curiosi e allo stesso tempo riservati. \u00c8 proprio questa riservatezza che va compresa! Bisogna capire che non amano il contatto fisico. Quindi non possiamo venire qui e fiondarci ad accarezzarli rincorrendoli, giusto? Proprio no… Hanno questa esigenza di non voler sempre essere toccati, accarezzati, portati in giro. Sono animali molto, molto intelligenti. Hanno il loro modo di esprimersi e capiscono ci\u00f2 che vuoi da loro. Se entro nel recinto a mani vuote, mi guardano, mi studiano: “Viene solo a vedere, viene a trovarci”. Se entro con la cavezza (un accessorio che con la longhina serve per condurre gli animali), capiscono che \u00e8 ora di fare un giro e si comportano in modo molto diverso.\u00a0 Si fanno capire anche con i versi, a proposito come si chiama il verso dell’alpaca? Humming!\u00a0 \u00c8 la loro modalit\u00e0 di comunicare tra di loro e pure con noi. Anche con il movimento delle orecchie “parlano” o con il modo di inclinare la testa. \u00c8 diverso dal linguaggio per esempio di un cane o di un gatto. Bisogna comprendere una cosa: l’alpaca nella natura \u00e8 una preda. Per cui quando entriamo nel recinto ci vedono come predatori. Se entra un estraneo si chiedono: “Viene in pace o \u00e8 un potenziale aggressore?”. L\u00ec entra in gioco il loro linguaggio corporeo.\u00a0 Quando allora ci accompagnano nelle passeggiate per loro \u00e8 una sofferenza? No, se vedessi una sofferenza per loro non li farei uscire. Lasciamo che siano loro ad avvicinarsi per la passeggiata. \u00c8 capitato di lasciarne a casa uno. Quando arrivo con le cavezzine e vedono schierate alcune persone, capiscono subito che \u00e8 ora di uscire. Se non volessero passeggiare, non si lascerebbero prendere e per prima non li forzerei. Stabiliamo orari e giornate proprio per rispettare il loro benessere. In luglio e agosto, definiamo un calendario di visite prestabilite (3 giorni alla settimana, di cui 2 qui al laboratorio con attivit\u00e0 di fattoria didattica per i bambini e 1 di gita sui sentieri verso gli alpeggi). Negli altri mesi solo nei week-end o su richiesta. Da novembre poi prevediamo un periodo di riposo, per lasciare che gli alpaca vivano in tranquillit\u00e0 la loro vita naturale, che pascolino, mangino e dormano serenamente. Quando mi trovo davanti a chi insiste molto per farli uscire dal recinto in momenti inopportuni per gli animali, senza comprendere le motivazioni, penso: “Non \u00e8 un circo… n\u00e9 uno zoo…”. Purtroppo ultimamente \u00e8 diventata un po’ una moda, quella dell’alpaca. Mi hanno telefonato per chiedermi di comprarne uno da tenere in casa… Non \u00e8 un peluche, non \u00e8 un animale da compagnia. Sono stata contattata anche per averne uno per fare una pubblicit\u00e0, ma abbiamo detto no perch\u00e9 voleva dire un grande disagio per l’animale, sia nel trasporto sia nel luogo chiuso in cui volevano girare”. Gli alpaca, Ladina, mi sembra che ci aiutino a capire una grande lezione sulla natura: dobbiamo avvicinarci con rispetto, non volendo dominarla, come spesso facciamo. Questi animali, con il loro peculiare carattere, ci invitano a comprendere le esigenze naturali. Se li amiamo, li rispettiamo. Giusto? S\u00ec, per esempio ci insegnano osservando la loro scarsa propensione a farsi accarezzare. Nelle passeggiate, avvisiamo di non toccarli senza avere accortezza: poche volte e solo sul collo. Quando camminano non desiderano essere toccati, meglio nelle soste. Non gradiscono il contatto fisico, neppure tra di loro, tranne tra mamma e cuccioli. La mamma alpaca \u00e8 molto protettiva, il piccolo diventa la sua ombra fino a 8-10 mesi. Altrimenti, tra adulti, non si sdraiano neppure uno accanto all’altro e, se durante il trekking si sfiorano per caso camminando, si sputano! (Lo sputo \u00e8 segno di disappunto o di difesa). Sorrido, perch\u00e9 li capisco e penso che un po’ mi sento un alpaca (non per lo sputo), quando mi trovo nelle ore di punta in metropolitana o sul bus! Un’altra curiosit\u00e0 che possiamo raccontare \u00e8 la dinamica tra i maschi del gruppo.\u00a0 S\u00ec, Sancho \u00e8 al momento il capo branco, un alpaca nel pieno della giovent\u00f9, sopra i tre anni, con un carattere forte. Fernando, che ha 15 anni, non vorrebbe mai essere capo branco perch\u00e9 ama stare per i fatti suoi. Yavari e Misky invece cercano di prendere il posto di Sancho, scontrandosi per avere la leadership. Un momento di tenerezza tra loro da raccontarci? Tra le femmine, Kelita ha alcuni problemi alla cute per cui ha bisogno di creme e gocce. Quando le metto le gocce, Lonquimai viene a controllare, mette il naso nel vasetto per verificare cos’\u00e8, segue tutto! Ecco chi sono i 12 alpaca! I miei preferiti sono la coppia di fidanzati Yuma – Lonquimai. -fine prima puntata- English – The alpacas, their wool and the natural products: interview to the breeders Ladina and Simona Surrounded by the mountains of the Valmalenco with snow-capped peaks, in the middle of nature and the flowers of the lady of the house, I sit in the sun in the garden of Ladina, an alpaca breeder, in front of the veranda of her laboratory. I am again in this special place, having attended a course in spinning and natural wool dyeing a few years ago, to write about Ladina, her daughter Simona and their “kids”. In this way indeed the real hosts of Alpacas la Foppa are affectionately named, when they are not called one by one by first name: next to the house and the shop, in a stable and two large enclosures, 12 alpacas live, next to goats and sheep. Here a boundless love for these funny creatures reigns. Everything revolves around their well-being. To the point that if you call and insist on seeing them at unexpected times or days or periods, Ladina will firmly tell you that it is not possible if it involves an inconvenience, an effort or a fatigue for her “kids”. “First the welfare of the animals, then the whims”, she explains to me with a resoluteness that hides loving tenderness for the alpacas. In the first episode on this enchanting place, we tell you about the protagonists, the alpacas. Do not miss the second episode, in which we will talk about the wool that comes from the alpacas, facing the thorny theme “is it torture or is it not torture for the animal?”. We will also tell you about the balls of wool and the creations that you can buy from Ladina and Simona, we will listen to them talking about it in a video! Let’s begin from where the wool originates: the animals. How did you start raising alpacas? We saw a report of Melaverde on these animals, we were curious and we started looking for information on the internet about the farms. We went to visit them, to learn more. When we saw those animals, we fell immediately in love with them! We started in 2010 with three alpacas: Kelita, Rodrigo and Fernando. Did you read up on these beautiful animals? Yes, I read a book, I searched the internet, I subscribed to Lamas magazine. Mostly from foreign sources (German or American) because there is little in Italy. A book by an American author who developed a very valid method of approach to alpacas, which respects both their world, their way of thinking, understanding of their movements helped me a lot. These are important aspects to comprehend before acting and dealing with these animals. Understanding alpacas is crucial, because we are not talking about simple pets, they have very special characters! Yes exactly. They are so curious and at the same time reserved. It is precisely this confidentiality that must be understood! We must understand that they do not like physical contact. So we can’t come here and rush to stroke them, running after them, right? Not really… They have this need to not always want to be touched, caressed, carried around. They are very, very intelligent animals. They have their own way of expressing themselves and they understand what you want from them. If I enter the enclosure with empty hands, they look at me, they study me: “She comes alone to see, she comes to visit us”. If I enter with the cavezza (an accessory that, with the lead, serves to lead the animals), they understand that it is time to walk around and behave very differently. They make themselves understood even with verses. By the way, what does an alpaca’s call sound like? Humming! It is their way of communicating with each other and also with us. Even with the movement of the ears “they talk” or with the way they recline the head. It is different from the language of a dog or cat, for example. We must understand one thing: the alpaca in nature is a prey. So when we enter the fence they see us as predators. If a stranger enters, they ask themselves, “Is he\/she at peace or is he\/she a potential aggressor?”. Their body language comes into play there. When they accompany us on walks, is it then a pain for them? No, if I saw a suffering for them I would not let them out. We let them get closer to us for the walk. It happened to me to leave one at home. When I arrive with the little “cavezza” and they see some people lined up, they immediately understand that it’s time to go out. If they didn’t want to walk, they wouldn’t let themselves be caught and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[911,912,913,923,915,1004,1227],"tags":[1173,1165,1226,1181],"class_list":["post-12688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artigianato-en","category-companies-aziende-en","category-dove-acquistare-en","category-fabrics-tessuti-en","category-handicraft-en","category-nature-en","category-travel-en","tag-alpaca-en","tag-lana-en","tag-valmalenco-en","tag-wool-en"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/dress-ecode.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/IMG_7483-scaled.jpg","acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dress-ecode.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dress-ecode.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dress-ecode.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dress-ecode.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dress-ecode.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12688"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dress-ecode.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12688\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dress-ecode.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dress-ecode.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dress-ecode.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dress-ecode.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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