The “Ranch H et J”
Alpaca wool and accessories from around here
Animal-lovers Jessica Prévost and Henri Lamontagne had never seen an alpaca before falling under their spell after seeing an online photograph. Spontaneously, they decided to buy one.
The alpaca is a highly social herd animal, however, which will die when forced to live alone. As a result, the Ranch H et J people sent for four alpacas, including one that was pregnant (although they didn’t know that). With no goal other than to pamper their new acquisitions, the ranchers started learning about them.
They became interested in transformation of alpaca wool, which is the warmest, softest and among the most costly of natural fibres, hypoallergenic and humidity-absorbing. The delicate alpacas are sheared once a year, which gives them a lifespan of 20 years. Unshorn, the fleece becomes so heavy and hot that the animals live only three to five years.
After the shearing, the fleece is cleaned, sorted, washed, dried and carded to comb the fibres into small sheets. The carded fibre is then spun or felted. A bar of soap covered with felted fibre is excellent for exfoliation, while a felt ball can replace antistatic sheets in the dryer. More durable (two years) than the antistatic sheets, the felt balls can be scented with essential oils to perfume clothing.
The fleeces of the Ranch H et J herd feature a variety of colours and here, the natural colours are retained: no bleaching or dyeing. Visit the website to buy handmade accessories and learn about the activities offered. Jessica, a member of the collectif Francrochet (which promotes French publications about crochet and knitting), provides courses in fibre transformation, carding, crochet and knitting
Ranch H et J
By the same author: Wines from La paysanne du Nord (Click the image below)
Marie-Stéphane Asselin54 Posts
Marie-Stéphane s’est lancée dans l’aventure agricole en 2015, alors qu’elle décida de laisser libre cours à une étonnante intuition; celle de produire du safran. Cette nouvelle safranière, baptisée Safran des neiges, représente depuis lors une fabuleuse aventure pour cette jeune entrepreneure passionnée. Elle partage avec nous ses coups de cœur agricoles du terroir laurentien. / Marie- Stéphane launched herself into agriculture in 2015 when she decided to follow a surprising intuition: the production of saffron. The new saffron farm, named Safran des neiges (Saffron of the snows) has, since that time, been a fabulous adventure for the passionate young entrepreneur. She shares with us her agricultural favourites in the Laurentians terroir.
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