The Seniors’ Centre for Excellence added something a little unusual to its monthly congregate dining program.
Guests at the Feb. 10 program included a class from a local school and two four-legged friends from a local farm.
Guest speaker Suelaine Poot of PootCorners Alpacas spoke on the two types of Alpacas raised on the family’s farm located near Palmerston.
The Poots began with two alpacas in 2004 and have grown their herd to 66 alpacas. Alpacas are non aggressive and do not function well individually.
Their diet consists of hay in the winter, pasture in the summer and a small grain supplement.
Alpacas are shorn once a year in the spring. The fleece is washed, dried, carded and spun into yarn. Coarse fibres are woven into rugs and shorter fibres are used in insoles. Dryer balls made from Alpaca fibres absorb moisture and prevent static.
By placing three dryer balls in the clothes dryer with a load of laundry, drying times are reduced and fabric softener is not required.
Alpaca fibre comes in 22 natural colours and can be dyed. Poot suggested that articles made from alpaca fibres should be treated like fine wool, not placed in a clothes dryer and laid flat to dry.
