Local gift shopping – Alpaca Products
Too early to buy things for the holiday season? Sorry I was in a store the other day (not naming any names) and i saw a tree surrounded by lights and presents, and we are not even done with Halloween yet! Anyways, we’re going to be looking for local gifts made right here in Nevada County this season and writing about them on this website.
Yes, local gifts may cost a little more than ordering from Amazon.com etc, but you may be sending someone something that makes them want to come and see Grass Valley or Nevada City or the surrounding area, while spending your money in our local area, helping to keep the economic benefits of your money in Nevada County.
And with that said, lets start our eclectic local gift guide with a look at Alpaca products from A Star Alpacas of Grass Valley.
What’s an alpaca? I think of them as small llamas, and Wikipedia kind of agrees, stating:
Alpacas are considerably smaller than llamas, and unlike llamas, alpacas are not used as beasts of burden but are valued only for their fiber. Alpaca fiber is used for making knitted and woven items, much as sheep’s wool is.
There are a couple of local Alpaca Ranches, one being A Star Alpacas owned by Bob and Kerry Anderson who came here from Colorado a few years ago. It has taken them some time to get the ranch in order and refurbish some of the buildings they bought, but their business is picking up and now they have started to sell alpaca products, whereas before they sold mainly the fiber and the animals themselves.
So if you are thinking of giving someone the traditional hat and gloves for Christmas or maybe someone on your list needs a new scarf, add a new twist and send Alpaca fiber versions of products from this ranch in Grass Valley. You’ll be surprised at how soft and warm Alpaca fiber products are, and unlike sheep’s wool it is hypoallegenic as it contains no lanolin.
Contact A Star Alpacas for more details of the products they offer (or if you are interested in knowing more about Alpacas) either via their website or by phone at (530) 274-8748.
Tags: grass valley, shopping locally