Pondscaping at the VT Alpaca/Llama Sanctuary
WAHOO!
Now that deter deer perimeter fencing is in place, we continue to improve drainage entering into Phase 2 of HespeGarden’s Predator/Nuisance Abatement Project!
To kick off the new year, we used the warmer temperatures and only 3 inches of frozen ground to begin construction of a pond. Work commenced on January 6th. By the 10th, the new farm pond was constructed, drainage around primary barn significantly improved with beautiful ditches & swales!
Next on the agenda, and once weather permits, grass seed will be installed to prevent soil erosion with herbal ley landscaping and pondscaping to follow.
We want to open this project up to local schools who may want to experience the sanctuary and the pondscaping learning adventure.
Interested?
The Back Story
Ponds are a valuable asset to any farm. Whether to aid in providing watering facilities for livestock or ensuring proper drainage to preserve & improve water quality; a farm pond goes a long way to benefit the landscape offering natural habitat for birds, frogs, fish, interesting insects and plants. Also offering an enriching learning experience to children.
Over the years, we have discovered that many unwanted parasites thrive in wet, muddy conditions. This fact was highlighted in 2011 with significant weather events long periods of rain followed by hot humid temperatures. The poorly drained areas of HespeGarden create a haven for many unwanted parasites that pose health concerns to animals & humans alike. This is especially problematic when alpacas, llamas, sheep, & goats are present in region known to a white tail deer population.
Why is this?
A pesky worm called meningeal (P. tenius). 
Meningeal worm, also know as Brain Worm, Deer Worm, or Paralaphostrongylus tenius is a natural parasite in white-tail deer and generally completes life-cycle in it’s deer host with no significant health problems. But when the worm finds it’s way into an unnatural host: the outcome of its lifecycle is very different. Alpacas & llamas are even more susceptible to infestation than sheep or goats.
Since alpacas/llamas originate in South America where no white-tailed deer population exists, these animals have not evolved to be a symbiotic host to this parasite.
As the animal becomes infested with the worm, the parasite moves to the brain &/or spinal cord. Once this happens in alpacas & llamas, the result is fatal unless treated immediately! If the animal survives, there will be long term paralysis of extremities coupled with behavior changes.
How is the meningeal introduced to an alpaca or llama?
Interestingly, terrestrial snails or slugs are the intermediary host to this worm.
One deer can shed thousands of eggs per gram of feces. When a snail/slug ingests eggs from the droppings, the larvae stage begins. Since snails & slugs thrive in temperate, moist wet areas such as poorly drained pasture. When a llama or alpaca grazes in such an area and ingest an affected snail or slug it will take about 3 months before neurological paralysis begin. Within a few days of developing signs (dragging a foot, head tremor, uncoordinated hind legs), the animal will loose all ability to stand ending in the animals death. Even more discouraging, treatment isn’t always affective.
Other than use of anti-parasitic drugs, what else can be done?
As of this fall, deter deer fencing is now in place. HespeGarden is a Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) certified farm utilizing pasture raised geese, ducks and chickens to assist in reducing the snail population. We plan to introduce guinea fowl this spring to our fearless poultry parasite patrol while continuing to monitor how effective our attempts to thwart this cycle.
If you are a teacher and would like your class to monitor our progress or visit the ranch for a fun learning experience, feel free to contact us!
HespeGarden Day…just my way
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Wild Horses Need Your Help!
Help stop the Bureau of Land Management’s mistreatment of America’s wild horses!Violating their own protocol of waiting until mid-August (after the foaling season) to begin helicopter roundups of wild horses, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) started a Nevada roundup in the blazing July heat last summer, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 horses. Several other horses required treatment for painful colic and brain swelling due to dehydration and exhaustion.Despite this tragedy, the BLM is planning to do early roundups again this July. Thousands of additional wild horses and burros–including newborn foals–are slated for removal in frightening and dangerous helicopter roundups in California, Colorado, Oregon, Nevada, Wyoming and Utah just weeks from now–paid for with your federal tax dollars.Help stop this massacre of America’s wild horses! Contact your U.S. Representatives and Senators and urge them to:
1. Call on the Interior Department and President Obama to halt the BLM’s summer roundups; and2. Use their appropriations authority to strip funding for this abusive practice while the National Academy of Sciences conducts its independent review of the program (to be completed by 2013). Thank you for taking action to
taking a moment to relax before i head back out to dig post holes
Bumbles enjoying lilacs
I have seen an uptick in bumble & wild bee population this spring. However I have yet to personally see any honey bees.
Has spring arrived?
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Good day to all of you my friends!
The winter has been long, yet the wait for spring seems even longer! sigh
I wasn’t successful on the grant, but that doesn’t mean I have given up on my mission to realize this passion! Just meant that I needed to roll up my shirt sleeves and become a bit more imaginative from a material perspective.
Today I finished pruning apple tree arch…for this year atleast. Let’s see how it buds out & displays this summer. Next winter may see a harsher pruning.
We happily welcomed Gerty the rooster to the Ranch this morning. He arrived last night, but I wanted to allow him the opportunity to chill in the garage overnight before introducing him to his new flock. After a very short 3 minute pecking order thang, he settled right in and is now the proud rooster over 20 something gals. Even the geese approve! JuneBug (drake) is apprehensive, but he chases Mimi (unicorn/horse) around the paddock. So all is good!
Til next time! Cheers~ Lee
Old Apple Grove
2011 SARE Grant Application ~ Has been submitted!
Abstract
The practice of drying manure for future utilization has been practiced for millennia. Recorded instances of dried dung and compost benefit to soil fertility extend back to the Roman statesman Cato. Composting & dehydrating organic matter is attractive to waste managers as a process technology, while the resulting product, is attractive for its horticultural and agricultural benefits.
In water rich areas, manure handling and storage are problematic at best. Improper techniques may lead to contamination of surface water, nutrient contamination, odor nuisance, increase fly populations all leading to serious health & wellness issues in animals & humans.
Dehydrating and grinding modified ruminant manure reduces overall net weight by more than 50% and volume by 70% while generating an affordable, naturally nutrient rich product.
HespeGarden seeks funding to automate the dual process thereby constructing a bulk batch processing system utilizing power derived from a sustainable, renewal source.
Dehydration technology offers a cost effective, sanitary means to manage on-site manure. Combined with adequate storage, dehydration offers no adverse impact on surrounding natural resources.
Large Montana Rescue!!!!
I am assuming that most folks are by now aware of the current situation at the Montana Sanctuary. They have lost major funding, are deeply in debt and are struggling to support over 1,000 animals. As of Friday, they had about 4 days of hay left. An organization called Animeals is collecting feed/hay and sending a one time transport to them. That will give them another TWO DAYS.
They housed Peruvian cavies, bison, cattle and a number of other smaller animals including goats and sheep. Most all those have been placed as of tomorrow but if you have an interest, please confirm with the appropriate Team captain. There are also 2 camels and I think placement for those is under motion but again you should check.
Right now the short term initiative is on getting food for the animals and of course that includes how to fund that initiative. There is one full time and two part time staff on the property. The llamas are ranging over 700 acres and the majority of these animals can probably be considered as feral. Equines are housed on a separate property and I really have no info regarding how accessible they are.
Right now (as I understand it) there is no physical infrastructure in place which can be utilized to get the llamas into pens or a series of ever smaller pens like you would do elk and whatnot so they can even be sorted by sex, age or whatever. In order to move them out of state they would need to pass whatever state regulations are in place. The thought is that if we could reduce the herd we obviously reduce the expense of feeding them BUT if you could catch up even 100 this is still a huge manpower issue not to mention expense. Also this place is miles from just about anywhere so getting folks on the ground there is a logistical challenge.
The following teams are now in place and communications should be directed to them . Right now there is a funding mechanism being set up so that any funds collected by other entities can be funneled to a central account which will be used to disperse and account for all funds moving in/out. More will be forthcoming in regards to how to access that channel when it becomes available (probably tomorrow) and I am sure that other organizations which plan to organize fundraising initiatives will make that known. Many are waiting for this central fund to be established so they can get an infrastructure in place.
Here is more detailed info on the infrastructure currently in place regarding support for this endeavor:
Team captains are:
Jerry Finch, Habitat for Horses has final say on placements, but only interacts with the team captains. Otherwise he will be overwhelmed with emails.
Phyllis Ruana- Llamas
Montana Animal Care Association (M.A.C.A.)
P.O.B. 153
Corvallis, MT 59828
www.monta naanimalcareassocia tion.org
501 C-3 non-profit organization
Dave Pauli –wildlife
Senior Director for Wildlife Response
Humane Society of the United States
HSUS Animal Care Centers
Billings, MT
406-255-7161.
Susie Coston- Farm
National Shelter Director
Farm Sanctuary
PO Box 150
Watkins Glen, NY 14891
PH:
607-583-2225 x262FX:
607-583-4472scoston@farmsanctua ry.orgJane Heath- Horses
ht@mt.netJane Heath
Executive Director
Montana Horse Sanctuary
Simms, MT
Patty Finch-Funding and solutions beyond the critical placements of as many animals as possible.
GFAS (Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries)
Short term and long term funding
Coordination with Community Foundation, authorization of expenditures in cooperation with Jerry Finch (no relation)
patty@sanctuaryfede ration.org
November 2010
As November comes to a close, I find myself reminising over the last few weeks spent with family and friends. I am a very lucky woman to be blessed with such a wonderful life. No just one of possessions, but true love, faith and opportunity to be more than I ever thought possible.
I settle into winter, preparing for more grant writing to funds some very important projects on the Ranch as well as begin my next childrens book. The animals shall keep me company during the day while the kiddos are in school and my hubby kicks corporate butt. I welcome the up coming Christmas season with open arms and can’t wait until the kids are off for break! Maybe my hubby can seek in a few vacation days too!
Be thankful, my friends, for all you have as life is too short to just blink it away!
Blessed be,
Lee
August 2010
August was a odd from a weather perspective. Early on we had heavy rains leading to some near flooding issues. Then unseasonably cool evenings, followed by very, very hot days. All of these wonderful Mother Nature adventures lead to creative approaches to get the new hay barn constructed, new paddock fenced and more land clean up.
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Alex joined Chase to help out with all the fun. Both guys did an INCREDIBLE job with getting rafters up and some burn piles history! Thank you guys!!!!
Although the Washington Co Fair & Field Days were significantly scaled back this year, HespeGarden was proud to participate in such a staple in the Valley. And yes, once again we made the Times Argus. Must love the look and little ones faces when they either get a kiss from a llama or an alpacas lips tickle their hand while feeding grain.
Ashlyn, Chase, & Alex head back to school…..
