Stoney Creek Alpaca farm adapts to COVID with new slate of services

Serena is used to a busy social life. Until this year, the gregarious alpaca - one of 41 at the Stoney Creek farm where she lives - mingled at birthday parties, schmoozed with the farm's Airbnb guests and was fawned over by the many students who took knitting or wool-dyeing classes at the farm.

Those income streams are among several that have evaporated for the farm, Alpacas from Eighth and Mud, thanks to social-distancing requirements, but owners Sharon and John Docherty have found ways to diversify.

Despite being closed for three months in the spring and then pivoting rapidly, the farm finished the year with an increase in visitors and a 30 per cent increase in sales from 2019, Sharon says.

We are booked solid until the end of the year," she told the Spectator in December, referring to the walks with alpacas on the farm's 75-acre property, which have become the business' bread and butter. There isn't anyone I've ever seen leave here without a smile on their face."

In addition to the walks - which must be booked online in advance - the farm started offering picnics with the animals in good weather, sales of eggs and preserves made on the farm, and RV camping. The couple is hoping to offer cross-country skiing with the animals after the lockdown.

Some of the farm's prior services were also still available until the recent lockdown, such as the farm store and sales of alpaca food for those wanting to get up close with the animals. The farm's popular Christmas program was cancelled, and it is no longer offering tours of its mill.

Now, Alpacas from Eighth and Mud is pivoting yet again to adapt to the recent lockdown. They are working on an online store to sell their goods by mail. Sharon says they are selling eggs and hay for curbside pickup, and still trying to figure out whether the lockdown rules apply to their walks, which are distanced and outdoors.

We are different from other stores and it has been hard to find out information," she says.

Many of the ideas for the new income streams that have kept the farm going until now came from 15 fourth-year McMaster University engineering students who spent two months on the farm in 2018 preparing a wide-ranging case study. They looked at potential new revenue streams, and ways to save money and energy, says Sharon.

They checked our energy bill. It absolutely opened our eyes," she said. They also suggested things like selling the food, improving on the walks ... and how to take black walnuts and certain flowers and weeds and turn them into a natural dye."

Some of the suggestions were implemented right away, while others sat on the shelf until this year, when they became extremely helpful, Sharon says.

The Dochertys started the business in 2009 after retiring from careers in the medical world. Sharon, 63, was a medical device auditor, and John, 77, owned a medical distribution business. Sharon says the farm was never meant to be a cash-cow, but something they could work on together while having fun. It's never been about money for us, it's about the experience."

To that effect, she encourages anyone who'd like to see the animals - which she describes as smart, social and very vocal - to come by and take a look. If they don't come in and buy something, at least they leave with a smile."

Those who'd like to get close to the alpacas need only spend $2.50 on a bag of treats, and they'll come running, she says.

They won't come near you if you don't have the little brown bag. They are very smart," she says. Every one of them has their own personality, and they show it. And they do like themselves."

Saira Peesker is a freelance writer who lives in Hamilton.