Alpacas, Trails and Tranquility
By Mel Luymes, Rural Voice editor
If you take a trip to Malette Family Farm near Brussels, you’ll likely discover the same peace that drew the family to the property in the first place. It would also be hard to miss the few dozen alpacas that live there. Like giant teddy bears, with their shiny black eyes, soft fleece and fluffy mops on their heads, they are gentle and curious.
In the last few years, the Malette family has opened their farm to visitors and, if you call ahead, there’s a good chance you can tour the farm to see the alpacas, along with chickens, goats (with a fainting goat named Charlie) and Roger the rooster. All the animals have names, in fact.
“This one is Cece,” says Jacques Malette, pointing to the alpaca standing tall on its hind legs, leaning over the fence expectantly. And then there is Tribble, another (much calmer) male that Jacques brings along when the alpacas are invited to various events, school functions and even weddings.
Lucy is a sheep from a nearby farm, but she was born with rickets and developed a limp. The Malettes took her in, and she has become one of the family.
Jacques moved to the property from Cambridge with his parents, Jack and Cheryl, only seven years ago, when it was just a house, a workshop and two hay fields on a 50-acre forested property. Down a quiet gravel road north of Brussels and with the gorgeous Maitland river running along one corner of it, they knew right away that this was home. Originally from Mississauga, Jack and Cheryl moved their family to Cambridge in 1998. They all worked jobs in the city, but as the city got busier, both Jacques and his parents sold their houses to move somewhere with more peace and quiet. Jack had recently retired, while Cheryl still works as a nurse in Kitchener, and Jacques found work in Listowel.
“We can see the stars here,” says Jacques. He loves the area and the tight-knit community. When they first moved, they didn’t initially have plans for livestock, but Cheryl had mentioned they could get a couple alpacas after they had driven by a small hobby farm one day. “What’s an alpaca?” replied Jack.
And if you don’t know, alpacas are a domesticated South American camelid, closely related to llamas. They are known for their soft fleece, prized for being light and warm, hypoallergenic and sustainable. Like llamas, they will spit when they feel threatened, and perhaps most likely to happen while being shorn.
The Malette family began with two alpacas, which led to a few more and now they have over 40 alpacas. They are shorn once a year in the late spring and their naturally coloured black, brown or white fleece is made into yarns, socks and other products that are now sold in the Malette Family Farm gift shop or at local fairs.
Jacques keeps busy when he isn’t working his day job. He graciously hosts farm visitors, keeps bees and does custom shearing. He and his father are clearing walking trails through the property, processing trees with a small mill for lumber to use around the farm. He hopes to soon create campsites for rent on the property, giving visitors the chance to stay a little longer and soak it all in.
If you’re interested in seeing the farm, reach out to Jacques in advance to schedule. Information is at www.malettefamilyfarm.com