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Tripping Gnome Farm, LLC Submitted by Ursula Munro TGF is home to Ryen, Ursula, Isabella and Tillie Munro. The year 2007 will mark our fourth year of operating our alpaca farm in Maine. Ryen (a Maine native) and Ursula (a transplant) returned to Maine and settled in Freeport, after living in Essex, Massachusetts for about 10 years. It was in Essex, in 1998, that alpacas first entered our lives. Wanted a few "outdoor" animals for our small barn and pasture. We explored the options- horses, sheep, llamas goats—all were eliminated for one reason or another. Coincidentally, (serendipity?) there was an alpaca show happening at the local fair ground- so we checked it out. Now there was the perfect animal! And one we could both agree on-- not too big, not too small, relatively easy to care for, intelligent (no offense to sheep and goats!) and interesting. Shortly after, we had our "herd" of four geldings. Over the next few years, these boys (along with some phone calls to Cindy and Tim Lavan) showed us the ropes of alpaca ownership-from animal husbandry to fiber arts and lots in between. I would never have predicted the direction those alpacas would take us. 
Well here it comes- I know it's cliché – but after a while the "rat-race" got to us. Ryen's
job in the investment business in Boston was intense and demanding requiring lots of time away from
home. This became especially hard as our family grew. Our plan to return to Maine "someday" became
"now" and the rest, as they say, is history. Transition, timing and opportunity came together and
Tripping Gnome Farm Alpacas began. We felt very lucky to have found our property in Freeport-30 wooded
acres near the coast, about 2 miles from Freeport village.We built the farm from scratch- starting with a barn to house our small herd of geldings. In 2004 we purchased our first females for our foundation herd. Our herd has grown rapidly into a dynamic herd of 40 huacayas and we expect 15 cria in 2007. Our breeding program is committed to applying superior and potent genetics to sound practices to produce exceptional and healthy animals. Along with rapid growth there has been hard work and huge learning curves- but also great pleasure and fun. We (kids too) are involved in all aspects of the day to day farm operations. Additionally we are involved in industry activities such as participating in shows and other local and regional activities. Alpacas have given us a gift- an opportunity to live a life connected as a family, connected to the land and connected to these amazing animals. Farm visits welcome! |
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