Premium doesn’t mean extractive. At Chetwyn Farms, we believe the two most important questions a buyer can ask are: where did this come from? and at what cost to the land and the animals? Here are our answers.
The Animals Come First
Our alpacas are not a commodity. They are the foundation of everything we make, and their welfare shapes every decision on the farm. Our herd grazes on open pasture year-round, with access to shelter, fresh water, and veterinary care. Shearing is done annually by a professional shearer — it is a welfare necessity, not a production shortcut, and the animals are handled with calm and care throughout.
We do not over-breed for volume. Our herd size is managed to match the carrying capacity of our land, which means each animal has space, quality forage, and a life that looks like what it should: an alpaca being an alpaca.
The Land
Alpacas are among the most land-friendly fibre animals on earth. Their soft, padded feet do not compact soil the way hooves do. They graze selectively, which encourages pasture diversity rather than stripping it. Their manure — which we affectionately sell as SHED Shit, our alpaca fertiliser tea bags — is a cold compost that can be applied directly to gardens without burning plants. Nothing is wasted.
We manage our pastures with rotational grazing to allow recovery time between grazing cycles, which builds soil health and reduces erosion. We do not use synthetic herbicides or pesticides on our grazing land.
The Fibre
Alpaca fibre is naturally low-impact compared to most textile fibres. It requires no mulesing (a painful procedure common in merino wool production). It contains no lanolin, which means it requires less water and fewer chemicals to process than wool. It is biodegradable. And because it is extraordinarily durable — our alpaca throws and socks are built to last years, not seasons — it sits at the opposite end of the spectrum from fast fashion.
We work with small-batch mills that process our fibre without harsh chemical treatments. Our yarn is spun in small runs, which reduces waste and allows us to maintain quality control at every stage.
The Products
We make things to last. Our alpaca socks are designed for years of wear. Our throws and blankets are heirloom-quality pieces. Our garment care products — including our Alpaca & Wool Refresh spray and Eucalan delicate wash — exist specifically to help you extend the life of what you own rather than replace it.
We also sell alpaca rovings and felting sheets made from fibre that doesn’t make the cut for yarn — because in a small-farm operation, every clip has value and nothing goes to landfill if we can help it.
The Bigger Picture
We are not a certified organic operation, and we won’t claim to be carbon neutral. What we are is a small, owner-operated farm that makes deliberate choices every day about how we treat our animals, our land, and our customers. We think that transparency matters more than certification, and that the best sustainability claim is a simple one: come and see for yourself.
Book an alpaca encounter and walk the pasture. Stay in The Cottage and watch the morning feed. Ask us anything. We’ll answer honestly.
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