Our Story
Dedicated to responsible alpaca ownership
Campo Verde is a small alpaca farm located in Harcourt, in the Goldfields region of Victoria, Australia, close to Castlemaine, Maldon, and Bendigo, and only 1.5 hours from Melbourne.
We became alpaca owners when we made a tree change from Melbourne to greater Bendigo. We searched for a beautiful yet useful animal for our small farm. Being an artist passionate about knitting and fibre arts, Rita was drawn to sheep initially. However, once she visited an alpaca farm, she became enamoured of these stunning, intelligent animals and soon bought five alpacas. Five soon became 30! Rita and her partner now care for a herd of around 30 to 40 alpacas and four llamas.
As a small farm, we know each alpaca by name and individual characteristics. Our philosophy is to tread lightly on the earth, raising our alpacas and land with love and ethical principles. Our sustainable practices help us provide a healthy and happy life for our alpacas while preserving our land for future generations. Alpaca welfare is our main priority, guiding all our decisions.
Meet the Alpaca Shepherdess
Hi, I'm Rita
I'm the primary alpaca shepherd at Campo Verde. I have lived and breathed alpacas since 2017, when I bought my first five alpacas. I have accumulated extensive knowledge about alpaca husbandry, behaviour, healthcare, breeding, birthing, fibre, and more by attending workshops, volunteering, learning from alpaca breeders in Australia and overseas, reading, and spending every minute with my animals.
I have been secretary of the Victorian Central Region of the Australian Alpaca Association and Social Media Coordinator for the Australian Alpaca Association. I have travelled overseas to complete Camelidynamics alpaca handling training (a safe, kind, science-based alpaca/llama handling method) and visited several alpaca farms that practise ethical and high-welfare farming.
I have learned more from alpacas than I have from many humans. I hope we meet and I can show you how special these animals are!
Caring for Alpacas with Confidence
I love welcoming new people to the alpaca world and teaching them how to care for alpacas, empowering owners with the knowledge and confidence to look after their animals. Don't hesitate to get in touch with me. I'd love to talk to you about alpacas!
IN THE MEDIA
Talking about my Alpaca journey at The Alpaca Tribe Podcast
I have been on a few episodes of The Alpaca Tribe Podcast with Steve Herethington, a fellow alpaca shepherd who lives in the UK. Check the podcast below.
LOCAL NEWS
The general public is fascinated by alpacas, particularly young ones (called "cria"). The media have interviewed me on several occasions. My goal has always been to educate the public about responsible alpaca ownership.
