Come for the animals, stay for the experience, and leave with a deeper connection to the land.
Come for the animals, stay for the experience, and leave with a deeper connection to the land.
Alpacas
Meet our playful alpacas, discover their soft fiber, and share their charm.
Dexter Cattle
Discover Dexter cattle, an Irish heritage breed known for excellent yields for small-scale farming.
Explore the Farm
Discover our scenic farm, roam gardens, and embrace nature’s regenerative wonders together.
Our Story
In October of 2020, shortly after being married, we closed on a farm in Bracey, Virginia. We moved from Raleigh NC eager to enjoy a quiet, simple, and self-sustaining lifestyle. Initially we were in search of property where we could have a large garden and fell in love with this 10 1/2 acre retreat that overlooks the lake. We have been slowly repurposing this horse farm to accommodate our livestock and love for gardening.
Read More of Our Story Here...
But what does one do with over 10 acres of pasture besides mow it?
Upon seeing a YouTube video about alpacas we both knew we had found our livestock! After almost 2 years of research and study, we purchased our first alpacas in 2022. They were 4 boys from Wanchese NC (also known as “The Beach Boys”). Three months later we added 4 more boys from Trumansburg NY (The New York boys). After a time of adjustment, they get along very well and with the help of the veterinary school at NC State University, they are well cared for and receive top notch care from medical professionals who train and specialize in camelids. They are fun fellas that each have their own personality and they provide us with high quality fiber for yarn. (Available to purchase in our farm store).
Again what does one do with over 10 acres? Alpacas are not enough…
We have since added Dexter cattle. This Irish Heritage breed was chosen for their mild temperaments and suitability for a small farm. They are easy to care for, docile, and provide a very high quality meat. Dexter cattle are also unique in that they can provide milk with a2/a2 protein which is often digestible for people who are lactose intolerant.
Finally in spring of 2022 we completed a large enclosed raised bed garden. Large compost piles, filled primarily with alpaca beans (the BEST fertilizer), composted chicken waste, and other organic matter, provides an exceptional growing medium for the gardens. We do not use any other form of fertilizer. A rainwater catchment system was built using ICB tubs and is used for the garden watering. And so a basic regenerative farming cycle begins as the rainwater feeds the garden which in turn feeds us, as well as some of the animals, who in turn, provide fertilizer for composting and feeding the garden. Is it really that simple? Yes, but a lot of hard work.
It has been a fun journey and we continue to learn every day. We are eager to share our learnings and this slice of heaven with you. Come and see us!
But what does one do with over 10 acres of pasture besides mow it?
Upon seeing a YouTube video about alpacas we both knew we had found our livestock! After almost 2 years of research and study, we purchased our first alpacas in 2022. They were 4 boys from Wanchese NC (also known as “The Beach Boys”). Three months later we added 4 more boys from Trumansburg NY (The New York boys). After a time of adjustment, they get along very well and with the help of the veterinary school at NC State University, they are well cared for and receive top notch care from medical professionals who train and specialize in camelids. They are fun fellas that each have their own personality and they provide us with high quality fiber for yarn. (Available to purchase in our farm store).
Again what does one do with over 10 acres? Alpacas are not enough…
We have since added Dexter cattle. This Irish Heritage breed was chosen for their mild temperaments and suitability for a small farm. They are easy to care for, docile, and provide a very high quality meat. Dexter cattle are also unique in that they can provide milk with a2/a2 protein which is often digestible for people who are lactose intolerant.
Finally in spring of 2022 we completed a large enclosed raised bed garden. Large compost piles, filled primarily with alpaca beans (the BEST fertilizer), composted chicken waste, and other organic matter, provides an exceptional growing medium for the gardens. We do not use any other form of fertilizer. A rainwater catchment system was built using ICB tubs and is used for the garden watering. And so a basic regenerative farming cycle begins as the rainwater feeds the garden which in turn feeds us, as well as some of the animals, who in turn, provide fertilizer for composting and feeding the garden. Is it really that simple? Yes, but a lot of hard work.
It has been a fun journey and we continue to learn every day. We are eager to share our learnings and this slice of heaven with you. Come and see us!
Ann & Larry
Meet Luke!
Meet Luke, our Great Pyrenees who is a bundle of love and mischief but works very hard, especially at night. Luke joined us as a rescue in December 2022. As a Livestock Guard Dog, Luke stays outside at night where he keeps predators away. This is especially important for alpacas and chickens. He is an important part of our care team.
What our visitors say!
The farm tour was the highlight of our day. You can tell that Ann and Larry have put a lot of work and love into the farm. We enjoyed learning about it and, most of all, we loved getting to feed and pet the alpacas! Luke the dog was so friendly and cute too.
Shelly
The tour offered of the farm was a special bonus - our toddler great-niece and -nephew staying in a house nearby LOVED feeding the alpacas (as did the adults) - Ann and Larry were generous with their time and sharing info about the alpacas, chickens, etc. and were very patient and sweet with the toddlers.
Valerie
The farm tour was as fun as it looks! Beautiful property with hosts who made it that much more enjoyable!
Jessalyn
Poplar Creek Farm
Bracey, VA 23919
(434) 774-1333