Elderwood's Annual Shear-and-Share

Created by Elderwood Farms, Shear-and-Share turns annual shearing into an opportunity for fiber artists to claim an entire alpaca fleece for the cost of that animal’s shearing. What began as a simple idea has become an annual Elderwood tradition.

Every spring, our alpacas need to be shorn. At the same time, spinners, felters, fiber artists, and makers are looking for interesting raw alpaca fleece to work with. Shear-and-Share brings the two together.

Choose an available alpaca, cover the cost of having that animal shorn, and receive the fleece it produces - including the prime blanket as well as seconds and thirds.

How Shear-and-Share Works

Available fleeces vary every year and may include a wide range of colors, patterns, micron ranges, staple lengths, ages, and fleece characteristics.

Participants generally have two ways to select:

• Reserve before shearing. Contact us for available alpacas and fleece information. Payment in full is required to hold a fleece in advance.
• Select at shearing. Local participants may make selections onsite before shearing begins, with remaining fleeces available first come, first served.

Fleeces may be picked up during shearing or arrangements can be made afterward. For those who are not local, shipping may also be available, with shipping costs paid by the buyer. Once a fleece has been reserved and paid for, that animal is removed from availability.

Know Your Fleece

One of our favorite parts of Shear-and-Share is that you aren’t simply buying an anonymous bag of fiber. You’re choosing the alpaca that grew it.

When possible, we can provide information such as color, age, previous fleece statistics, micron information, staple length, or other details that may help you select a fleece for your project.

Some participants are looking for something very specific. Others just fall in love with an alpaca. Both approaches are perfectly acceptable.

From Alpaca to Artist

Alpacas spend an entire year growing their fleece, and we love seeing it end up in the hands of people who appreciate what it can become.

Spin it. Felt it. Blend it. Dye it. Turn it into yarn, art, garments, or something we haven’t thought of yet.

Shear-and-Share gives fiber artists access to whole raw alpaca fleeces at an approachable price while helping offset one of the necessary annual expenses of caring for the herd.

You pay. They shear. We share.

An Elderwood Farms Original

Shear-and-Share was created and coined by Elderwood Farms and has been offered as an annual Elderwood event since its beginning.

We’re thrilled that the idea has inspired interest in alpaca fiber beyond our own farm. The original program remains an Elderwood tradition centered on connecting the animals we raise with the people who value the fiber they produce.

Planning to Participate?

Shear-and-Share is announced before our annual shearing date. Popular colors and individual alpacas can be claimed quickly, so advance reservations are encouraged.

Because shearing day is an active livestock-working day with limited space, Shear-and-Share is not an open farm visit or spectator event. Onsite participation is coordinated specifically with those selecting or picking up fleeces.

Watch Elderwood Farms on Facebook and Instagram for each year’s availability, pricing, and shearing schedule.

Contact Us About Shear-and-Share