A Fiber Life | Our Guanaco Adventure

This is the last episode of season 2. In this episode, I dive into the question, why do I write this podcast? What does reflection of this kind mean to me and others? And when the magic seems dimmed, how can we get it back? I talk to Laura Davis, author, writing teacher and retreat leader about the act of writing and its healing potential especially when it's shared with others. Greg and I reflect on the podcast season and our farm life. And you won't want to miss this—while at the beach where something very, very special happens. I'll take stock of where things are right now on the farm, and show you how writing really does lead to magic. So if you are feeling like you can't see the forest through the trees, like you need to have some time to breath, this episode is for you. If you'd like to attend the same retreat I attended, Writing as a Pathway, with writer and author Laura Davis, the next one is coming up later this summer at a beautiful retreat center in northern California. I highly recommend Laura's retreat as a safe, supportive place for dealing with grief, change or life transitions of any kind: https://lauradavis.net/writing-as-a-pathway/ For more on Laura, visit her website here: https://lauradavis.net/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Humans are no different than guanacos or sheep or any other animal that finds comfort in the presence of others. We rely on each other for help and support, warmth and protection. But as humans, sometimes it's difficult to ask for help and support. In this episode, we dive into the question: “Why is it so hard to connect with others and create a sense of community?” I share the beginnings of what may become a vibrant fiber producers guild, and introduce you to my partner in this endeavor, Katie Whitlock. Our new friend, Brittany Bobbit, gets recruited to our Mud Support Group. And Greg and I talk about our very slow progress on a goal we set in 2020. So, if you wish for more connection and a sense of community, like we do, join us. Maybe something we say will inspire you to take some steps yourself.  The Full Transcript can be found at www.afiberlife.comThis podcast is a production of the Bright Sighted Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes the best things in life are about the process, not the product. Working with your hands vs. working with your mind. In this episode, I sit down with several spinners to understand their motivation and love for the art. In this episode, I'm telling you about how I ditched a product-led, checklist kind of life, and learned to engage more with the everyday process of living. I talk with others living that life. Josefine Waltin is a Swedish fiber artist who teaches students to spin by teaching them her philosophy of connection with raw fiber. And Kim Biegler of Ewethful Fiber Farm and Mill tells us about the realization when she rescued a 400 lb bale of Suffolk wool from being burned by the shepherd who needed room in his barn. Greg and I share about the transformation that's happened to our hands, and how going from using our brains, to using our hands has improved us for the better.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've lost 6 animals in the last 3 years on our farm: five guanacos and one goat. Now, as a therapist, I've sat with so many dear clients in the grips of death and tragedy and the pain that floods in when we lose loved ones. And I've faced my fair share of grief personally. But when my goat Milo died, I was hit like a brick.   You'd think that my familiarity with grief and loss would help me when Milo and our 5 guanacos died. But it didn't. And after talking it through with Greg and some other special people, I've come to understand that this new loss experience was different than the others I've experienced in the past. It was different because it didn't come with a ready-made ritual or a way to communicate what happened. There was no Shiva or Wake, or even a plan for what to do after we said ‘goodbye.' There was no narrative or story to provide comfort. And I needed that. I needed a story and a ritual that soothed me. Because without that, I was just left with unresolved sadness and a nagging feeling of not knowing what to do if it happened again. Honestly, I was just ready to quit the whole thing because it was all too much. So, I went on a mission to find the answer. To make a story. To create a ritual that provides comfort and solace. And I actually found one. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever thought about what you'll leave behind when your time on this planet is up? An amazing accomplishment of mine had me recently experiencing an existential dilemma. Searching for answers about where all of my prized fiber and tools will go when I'm gone, I turned to my daughter Ruth, and good friend Ann. We also try to figure out if you can ever have too many crafting supplies. In the end, I get the feeling my concerns are the same concerns shared by creators everywhere. This is an episode for anyone with a million ideas and not enough time to do them all.The Full Transcript can be found at www.afiberlife.com Get 15 % off your order with the code “AFIBERLIFE15” at checkout. You can use the link in our show notes. https://smallpackages.co?sca_ref=3459552.rhQIKNxovN This podcast is a production of the Bright Sighted Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our goats, Daisy & Milo, taught us how to love better. In this episode, I tell you the story of how I  found them and share a little bit about their breed (Pygora) and why they are so special. My husband, Greg and I will delight in our love for them. And I will tell you how I intentionally engage with their open-heartedness for my own well-being–especially when dealing with one particularly difficult female guanaco. Finally, I will play you a delightful clip of my dear mother singing to these sweet babies. Because, really, who doesn't want to hear a loving open-hearted mama who sings to her daughter's open-hearted goats. The Full Transcript can be found at www.afiberlife.comThis podcast is a production of the Bright Sighted Network. 

What's the story behind the wrench in your junk drawer? It probably has a story. When was it purchased? Who used it first? What problems did it solve? In this episode, host, Lisa Mitchell, shares her thoughts about handmade tools. Greg and Lisa share their favorite handcrafted tools. And Lisa talks with Ed Jenkins, a very popular spindle maker. He tells you the secret of why spinners line up to buy his beautiful spindles.  Linda York, one of his loyal customers verifies Ed's secret and talks about her collection of tools. Handmade tools are more than just the things we use to make our work easier. They are works of art crafted by people who love to make just as much as we do. Join Lisa and Greg as they explore how tools help them feel more grounded and deeply connected to the bigger world of making.The Full Transcript can be found at www.afiberlife.comThis podcast is a production of the Bright Sighted Network. 

Fear is a fickle thing. We all feel it. It's part of the human experience. Yet many of us are also told to "fake it till you make it." Therapist turned Fiber Farmer, Lisa Mitchell lived by this motto for years. But, once she started raising wild animals she realized "faking it 'til you make it" doesn't work with fear. In episode one, of Season Two, Lisa and her husband, Greg, talk about nervous systems and survival instincts and the easiest trick to prevent adrenaline from taking over the situation. They talk with the one and only Marty McGee Bennett who taught them the invaluable lessons they needed in order to learn this new approach. Listen as Greg and Lisa give you a front-row seat to what it's like to see the world through their guanacos' eyes.  Full Transcript can be found here: www.afiberlife.comThis podcast is part of the Bright Sighted Network. 

In our second season of A Fiber Life, “Homegrown and Handcrafted,” we are going to transport you to a life of making from nature. We are going to introduce you to our baby goats, talk about the tools that we use,  and chat with many of the maker friends we've had the privilege of meeting along the way. From spinning guanaco fiber into yarn,  splitting and stacking wood, and growing our own food and botanical dyes, these stories provide life lessons that are powerful. I also think they can be helpful and healing.If you are someone who loves to make things with your hands, or if you love animals and nature, or if you feel like you need some help reconnecting with that maker part of yourself, we're glad you're here.Our hope is that this podcast will do for you what it has done for us: inspire you to live with every fiber of your being. Join us at "www.afiberlife.com" 

Pride is a tricky thing for many of us. We've been taught to dismiss compliments to keep us from attracting too much attention or getting a big head. We've been warned that focussing too much on accomplishments can suck the meaning out of living.  But there are times in life when we do something really great. In this episode, we are going to tell you about what goes into shearing our guanacos. After all, we did get these animals for their special fiber. We are going to tell you about our brave shearer, Clint, and all the many things we've tried to make shearing a better experience for everyone.  Then we are going to tell you a bit about this exquisite fiber and exactly why making yarn out of it is so challenging.  The story of my championship ribbon and the spinners who shared that moment with me is wonderful.  And, finally some tips on how to feel pride with joy. Survey link: https://forms.gle/YVWJmSdVKqr9YmNq5Episode Highlights: Embracing our accomplishments & feeling proud Learning how to shear guanacos To sedate or not to sedate guanacos Learning how to spin guanaco fiberBecoming a master spinner Links:Website: https://afiberlife.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afiberlife/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alientoluxuryfiberfarmEmail us: info@afiberlife.com

Facing death, losing loved ones, it's a universal experience. But it can challenge you to the core. In the gut wrenching sadness, death can make you question everything about your life and your choices. In this episode, Lisa and Greg's son, Mitch, joins them as they open up about  two beautiful guanacos that they held in their last hours. They pay respects to those beautiful boys by letting you in on the experience. This is a difficult episode.  But the story teaches something important. Something that might possibly change the way you see farms and pastures and the wool sweater you love to wear. It might just help you remember that we all have grief, we all face death, and in that basic human experience, we are all connected and held.Survey link: https://forms.gle/YVWJmSdVKqr9YmNq5Episode Highlights: Learning that Ace is sickComforting animals in their last momentsLearning Andes, the baby is also sickConnecting to other farmers through grief “More Than A Sweater” (The story behind what you wear)Read Full Transcript Here. 

This episode is about waiting for the birth of our guanacos. It's my hope that this episode helps you see waiting as a normal part of life, in this case, a whole new life. Because as you may already know, every one of us is waiting for something. Life is filled with waiting. I don't know anyone who likes to wait. And, everyone copes with waiting differently.  It's also impossible to end waiting.  This concept seemed to hit me when it came time for our guanacos to give birth. Episode Highlights: How can you tell if a guanaco is pregnant? What it's like to wait for the birth of a baby guanaco called a chulengaListen to the actual birth of a chulenga sounds likeWhat happens in the moments right after a chulenga is born? Nature vs Human Interaction: How much should farmers be involved? What waiting tells us about life. Connect with Lisa Mitchell:Website: www.afiberlife.comInstagram: @afiberlifeFacebook: @alientoluxuryfiberfarmListen To These Episodes Next: Ep 5: Guanacos In Love? (What Breeding Taught Us) Ep 4: The Great Guanaco EscapeEp 1: How It Started 

Breeding animals is like sowing seeds. They are both acts of hope.   And when you perform acts of hope, you are not only doing something for your future, but you are enriching your present. This episode is a love story within a love story.  Lisa and Greg will explain how and why they established a breeding program at their farm. You'll learn great gossipy tidbits about guanaco seduction and hear from their vet who explains exactly why it takes guanacos 45 minutes to breed. You'll meet guanacos Angie and Coacher, who may have found true love and leave feeling like no matter how worried or scared you are about the future, plant seeds in the present. Click here to read the full episode and transcript. Learn more about Lisa, her Guanacos, and more at afiberlife.comLinks Mentioned: https://afiberlife.com/https://www.instagram.com/afiberlife/https://www.facebook.com/alientoluxuryfiberfarm

Trust builds connection, and over time, connection builds bonds. So, how you show up–every day, over time, matters. It's a practice. It doesn't happen because you just want it to, it happens because you are consistent and trustworthy. My friend Shelley, who is a wonderful therapist, boils it down to this. She says, “You can either nurture a relationship or chip a relationship. There's no in-between.” So, you are either moving toward or away, strengthening or weakening. In this episode, we're going to talk about how we've bonded with our guanacos. How, out of desperation, we had to learn a gentler way of handling them which led to deeper connections.  Click here to read the full episode and transcript. Learn more about Lisa, her Guanacos, and more at afiberlife.comLinks Mentioned: https://afiberlife.com/https://www.instagram.com/afiberlife/https://www.facebook.com/alientoluxuryfiberfarm

As it turns out the key to being a successful farmer is having a crap management plan. (Yes, this episode is about poop.) Learning about “waste management” taught us about the importance of managing all the crap in our lives. The more pressure we put on ourselves to get better and be better, the more striving we do, the longer our to-do lists become, and all the things we have to manage start to accumulate. And, because there's no downtime, or ritual that we have for dealing with the crap, it just collects. And when it collects, it stinks. In this episode, we talk about how we learned to sustain ourselves and our farms by creating and following a plan to manage all the crap before it becomes too late. (You can't duck the poo.) Click here to read the full episode and transcript. Learn more about Lisa, her Guanacos, and more at afiberlife.comLinks Mentioned: https://afiberlife.com/https://www.instagram.com/afiberlife/https://www.facebook.com/alientoluxuryfiberfarm

If you are going to change your life, you are going to encounter obstacles. And some of those obstacles might even be dangerous. Welcome to A Fiber Life.  In episode two,  Lisa and Greg get real about the darker parts of their journey. The parts that should have made them quit. From shoveling loads of hard-packed poop, the death of their mentor, difficulties with the guanacos themselves that left them physically and mentally scarred, Lisa and Greg leaned into their decision to be farmers. You see, the way you react to these scary things could mean the difference between actually making the life you want or going back to where you came from and never making a change at all. If you don't let the fear take over and instead If you lean in– If you take a breath and keep going, you might be surprised at how good things can become. Click here to read the full episode and transcript. Learn more about Lisa, her Guanacos, and more at afiberlife.com

There are these moments in life, let's call them ‘YES moments'. They happen when we stumble across a really good thing and say ‘YES'. Welcome to A Fiber Life. In episode one, owners of Aliento Luxury Fiber Farm, Lisa and Greg, share the story about how they quit their busy, successful and stressful jobs, moved to an island, and started their lives over as fiber farmers. They share how they began raising llama-like creatures, called guanacos, and learned to harvest their fiber to create garments. How did this happen? Why did this happen? Did they know what they were doing? Lisa answers all these questions while also challenging listeners to tune into that nagging part of their brain that tells you to say “YES” to crazy ideas... and how this may actually be the sanest thing you can do. Click here to read the full episode and transcript. Learn more about Lisa, her Guanacos and more at afiberlife.com

In 2018 we did a crazy thing…..we quit our stressful-suburban lives and bought a farm on an island in the Pacific NorthWest. Then, we bought a small herd of exotic animals called Guanacos.Now we raise them for their special fiber. If you have ever had the impulse to change everything about your life and do something completely different or if you are a fiber artist or an animal lover who wants to know more about our special guanacos and their exquisite fiber, I'm glad you're hereOur hope is that this podcast, A Fiber Life will do for you, what it has for us…inspire you to live with every FIBER of your being. Leave your stresses behind and join me, Lisa Mitchell, as I share stories about Our Fiber Life.