Golden Touch Alpaca Farm

Here is a quick video we shot with our new HD Camera, the Canon HV30. We couldn't be happier with it! Tons of different birds in this one, including our Wild Turkeys!

Bird Watching on this Rainy Day from goldentouchfarm on Vimeo.

If any of you ever have any questions regarding how you can start utilizing online video (particularly HD) to help market and promote your farm, do not hesitate to leave a comment or email us. We are more than willing to help anyone out!

Everyone here at Golden Touch Alpaca Farm wanted to take a quick second and wish you all a Happy (and warm) Holiday! We have been getting slammed with snow this past weekend but all our Alpaca are safe and cozy in their barns.

 Here is a video we shot over the weekend.

Note: If you experience stutter on playback, click off the HD ON button in the top right corner of the video. It also helps to allow the video to fully buffer before hitting play. Enjoy!

There is not enough time in the day to run the Farm, Manage the Businesses, Keep our House in a presentable condition, and then on top of all that Plan, Decorate, and Shop for the Holidays. To save time we have been doing a lot of our shopping online this year, particularly doing business with Certified Green and Eco-Friendly businesses based in the United States.

We want our Holiday Shopping money to benefit hard working American Families, the story behind each product and how it is made is so important to us and more consumers need to realize that their is a lot more costs than just the bottom price.

When you have a free moment, head over to http://www.storyofstuff.com/ and watch their 20 minute video. It goes into great detail about who benefits exactly benefits from the current way consumers are spending money.

If you are looking to shop at "Guilt Free" stores across the country, be sure to head to Greener Pasture's Blog, where they list 54 Eco-Friendly Stores with 54 Holiday Discounts.

 This year we asked Santa for more hours in the day! 

Happy Holidays to all from Golden Touch Farm!

Today I put together a little slideshow using Flickr to showcase some of our animals, as well as some of our new Cria that were born this year. Enjoy!

Flickr.com is an amazing photo hosting/sharing site and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for an easy to use tool for showcasing their photos and even video.

Last night as I was finishing up the Animals I noticed that the females in our back field were looking awfully alerting. They did not give off the alarm call but they most certainly were spooked by something in the field. I finished up in the Cria Barnyard and rushed to see what the fuss was about. I was happy to see that it was just our lovely Wild Turkeys making their rounds. I ran back to the house and grabbed the camera to grab some quick footage of them just before they went back into the woods.

Note: If you experience stuttering on playback pause the video and click off the HD ON button in the top right corner. It also helps to allow the video to fully buffer before hitting play, Enjoy!

Our Online Farm Store is up and running and accepting orders for the holiday season. To ensure you get your items in time please place all orders by Dec. 17th.

We carry Alpaca Clothing and Accessories, All Natural Soaps and Body Care, Organic Teas, locally crafted Jewelery, Pottery, and some amazing one of a kind copper artwork.

Everything in our Farm Store is what we Consider Guilt Free. Guilt Free can mean many things, but to Golden Touch Farm, it symbolizes responsible artisans and businesses who use only the freshest and highest quality ingredients, supplied by other local businesses, to produce a sustainable and Eco-conscious item. The story behind how a product is made, how and out of what it is made, where and by who it was made, and who benefits from the sale of it should all be positive. All of the items in our store live up to these Rules, and we are proud of everything we offer.

For a limited time we are offering 10% Off All Orders over $50, simply type in the Coupon Code: TEDDYBEAR at checkout to receive your discount on checkout.

Visit our Farm Store

After getting a great response from yesterday's post regarding some great ways to utilize Online Video to showcase your farm and services, I am going to continue to post some great business advice that has helped us get to where we are today. 

Today's topic is Networking, and more specifically, Networking in your local communities.

One great and efficient way of promoting your Farm, Animals, Services, and Finished Products is by networking. And how do we network efficiently? By becoming involved with our community! Participating in local activities not only helps promote brand awareness, it can also leave you feeling great for giving back to a supportive community. Here are five tips for getting your Farm involved with the community:

1. Volunteer Time or Space
It doesn't take much space for a small group to meet. Consider volunteering your facilities to local clubs or related organizations. One great example of this would be to invite the Local Art or Spinning Group to the Farm for a day. Besides getting the personal satisfaction of helping others, you'll be interacting with a few potential customers.

2. Teach a Class
Most of you are experts about the Animals and Products you raise and have a wealth of information to share. Check with the local college or library about teaching a class in your expertise. Another way to share all of that knowledge is by holding your own clinics right on the farm. Holding How-To weekends and seminars is a proven method of networking and connecting with the community.

3. Host or Sponsor an Event
Whether it's the Local Alpaca Show, Relay for Life, Red Ribbon Week or some other local program, most communities have at least one large event in need of sponsors. Read the local newspaper for upcoming events and browse AOBA's show listings. Can't find a local event that fits your business? Host your own.

4. Adopt a Project
Once you start looking for an organization to become involved with, you will probably find your community has many projects, big and small, that could use your hands-on help. Don't forget to contact the media outlets for additional exposure.

5. Join a Group
Getting involved can help build a bond between your business and the community. It also lets you meet others who may share common interests and needs. Become a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau or another club to make some business connections, as well as some friends. Many states have Breeder's Associations that are a great stepping stone.