What We Do & Why
We're live and work on a 5-acre farm located in Springfield, Oregon. We primarily raise Suri alpacas, but we also raise chickens, ducks, rabbits, and honeybees. Our farm name succinctly represents our ethos and values.
Ouroboros (u·ro·bo·ros) is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail, representing cyclicality, infinity, and unity of opposites.
Permaculture is a design system for sustainable and regenerative agriculture and human settlements. It emphasizes principles such as observation, diversity, integration, and cooperation with natural systems.
One symbolic connection between ouroboros and permaculture is the idea of closed-loop systems. Permaculture seeks to create self-sustaining ecosystems that mimic the diversity and resilience of natural ecosystems, while minimizing waste and maximizing the use of resources. The Ouroboros, as a symbol of cyclicality and self-sufficiency, represents the same idea of closed-loop systems.
Another connection is drawn from the idea of transformation and renewal. Permaculture seeks to regenerate degraded land and revitalize communities through the application of ecological principles. The Ouroboros, with it's cyclical nature of death and rebirth represents the same idea of transformation and renewal.
The integration of alpaca husbandry into a permaculture system offers several benefits, including:
- efficient grazing,
- high-quality fiber production,
- nutrient cycling, and
- animal welfare.
By working together, alpacas husbandry and permaculture can help promote sustainable and regenerative farming systems that benefit both the environment and the people who depend on it - US!