Alpaca Advocate 2023 Winter

FRONT COVER

Sue Boyle—Humminghills Stud - Artisan of the Glen

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Welcome, Winter has started and time for another newsletter !

GINEAS Show is about to commence and we have had two very successful shows Toowoomba and Grafton. Our numbers have been smaller however, that seems to be a National phenomenon.

In this edition some interesting news re NLIS and Bio Security. Your committee have had a number of zoom meeting planning the activities and membership involvement. The Members Directory is published , those who advertised are also promoted in our newsletter.

May awareness month was very successful we had a number of studs participate. The merchandise team have raised funds to allow education courses o be offered to members at a reduced rate and show support. A busy team thankyou to these volunteers for their time and effort.

The May ORM meeting was well attended. Again thankyou to those who travelled for 3 hours or more. We certainly do get around the countryside.

Shearing is not far away time to start organizing and winter is a good time to do those odd jobs around the farm. Feeding out has increased no doubt, many studs will have babies on the ground for Spring.

The Editor and South Queensland & Northern NSW Region Committee of the AAA accept no responsibility for the opinions expressed, information supplied or advertisements published.

All submissions are subject to editing.

Copyright : The material published in this magazine is subject

2023 Treasurer: Jude Barlow, President: Pauline Glasser, Secretary: Michelle Malt

Trust all is well at your place, and you are enjoying the change of season. Below are a few points of interest and what has been happening this year.

MAY is ALPACA AWARENESS MONTH – Open Farm Month – consider opening your farm and allowing the community to experience the world of farming alpacas. (Region will support you with flyers and advertising)

The committee has set up the 2023 Calendar published in our Newsletter - please note our meeting dates. 2023 is the year of get together and meetings with educational themes for each one.

Our next meeting will be in QLD TBA. Meetings are held in various areas of our region to encourage all members to meet committee members and fellow members. I encourage you to attend.

Selling animals: Many members are adding Associate membership ($50 pro rata fee) to their sale. – this gives the new member access to educational emails and information on facebook re up-and-coming events, reminders about vaccinations etc. Don’t forget to give buyer information on animal history and travel declaration. (If you would like examples please contact me via email)

TREASURY- Jude Barlow

Our Balance for Regional funds is in positive – thanks to our Merchandise team. See Jude Report.

SHOWING – Cathie Reid

Toowoomba Royal was our first show of the season – It was most successful with a good number of Fleece and Halter entries to start the showing season. Congratulations to our members who were successful.

Grafton Show was very small in the halter entries this year (50) however, the fleeces (65) supported by many qld members was a very competitive section. Thankyou to all sponsors and stewards as without you the show would not go ahead. The convenors endeavoured to make each member who entered a winner. Exhibitors were all pleased with their “Show Bags” especially the Rake and complementary Coffee!

EDUCATION – Michelle Malt

Our first introduction to alpaca course was at Veresdale Hall on the 5th March. Successful day, lots to learn. Thanks to Donna Cone and Michelle Malt for their support of our region helping new and prospective members. The Course at Wahgungurry Alpaca Stud on the 27th May 2023. 8 participants attended. Jude from Kallaroo alsp attended and helped through outb the day. This course has a very practical focus.

Birthing Workshop with Adrienne Clark is open in ealpaca get in quick this course will fill quickly. Your region has subsidised this one, please support.

ADVERTISING

Breeders Directory, has been published and used at Intro Courses and is used as promotion of the industry at displays and shows by the Merchandise team well worth being part of this initiative. Newsletter – 4 a year – please send photos and articles. Advertising is available at minimal cost to members if you advertise in the Directory free advert in the Newsletter.

MERCHANDISE – Lehanne Robinson & Donna Crone.

Thankyou to all who help with the merchandise and promotion of the Alpaca Industry. Already the merch trailer has travelled many Kms. Please read Lehannes Report a mammoth job!

NLIS – Liz Coles

Ear tags are available through eAlpaca. See article in this newsletter page 17

SQNNSW Region

Australian Alpaca Association

Ordinary Regional Meeting held at Wahgungurry Alpacas, South Lawrence on 28 May 2023

President Pauline opened the meeting at 11.00am and thanked those present for attending.

Present: Pauline Glasser, Col Glasser, Judy Barlow, Lehanne Robinson, Maree Dobbins, Michelle Malt, Cathy Reid, Noel Reid, David and Margot Vincent, Bob and Jackie Coxon

Apologies: Dennis Boyle, Sue Boyle, Liz Coles, Rosemary Eva, Tanya Ross, Corey Ross, Jodi Meynell, Geoff McGahey, Cherryl McGahey, Ben Parkinson, Fred Alley, Jacqui Alley

Register of Declaration of Interest – none noted.

Consider and confirm the Minutes of the previous SQNNSW Ordinary Regional Meeting held at Jacanda Alpacas on Sunday 5 February 2023.

1 The Secretary read the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2023

2 The meeting RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2023 be accepted as a true record of the meeting.

Business Arising: from minutes of previous meeting; from Committee meeting held 21 May 2023

a Decisions on financial ideas:

b Birthing workshop will be held on 16 September at Longueville Park;

c AV equipment for displays at shows: Pauline has spoken to a AV specialist and we will purchase an additional microphone for the larger speaker;

d a horsefloat that members can use for moving animals – no, as there are alternative hire options available;

e another pregnancy tester – the use of the current pregnancy tester doesn’t justify an additional unit;

f a piece of carpet/artificial grass for the judging ring – no, as our 2 regional shows are held on grass.

gMerchandise trailer – committee have endorsed replacing the merchandise trailer. The supplier is having issues sourcing the trailer chassis and tub, but we hope to have it available for Glen Innes. Cost is $6183, plus registration costs, floor and signage. The existing trailer will be offered to members to purchase through a tender process – if a satisfactory tender is not received then we will look at other options.

h. All events – including Educational workshops – are to have registrations through eAlpaca.

a) Birthing workshop – 16 September

b) Fleece workshop – date to be arranged

c) Fibre to product workshop – October

9. Toowoomba Show – 2023 event not an AAA endorsed Show. Draft letter read and discussed with meeting, to be sent in the coming week

10. Reports regarding portfolio activities (attached via link) - Presidents Report, Treasurers Report, Secretary's Report, NLIS report, Merchandise Report, Education and Marketing Report, Show Coordinator Report

a) The Treasurer provided a verbal report on our Financial situation.

b) The Secretary read the Vice Presidents report providing a summary of the Humphrey Law Sock Drive.

c) The meeting RESOLVED that the reports as circulated be accepted.

d) Notification of decisions made affecting members of the Region

Kyogle Show proposal – a survey will be sent to all members to ascertain the level of support available to hold an event at Kyogle Show.

Ipswich Show – no display this year due to limited local support and expectations of show committee for hours of display.

Warwick Celtic Festival – 1 October, added to event calendar, will be supported by Donna, Tanya, Pauline and Judy. Any members who would like to assist are welcome.

General Business

The meeting acknowledged the time and efforts of those involved in our Merchandise team and alpaca displays, as a promotion of the Australian alpaca industry and our region.

An Introduction to Alpacas Workshop with 6 participants was held yesterday at Wahgungurry. Feedback from all involved was positive. Another workshop is scheduled for Queensland in July, subject to interest (it may move to later in the year after upcoming displays).

Queensland Region – Rockhampton Fleece Show – first show for 6 years; Maleny Show – part of Knitfest 30 June/1 July; discussions with RNA (Ekka) about possibility of standalone alpaca judging event, with a display being held during the Ekka. Members were encouraged to support these shows if possible.

Glen Innes – 62 halter entries (40 huacaya, 22 suri) and 40 fleece entries. Sue has had shoulder surgery so is unable to fleece steward, however Maree, Cathy and Michelle will assist the fleece team. There will be an evening function catered by the local Lions Club in Yarrawood House on the showgrounds on Saturday night; catering has been organised onsite for Sunday (halter judging). Assistance with pen setup on Saturday morning would be appreciated.

Michelle

The meeting closed at 12.25pm

Malt Secretary

Regional website: qldnsw.alpaca.asn.au

The Celtic Festival was a Buzz!

The Merch Team had a great experience at the 2023 Celtic Festival in Glen Innes.

Lots of interesting people to meet. Lots of laughter, music and fun.

One thing about the Merch Team we sure do get around the Country Side.

You should come and join us!

Merchandise Report May 2023

Hi Everyone.

Well, we have had a very busy time since our last meeting. It started at the Glenn Innes Ag show in February with sales totaling $925.00. Thanks to Sue and Dennis Boyle for bringing animals and to the Glasser’s and Bruce for helping both days.

The next show was the Toowoomba Royal at the end of March which was the first time we have taken the merchandise up there. It was two and a half days of sales that totaled $1611.90. This time thanks go out to the Glasser’s, Donna Crone, Di Smart and Bruce Robinson.

Then we had our local Ag show mid April at Bonalbo for a day. The sales totaled $805 and we started a major raffle with tickets sales of $119.00. Thanks to Maree and Peter Dobbins for bringing animals, Pauline, Bruce and some friends from Darwin that were staying with us for the weekend. They had a wonderful time and learnt alot about Alpacas.

The next weekend was Grafton Show, always a very busy time. With product sales totaling $1345.00 and the raffle sales at $136.00. Thanks to Donna Crone and Di Smart for helping with the sales and tickets. The Glasser’s were very busy doing other things.

Following on from that was the Celtic Festival back up chilly Glenn Innes. We had two huge days of sales totaling $3290.00 with the raffle totaling $228.60. Thanks again to Sue and Dennis Boyle for bringing animals both days and to Pauline Glasser, Judy Barlow, Donna Crone and Bruce for all their hard work. What an amazing festival, I can still hear the bagpipes in my ears:-)

So that has been 5 events so far with sales totaling $7976.60 amazing. In case you are wondering about the .60 cents, it was a donation:-)

As this gets sent out for the next meeting we will be at Wahgungurry Alpacas helping out for Mother’s Day again. Following that will be the Alpaca Show at Glenn Innes on the long weekend in June. See you all there.

ERWIN ALPACAS

Roland spent a very busy day at the Big Prawn recently. Promoting our Month of May Alpaca Awareness Month. The monkey was a take home from day care for a visitor. I wonder what the teacher thought of his outings Monday morning?

Book Review by Michelle Malt

“Glove Box Guide to Alpacas”,

by Jane Vaughan

Dr Jane Vaughan is the author of "The Glovebox Guide to Alpacas". She is an experienced veterinarian who has worked with alpacas for over 25 years, both in Australia and internationally, having graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) from the University of Melbourne in 1988. Her work in “ET” (embryo transfer) and reproduction takes her all over the world, working with camelids. Jane is very knowledgeable about all aspects of alpaca medicine and has presented at numerous workshops and conferences over the years, and her presentation style is engaging and enjoyable.

Jane’s book is written in the same engaging manner and is set out in sections that are easily identified by a tab colour on the edge of each page and covering all the hot topics: Husbandry, Cria Care, Nutrition, Parasites, Reproduction, plus more specialised sections targeted at vets: Sick Alpaca, Treatments, Diagnostics and Miscellany. The inside cover contains a Table of Contents allowing the reader to find key sections quickly, along with the abbreviations used – this is particularly useful for the layperson.

The book is easy to read, and is produced on plastic pages with spiral binding, so it is practical to use in a paddock/shed/vet surgery setting, it can be wiped clean if necessary and will not disintegrate if kept in a glove box, vehicle seat etc. It includes a rough guide that outlines the husbandry and management requirements by season in the Australian climate

The ‘Glovebox Guide to Alpacas’ is an excellent reference for alpaca owners and veterinary practices. Veterinary students receive limited exposure to alpacas and camelid medicine during their studies, and many practices do not see alpacas on a regular basis. Add to that the uniqueness of the alpaca, and the fact that a sick alpaca is a very sick alpaca, , and they are stoic – a sick alpaca is potential prey, and they will mask clinical signs of illness to avoid becoming a target. Due to their origins in high altitude environments in South America they can mask clinical signs of anemia until red blood cell numbers are severely depleted, and can also mask signs of dehydration moreso than other livestock. These factors can make diagnosis and treatment challenging for vets. It should be noted that in Australia, there are no drugs registered for use in camelids – use is ‘off-label’ (there are no dosage rates for alpaca provided by the manufacturer). Administration of any drench, antibiotic, pain relief etc must be done under the supervision of a veterinarian, and there are potential risks that must be considered. Jane has drawn on her years of experience working with alpacas, farmers and fellow veterinarians to provide guidance on appropriate treatments and dosages, but meat, milk and fleece withholding periods are unknown, and all products are used at your own risk.

I purchased this book for myself soon after it was published in 2017, and my veterinary practice also has a copy, which I see on hand whenever I visit the surgery for a consultation involving my alpacas. I think that is a great recommendation!

The book is available for purchase from Beaufort Animal Supplies – https:// beaufortanimalsupplies.com.au/ at a cost of $110 (incl GST) plus postage.

2023 TOOWOOMBA FLEECE SHOW

Congratulations Fleece Supremes Wahgungurry Mr Hale Wahgungurry Alpaca Stud

Green Gully Nadal Green Gully

CONGRATULATIONS TOOWOOMBA SUPREMES

Green Gully Alpaca Stud SPECTRUM and Rosegum SARI BLAIR

PREGNANT?

Members have the opportunity to test their herd any time of year by using the Regions wireless PREGNANCY TESTER: Easy to use the tester gives you an on the spot info re pregnancy. Photos are able to be saved and printed.. FREE APP download to your Phone or Ipad. APP = SMARTVUS

Email : cpg4764@bigpond.net.au to arrange your loan. Forms will be sent to you to sign and

They can be downloaded from there and are accessible via this link https:// drive.google.com/open?id=1vKqw4ZA5BXrBbkB4WVgV2lyHGDu8icAs

To download click the icon shownat 1. You need to hover to see the icon. You can download themall using the link at 3. But they are quite big and it willtake a while…

Clicking in the centre of the magazine thumbnailwillallow you to read it online. It will open in the browser window like a regularpdf.

Fleece Team Toowoomba Show

NLIS / IAR Tag Update

NLIS Australia’s National Livestock Identification System Information sheet NLIS Combines the elements to enable the lifetime traceability of animals.

 Livestock are identified by a visual or electronic eartag/device.

 All physical locations are identified by means of a PIC.

 All livestock location data and movements are recorded in a central data base.

The NLIS database is concerned with animal movements. You can look at the NLIS website at www.nlis.com.au. Why? The AAA have been trying to have alpacas included in the NLIS for greater than 10 years.

This work has now come to the stage where Alpacas have been prioritised by the government. Legislation: At this stage there are no States/Territories that have legislated the requirement for Alpacas to be in NLIS however this is expected to change in the coming years.

The AAA have taken a proactive approach to have the system already in place when this occurs. There are a number of layers of legislation that relate to animals at both Commonwealth and State level. There are National Standards and then the States have rules that sit under that. The States may implement their legislation at different times and there may be different rules that sit under each one.

The States will consult with Alpaca owners as the time for the drafting of the legislation comes closer. NLIS Tags The aim is to get all foot and mouth susceptible breeds to the electronic ear tag.

The cost of the tags are $2.10 which is similar to the price of the brass IAR tags currently used. Wands/ scanners are available for to use on the electronic tags, however these are not a requirement, it is entirely up to the owners.

The AAA will purchase a number of wands/scanner for the use at shows so that the convenors can check the animal and sign them in and out of the show. Currently there is still the requirement for Camelid Waybills.

Tags will be available to order on line through the AAA website shop. Non members will also be able to purchase NLIS tags through the shop. The AAA will be the gatekeepers for the order of tags but not the NLIS database. You will not be able to purchase them, at this time, anywhere else. The forms are currently being developed and it is expected that your will be able to order from mid April. There are 2 types of tags.

Breeder tags – for all animals bred on your property. Post breeder tags (pink) for animals not bred on your property that have come without a tag. You will be able to order replacement tags as you can with brass IAR tags if necessary. The tags will remain as is now with male in the left ear and females in the right ear.

Tag information eAlpaca will remain as it is now the AAA’s pedigree data base and show and event management system. eAlpaca holds the information relevant to the pedigree of animals, ownership history as well births and deaths.

It is also the show administration system which enables the regions to run shows and have all the relevant information required for the show to be accessed. eAlpaca will not change with the implementation of NLIS except that you will be able to register your animals with NLIS tag number.

You will also be able to search by the NLIS tag number. General information.

There is currently no pressure for members to retag all their animals. It will a phased in approach. As training becomes available it will be provided to members. There will be live demonstrations of the tags by Julie Wilkinson and Mick Williams in the coming months who have been using these tags for a number of years.

LizColesfromLonguevilleParkAlpacasisourCommittee representativeonthistopic.

Lizhasawealthofknowledgeonthistopichaving beenonHealthandWelfarecommitteesinthepast andLonguevillewerepartoftheoriginaltestingofear tagsastothetypeoftagnecessary.Morecurrentinformationshortly.

PHOTO WINNERS

2023 GRAFTON COLOURBRATION

Congratulations Supremes Wahgungurry Miss Tilly Wahgungurry Alpaca Stud

To feed alpacas in the winter, you should…

• Provide a reliable source of food, energy-rich treats (like grains), and plenty of water.

• Supplement the alpacas’ diets with hay, silage, or feed pellets if pastures cannot support alpacas during the colder months.

• Feed them hay, grasses, leaves, and bark.

• Provide clover, wheat straw, oat straw, barley straw, and other grains.

• Ensure they have a variety of different things in their diet to stay healthy

THINK AHEAD Nearer to the winter season, there is a great demand for hay, and it’s also worth bearing in mind that there’s the possibility of a low production season. So if you want to feed hay during the winter make sure you stock up ahead of the trend and ensure you’re well supplied in advance of the season.

As a side note, beware of the risk of hanging hay in nets. While this is an easy storage option, nets can be very dangerous for alpacas, who might be in danger of getting their heads stuck and hanging. Instead, place bales where they can be easily accessed without risk to your herd. Hay racks can be a great choice.

tip: If you don’t have a hay rack, you can make one yourself out of a laundry basket. Seriously. Just hang the laundry basket up on the wall with a couple of nails or screws and you’re good to go.

On average, feeding an alpaca in the winter costs about $130 per alpaca. Of that amount, $115 of it is due to feed and grains. And the other $15 is to replace a stepped-in and broken bucket.

Members have the opportunity to test their herd fleece any time of year by using the Regions Fibre Lux Machine.

Easy to use the machine gives you an on the spot idea of your animals micron. Good to have before shearing!

Email : cpg4764@bigpond.net.au to arrange your loan. Forms will be sent to you to sign and delivery and return will be negotiated

Fibre Testing

Micron Man Pty Ltd

Email for more information

microman@iinet.net.au

New England Fibre Testing Service

Walcha 02 6777 2122

Australian Wool Testing Authority (AWTA)

Geelong office 03 5277 9842

Melbourne office 03 9371 2100

Shearers

TheAAAWebsitealsohasalistof shearersonthehomepage. qldnsw.alpaca.asn.au

Shearing is a time for immunisation change needles regularly

Maree Dobbins & Rosella Ridge Kadita 2023 Grafton Colourbration

Look at the Poo!

A ruminant has multiple specialized "stomachs" which allow the animal to digest fibrous materials. The one of special interest is the rumen which is quite large and is where bacterial digestion occurs to break down material that would otherwise be indigestible. So you need to think of ruminant digestion as a bacterial digestion factory instead of like us humans (digest chemically, with only a little help from beneficial bacteria). What this means is, it is possible to mess up the bacteria in the alpaca's gut and rumen and they will starve to death with a full stomach. How would this occur? You could overadminister antibiotics. Your vet will tell you how to administer antibiotics. If you think a little more might be better, you might wipe out the gut bacteria along with the bad ones that you wanted to kill. There are other ways, but normally, you will never encounter this problem. The rumen is designed to house and take care of its bacteria population.

Changing pastures

With many ruminants, moving onto fresh pasture is the beginning of runny stools. The bacteria get a sudden slug of different feed with a different moisture content, and they can't digest it very well. Typically, after a few days, a slightly different population of bacteria that is better suited for the food coming in will develop and the diarrhoea will go away. Alpacas are not nearly as sensitive to this as are sheep and cattle. This is a good thing.

...it is a good practice not to shock their system with changes in feed.

Avoid sudden changes

Though alpacas are not as sensitive to feed changes as other ruminants, it is a good practice not to shock their system with changes in feed. When moving from dry lot to fresh pasture, make sure they have a ready source of the hay they are used to. They will naturally eat some hay as well as the fresh pasture and give their rumen and bacteria time to adjust.

Analyzing digestion problems

The most important steps you can take to make sure everything is going well are the ones made in your pastures. Check the poop piles. Yes, your neighbours and friends will think you're crazy. Do it anyway.

WISE - The Watkins Index of Stool Efficiency

Yes, I manipulated the title to make a cute acronym. What I'm doing is assigning a number to each stool type to make it less difficult to describe. We're going to go from a 10 (which is individual beans) to a 1 (which is as fluid as milk). Also, by way of comparison, I'm going to use food to describe each one. You may find this disturbing, but when you've lowered yourself to talking about poop, you gotta accept a little humour.

not many of 'em. You see little definition in the wad.

5Stiff mashed potatoes Exactly as described. Colour them dark brown and that's what they look like. When you see these, start to be concerned, and try to identify who the owner is.

These are the piles good to see. All is well with the digestion process.

Granny mixes milk with the mashed potatoes until they're nice and smooth, like warm icing for your cinnamon rolls. Identify owner quickly. They will need medication to avoid health/weight decline and fibre breaks.

Sometimes referred to as pine cones, but that's not a food. Basically, these are jellybeans stuck together. These are also OK in the poo pile.

These are squishy, poorly defined pellets that are squeezed together. You can still see good definition in the wad. This is about what you'd expect moving onto fresh pasture to create. Should get back to normal in two days.

Beyond this point, interventionand medication is urgent. Dehydration will occur quickly.

Electrolytes will need to be added to their water.

Plum pudding with cheap plums and

Editor… I have often thought of this article when out in the paddock doing the morning rounds. Well worth knowing the differences and possible reasoning.

10.Jelly beans (licorice) or malted milk balls

.9 Blackberries

8 Plum pudding

7 Cheap plum pudding

4 Chocolate pudding

Find the owner.

3 Creamed mashed potatoes

2 Ranch salad dressing

1 Heavy cream

Ingredients

825 g tinned peaches in juice, sliced

340 g packet golden butter cake mix

100 g unsalted butter, melted

250 g sour cream

1 egg

Method

1. Grease a 23cm round x 4cm deep pie dish (4½-cup capacity).

2. Drain peaches. Place on a tray lined with absorbent kitchen paper.

3. Combine cake mix in a bowl with 100g melted butter. Press firmly over base of dish.

4. Cook in a moderate oven (180C) for about 20 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove. Cool. Arrange peaches over base.

5. Whisk sour cream with 1 egg in a jug until smooth. Pour over peaches.

6. Cook in a moderate oven (180C) for about 25 minutes or until topping is set and golden. Stand for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

7. Serve warm with ice-cream (optional)

BEANIE, BOOTIES, CABLES, CAST OFF, CAST ON, DECREASE, GARTER STITCH, GLOVES, HEADBAND, KNITTING, LACEWRAP, MOSS STITCH, NEEDLES, PURL STITCH, POM POM, RIBBING, SCARF, SHAWL, SOCKS, SLIP NOT, STITCHES, STOCKINETTE, SWATCHING,

It may be cold outside in most parts of Australia but there are still a few things that need to be done in the garden at this time of the year. But if you can't face going outside, you can always bring your garden inside suggests Bunnings horticulturalist Katrina Gatt.

It's time to prune

Pruning is a great way to not only tidy up the garden but also stimulate growth, and winter is the ideal time to do it. So, get out your secateurs, snips, loppers and saw and get cutting, especially if you are growing fruit/ornamental deciduous trees, roses, hydrangeas, fuchsias and hibiscus. Find out how to prune trees and roses.

Get planting

The sun may be largely on vacation but there are still some plants that benefit from being planted at this time of year, including bare root trees, winter vegetables and colour, such as primulas, calendulas, pansies and violas.

Don't forget your lawn

There are a few things you can do for your lawn now that will guarantee you lush green coverage come spring. Weed regularly throughout winter – the ground is softer this time of year, so the weeds will come out much easier – followed by aerating and fertilising at the end of winter.

Make a plan for spring

It's always a good idea to plan ahead, so why not start mapping out your vegie garden for spring planting? If you prepare now you'll be ready to plant as soon as the sun makes its return in September.

Bring the outdoors in

If you can't face the cold outside, then try bringing your garden inside with a vertical garden. Indoor plants can enliven any space or you could even build your own terrarium. There are a variety of plants that thrive indoors, just make sure you check their ideal growing conditions and place them in the right spot and give them just the right amount of water and fertiliser.

Thanks Bunnings for the tips—of course some alpaca on the compost is good.

These cards have been given to me from NZ information pack many years ago a wonderful resource. - editor