In this energy conscious era, there is nothing better than reducing the expenses for providing a large source of your power needs by harnessing the sun power with a solar system. Success in that endeavor has been achieved by Karl and Jan Heinrich, Gallatin, Tennessee, as the owner/ operators of New Era Fiber Mill and the Long Hollow Suri herd of one-hundred fiber producing suris.

A large number of solar panels were installed on the barn roof and now collect sun power which is then convertsed to electrical energy, more than sufficient to operate the suri barn, the farm store, the offices for all operations and the extensive activities of a specialty fiber mill. This system has paid for itself in 2.5 years and provided tax benefits in energy conservation, which is a remarkable success. Karl assures us that even in areas that are sometimes cloudy, like Tennessee, this is achieveable.

Heat is provided by a large wood burner, similar to a huge wood stove. The cost of this is very low as local wood and wood from their sixty-two-acre farm operation is used. The temperature in the two-story building for the barn, fiber mill, offices and farm store is maintained at a very comfortable level. The recycling water system also provides water for all the mill’s needs for the soaking, washing and rinsing of all the fiber going through the mill, at approximately 25% of normal costs associated with mill, office, and alpaca operations. Learning how to handle suri fiber included the absolute need for complete, gentle, numerous washings, and rinsings to process 100% suri fiber for the 100% sport and lace weight suri yarns, spun as fine as 7500 yards of single ply per pound.

Maintaining the goals of alternative farming and keeping a steady supply of fiber to the mill, Long Hollow Suris has added significantly to their herd. Being very critical in the selection of suris with desirable fiber traits in their pedigrees and backgrounds, their one hundred suris can provide enough quality fiber of similar microns throughout their lifetime to provide yarns for products including fine luxury garments (including by crochet) to durable woven rugs. With
the addition of a specialty custom designer and pattern producer, the supply, from basic yarns to marketable luxury products, can be accomplished at reasonable cost (due to the alternative farming methods).

With the addition last year of new, special equipment, the above goals were achieved. The use of the washing/rinsing tub, divided into three individual sections for three batches with a soap/water spout on the lid, allows for even, efficient distribution of soap and water to each section. The addition of new, more efficient equipment will allow for faster processing of 100% suri, a majority of which is completed at New Era, and the production of both finer yarns and rug yarn. The new pieces that were added include a separator, core spun rug yarn maker, and the second piece of s p i n n i n g equipment for producing laceweight yarns, all of which increase efficiency and quality of fiber yield.

The fiber processing steps:
1. Weigh-in and data documentation into the computer system.
2. Skirting, grading and sorting the individual fleeces.
3. Tumbling the fiber batches to remove debris, shorts, and other materials
4. Washing and rinsing – two or three times - depending on the grease and dirt levels
5. Drying rooms for individual racks of fiber batches
6. Separator/picker - Again two or three times - to separate and open the locks (or staples) for continuing on with the next steps. Tight locks require three passes to open well. The separated fiber is blown into a bin outside the working room for air separation.
7. Carding – the heart of the fiber processing – manages to separate the fibers, align the fibers parallel, and provide consistent, even delivery in the form of a web.
8. The core spun attachment at the end of the carding creates a core yarn wrapped tightly with fibers on a cone. The core ensures desirability, longevity and rug weight.
9. The draw frame – the operation for drawing the sliver to establish the linear density (weight to length) of the sliver stream to a level suitable for spinning.
10.The spinning operation with two parts – drafting and twist. A “master dial” adjusts the speed of the front and back rollers and spindle speed. By correct adjustment, a yarn of desired count (thickness) and twist level is produced with either an “S” or a “Z” twist direction or reversal for
plying single yarns.
11.The plyer – At New Era Fiber plying is done on a four-spindle spinner simply by bypassing the draft zone and reversing the direction of twist for more aesthetic options.
12.The skein winder – where a measured length of yarn is wound into a large circle, then twisted into a skein shape, convenient for sale, storage or dying.
13.Final destination – the skeins from that batch are then packaged together and shipped to the owner, displayed in the New Era Store or sent to the custom designer for patterns and specialty items of 100% suri, 100% alpaca, or designated blends.

The Long Hollow suri herd began in 2002. They added to their herd slowly after realizing that the rare suri makes up only 1-3% of the world’s alpaca population. The focus for future selection The was for pedigrees with a family history of the fiber traits needed for longevity, consistency of low SD and CV traits. Their intent is to raise "Colorumtious, Fibertastic Suri Alpacas"! Suri alpacas have provided an opportunity to raise a unique fiber with special characteristics. This unique fiber also requires different handling and processing methods due to the luster, silky fine handle, and straight fiber. The need for adding that dimension has been accomplished with selection of quality suris and an adaptation and new equipment in the mill for handling suri fiber.

Alternative farming methods with the suri herd include native and natural grasses, with crop and pasture rotations annually, natural supplements, and quiet gentle handling to encourage trust within the alpacas. Recycled water is used for drinking and irrigation. The fiber is managed naturally for show or production. Fiber testing on the Long Hollow suri herd and biopsies on herd sires and foundation female lines (which include three import matriarchs still producing) identified a number of individual records above the average for the suri industry. The Suri Herd classification process completed in March proves the level of quality as the majority of the herd was significantly above the population average values. All fiber from this herd, and customer fleeces, is used in one product or another.

Long Hollow Suris has a history of participation in numerous alpaca industry activities, including organizing the new show last year in Tennessee for the Southeastern Alpaca Association. They belong to the Tennessee Alpaca Association, the Kentucky Alpaca Association, and the Suri Network.

To learn more visit the web-site at www.longhollowalpacas.com or www.newerafiber.com
or contact owner/operators Jan and Karl Heinrich, at 615-452-7852 or 615-804-8553.

CQ