- Joined
- Feb 5, 2020
Probably late, but bear in mind that there is at least a 5% transaction fee per Etsy sale, and since they are offering 'free' shipping you can assume that at least $3 per order (likely more) is going toward shipping. Considering the labor per order, including what they're paying to get the yarn milled, my gut estimate is that the ranch actually earns less than $10 per yarn order. Sorry to Etsy sperg but I find the ranch finances extremely lolzy in their own right.They have an Etsy store. Second result upon Googling the ranch and pinned post on their Twitter. The Patreon is also linked on the archive post of the ranch's Twitter in the OP. They advertise their yarn on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram but outside of those five platforms, I don't believe they have anything (not even a website).
Their business description says, "We set put to start producing the best alpaca fiber yarn in Colorado, then use the proceeds to help stabilize struggling trans folk and serve the trans community," but with nearly 250-300 animals and an overcrowded space with limited privacy and a questionable handling of finances, that's incredibly misleading. I found this thread when researching this ranch, and I can't find anything indicating they're a registered non-profit with tax deductions and the ability to apply for grants. It's an unprofessional shitshow of the usual "animal hoarding is okay because we rescue" excuse and presumably unpaid farm labor.
Chickens: https://i.imgur.com/ibnwXKP.jpg
Ducks: https://i.imgur.com/4vghLlz.jpg
Goats: https://i.imgur.com/vV1a81e.jpg
Cats: (no pic but it looks like there's 2)
Dogs: https://i.imgur.com/3yCcwSn.jpg (possibly 1-2 more)
I over-estimated the cats and goats, but under-counted the fowl. and we know they have 200 Alpaca. Someone else is taking over as lead farm manager for the new herd and they've gotten local donations of hay. There's no way this barn can hold all the new Alpaca unless they upgraded: https://archive.md/u0dPl
They claim to be "off the grid" but a recent photo of the kitchen shows every surface cluttered with commercially bought foods, so it's questionable whether or not they're actually using the eggs provided by the fowl and I think they said both goats are boys so they won't provide milk. Farm cats serve to fend off mice. The dogs probably don't serve a purpose because I doubt anyone on that farm is training them as working or herding dogs. They don't have enough money to upgrade housing for their people let alone provide housing for more helping hands, but keep adopting animals that cost more money and labor and don't provide anything. "Farm Sanctuaries" for rescue livestock are a thing but this 'aint it.
My personal (and likely easily refutable) theory is that Kevin put his entire inheritance toward the down payment for the ranch. That would explain why he gets to stay despite contributing literally nothing but rancid neopoon and why he is constantly begging for money for bills/toys. Maybe the tranch is even paying him back in small increments, so he has some kind of 'income', but not much because, well, see above.