Quiet Waters Retreat Centre (QWRC) – was originally to be a senior’s centre with day programs and overnight respite.  However, we are a ‘work in progress’ and currently the retreat centre will offer a place to visit in the country, be able  to relax, get inspired and enjoy a country lifestyle – a ‘home away from home’ atmosphere - like a Hallmark mini vacation.  

 

QWRC is also working on a Wildlife Education and Land Conservation centre.  This will protect both the wildlife in the area and preserve the land, while teaching everyone how to protect both, for future generations while building a family legacy.​​

​

QWRC Alpacas offer a ‘family friendly’ alpaca education experience for anyone who wishes to learn about alpacas & llamas, as well as country life.  Our family farm is in Sturgeon County, 60 km NW of Edmonton, in Central Alberta, Canada. 

 

We teach everyone who visits what alpacas & llamas are all about.  Where they came from, why farmers have them, how easy they are to care for, as well as what their fiber is used for. People who visit the alpacas & llamas learn about the animals, up close & personal and may even handfeed them treats.

 

The alpacas & llamas are very easy to care for & offer a stress-free lifestyle to humans.  You can sit and watch them for hours on the deck, forget about the time, while drinking a beverage (coffee, tea or hot chocolate) and watch the world go by, as the animals have a ‘calming’ presence about them.

 

Alpacas & Llamas provide their fiber (they are shorn once per year) to make all types of clothing such as: hats, mitts, socks, insoles, scarves, blankets, and shawls. You can even make felted soap, felted plant pot liners, garden mulch, pet beds & bird nests with their fiber to keep animals warm or cool when needed. Their fiber is fire retardant, water repellent, and hypo-allergenic.  Of course, their ‘pooh’ can be used as a soil enhancer for gardens and plants. The soil enhancer ‘alpaca pooh’ – does not smell, attract flies, will not burn or need to be aged.  It's great to add to compost and will multiply your garden produce and flowers in size and quantity.

 

The front yard has become an outdoor country art museum, painted by local professional artists in the area.  This allows anyone to have their family pictures taken with the alpacas, llamas and horses, or in front of the many buildings, including the rustic cabin school bus (check out ‘Gallery I - painted renos) to view. Families will go on an alpaca tour, learn all about them and then they can hand-feed them treats if they wish.  They may also play games, have picnics, campfires (weather permitting), take hikes, star gaze and attend special events & workshops. A few have visited and stayed overnight in their campers, motorhomes or tents, so they can wake up with the animals in the morning, while breathing the fresh country air. Don’t worry, we have an outdoor bathroom for everyone to use, when one is not enough. When visitors are here, they turned their cell phones off, while relaxing and watching the wildlife walk through the family farm.

 

Quiet Waters Retreat Centre and QWRC Alpacas plan to become a non-profit charity which will allow an accessibility camping experience for persons & seniors with challenges, to come to the country, relax and have a wonderful time & experience.  In the near future, we plan to have an accessible retreat centre with bedrooms, a communal kitchen, living room, games &/or tv room, library, chapel and bath area.

 

To learn more about what we're working towards in the near future, please join us, as we work together to build the wildlife education & land conservation centre & the retreat centre for current and future generations.  If you or someone you know would like to volunteer &/or offer their services, we would very much appreciate it, as you know - there is always lots to do on a farm.

​

Follow us along on our journey, either by our website (work in progress) or on Face Book. For more info regarding our family farm and animals, contact us anytime. We look forward to seeing you soon. 

​

​​​Blessings Everyone.