Community Corner

Farmers Market Features Warm Winter Wearables

Even with the boiling summer sun overhead, many find sweaters and hats made from alpaca wool to be pretty cool.

When heat wave season arrives, it's an easy bet that you're probably not thinking of sweaters or what you'll wear out in the snow. But an area merchant hopes you'll spend a portion of your summer checking out winter clothing at , which is held each Friday in the  parking lot.

This year's market, which opened June 15 and operates every Friday during summer, features the wearable wares of Blairstown's Hickory Ridge Alpaca Farm.

On a recent visit there, Patch found some wonderful buys—hats, scarves, gloves and more—and spoke with Hickory Ridge Farm owner Howard "Chip" Mabey.

Mabey said he markets clothing made from alpacas, animals that are similar to llamas and are members of the camel family from his farm and at farmers markets.

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"Last year, we were at Denville, Netcong and here in Parsippany," he said. "I've done Netcong for the past three years. This year, I'm just doing Parsippany and Denville—all three was a bit too much."

Mabey said that many people aren't interested in buying cold-weather items in July.

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"I'll sell an occasional hat," he said. "Some people are really good planners."

But the farm owner said hanging out in farmers markets under the sizzling sun is an investment.

"What I believe is happening is that people are coming through, they're browsing," he said. "Many of them are unfamiliar with alpacas, so I'm schooling them as we go along so they come to understand the great value of alpaca fiber. Eventually, they'll spot something that they like. And usually, I find that when the weather starts changing, people come in. They've already seen what they want to buy, so they'll say, 'I want this scarf in white, brown, gray.'

"They're great Christmas gifts and people have it all figured out that that's what they're going to get," he said. "And by the time they're ready to buy, they already know that alpaca fiber is light and comfortable to wear, and it's six times warmer than wool.

"That's a great selling point," he said.

Mabey said his wife suggests that he wait for temperatures to cool down, but he sees value—and an eventual payoff—in spending the hot months in the asphalt parking lot of Town Hall and creating knowledgeable, interested customers.

Under his tent, which is adjacent to that of , Mabey offers alpaca-made items including capes, gloves, hats, socks and more. For do-it-yourselfers, he also offers skeins of alpaca wool and raw fiber for those who opt to weave or spin it themselves.

"Most is 100 percent alpaca," he said. "Some items that need to be blended are, such as socks, so that they will fit your feet."

There are also stuffed animals made from alpaca fiber—lions, bears, even miniature alpacas.

The llama-like dolls are smaller versions of the "docile, gentle creatures" he has living on his Blairstown farm.

"They're kind of out of their element there," Mabey said. "Alpacas come from a cold climate in South America, so they have to do some adjusting to live in New Jersey."

The alpaca farmer said he got into this sideline business because he loves animals and was seeking a little business involving animals that he could run after he decides to retire.

Three years later, not only does he sell alpaca wear (he has his animals shorn regularly and then takes the wool to a manufacturer who creates the clothing items and dolls), he shows the alpacas on the blue-ribbon circuit.

"It's an expensive pursuit, but it's a good feeling when your alpaca brings home a prize," he said.

On the Friday of Patch's visit to Hickory Ridge's tent, the mercury is near the 100-degree mark and farmers market traffic is almost nonexistent. In time, though, some produce shoppers come by out of curiosity and begin to gush over the "oh, so cute" stuffed animals.

Mabey nodded his head and moved toward the customers, knowing his strategy has worked again.

"This business isn't easy, but I really enjoy it," he said. "I like the people and I'm proud of what I sell. So we'll see where it takes me."

You can check out the wonders of alpaca wearables at the Parsippany Farmers Market this Friday and every Friday throughout summer from 1-7 p.m. at the municipal building parking lot at 1001 Parsippany Blvd. 


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