Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Decide what you will be using your alpacas for. If you plan on breeding, decide what you want the outcome to be and whether you want to breed right away or wait until you are a bit more established and comfortable with alpacas. Make sure you have enough fenced-in land for your alpaca. Sow the land with hay, grass, etc. Figure out how your alpaca is going to get water: Set up some form of shelter for your alpaca.

Answer: Some ideas are: Breeding Fiber (sales of raw or skirted fleeces) Natural fiber products.The creation and sale of end-use products (scarves, mittens, blankets, pillows, in-soles, yarns, rugs, weed-block, fiber arts) Therapy Education (including 4H for kids) Supplying top quality fertilizer to greenhouses If you want to get a head start, purchase females that are pregnant. If you plan on generating revenue put together a realistic business plan with the help of existing breeders who have a history of generating revenue in your areas of interest. If you plan on establishing a breeding farm, purchase young females and a herdsire (stud male alpaca), and perhaps a gelding (castrated male) to keep the stud company and later to babysit the weaning cria (alpaca offspring). You could also wait to buy a herd sire until you are ready for breeding. If you plan on breeding to obtain offspring to sell educate yourself on the value of the different genetic and fiber qualities. Then purchase starter animals that are capable of providing that quality. Your local environment and soil quality will determine how many animals your land will support. A good comparison is that about 8 alpacas will equal a horse or cow as far as grazing pressure goes. Check with your local Agricultural Outreach resources. The fence needs to be strong, at least four and a half to five feet tall, and the openings should be no more than four inches apart, otherwise, the alpaca could possibly break the fence, jump over it, get their head stuck or squeeze through to the other side. An even bigger reason to make sure your fences are secure and of proper materials is because dogs are a primary danger to alpacas. Coyotes are not such a problem as woven/fabric fences do a lot to deter them. Alpacas don't generally want to escape from the security of their herd and farm, but while roaming, stray dogs form packs and have been known to get into alpaca yards and attack, even kill, entire herds of alpacas not adequately fenced and guarded. Alpacas do not make good guard animals to protect other livestock. or buy your hay pre-cut. You will also need to add to your alpaca's diet: If you are breeding alpacas the quality of your feed can have a big impact on the outcome and quality produced. Vitamin supplements Natural hay. The quality and usefulness depends on the type of grass, when it was cut and how well it was put up. Hay from the same field cut at different times will produce different quality. Cured hay is easy to get tested and may be a good idea to utilize if you are new to feeding livestock. Be sure to avoid feeding fruits or vegetables too high in naturally occurring sugars and starches. Many ornamental plants found in residential landscaping are poisonous to livestock. Alpacas are very susceptible to the meningeal worm parasite. Check with a local veterinarian for the recommended treatment protocol. An alpaca can live for days without food but in hot weather an alpaca may not survive one day without water. An automatic waterer with a heating element to prevent freezing is the most ideal way to make sure your animals are getting enough of good, clean water year round. 5 gal or larger buckets also work but are much more labor intensive to maintain. A natural source can work but likely to contain serious parasites (Giardia E. Coli, Clostridium etc) etc. Keep their water source off the ground as they like to dip their feet in water. Water that they dip their feet in will be a source of parasites and illness. Same goes for natural and man made streams. Man-made streams. They also like to wade into water to cool off. This will affect the quality of their fleece and be a source of wool rot and other skin issues. A "self-watered" trough. Though these do not cost as much as a man-made stream, they are still pricey. But they are hooked up to a hose and set on a float or timer to fill the trough or bowls are convenient. A regular water trough. This is the cheapest, but you will have to fill it up at least twice a day with a hose or bucket yourself, depending on how many alpacas are drinking out of it. It needs to have adequate protection from the severe elements and be capable of keeping your alpaca warm and dry in the winter and cool in the summer. A three-sided shelter facing east or south works well, or a barn where the alpacas have free-choice to go in or stay out in adjoining paddocks. Keep in mind that a three sided shelter doesn't help if the storm comes in on the open side. If you are breeding and having crias you will likely need protection from all four sides. Figure at about 8 sq ft per alpaca in a shelter with at least 8 feet (2.4m) of headroom. Lower ceiling will require less density.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Cut the stalks and let them dry. Bake them at 180F (82C) for an hour. Separate the kernels from the hulls.

Answer: When the rice has turned gold (about 2 weeks or so after draining), they're ready. Cut the stalks just under the heads, where the rice grains are placed. You'll see little pockets at the top of the stalk that are unmistakably the hulls of the rice. Let them dry for 2-3 weeks. With the stalks cut, wrap them in newspaper and keep them in a dry, sunny place for 2-3 weeks. The moisture needs to fully dry out for you to get at the grains cleanly. Take the heads and pop 'em in the oven for roasting. It shouldn't be too hot or the grains will burn. During this time, they should turn a darker shade of golden brown. After that time is up, let them cool. Then rub them with your hands (or use a mortar and pestle) to separate the kernels from the hulls. Now you're dealing with rice grains you'll actually recognize. This will leave you with grains of rice that are ready for cooking and consumption. For the record, this last bit can be quite tedious after a handful or two, you'll be glad for modern technology. Be patient you're doing it right, it just takes a while. When you're done, you'll be left with an amazing store of food you produced all by yourself.

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Pay attention to changes in behavior. Watch for clinging to people or objects. Notice nighttime fears. Notice if the child keeps asking if the event will reoccur. Consider how much the child trusts adults. See if the child is afraid of certain places. Watch for guilt or shame. Notice how the child interacts with other children. Pay attention if the child becomes startled more easily. Notice fears that they report. Watch for thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Keep an eye out for signs of anxiety, depression, or fearlessness in the child.

Answer:
If your child acts differently than they used to before the event, it may mean that something is wrong. Look for an increase in anxiety-related behaviors. It's common for children to start having difficulty with everyday life after experiencing a trauma. They may resist things like bedtime, attending school, or spending time with friends. Their performance in school might slip and they may experience behavioral regression. Take note of anything that's become a problem after a traumatic event. The child may feel lost without a person they trust, or a favorite object like a toy, blanket, or stuffed animal. A traumatized child may become extremely upset if this person or object is not with them, because they feel unsafe. Children who have experienced a trauma may develop separation anxiety from parents or caregivers and fear being apart from them. Some children withdraw and "disconnect" from family or friends instead, preferring to be alone. Children who have been traumatized may have difficulty falling or staying asleep, or resist bedtime. They may be afraid to sleep alone at night, with the light off or in their own room. They may have an increase in nightmares, night terrors, or bad dreams. The child may ask questions about if it will happen again, or ask about taking steps to prevent it (such as repeatedly asking people to drive safely after a car accident). Reassurance from adults is unlikely to soothe their fears. Some children may obsess over preventing the event in the future, such as constantly checking the smoke alarm after a house fire. This may turn into Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Children might replay the event repeatedly in their art or play, like drawing the event over and over again, or repeatedly crashing toy cars into things. Adults were not able to protect them in the past, so they might reason "who can?" and decide that nobody can keep them safe. They may not believe adults who try to assure them. If a child has been traumatized, they may have difficulty trusting others as a defense mechanism, as they're unable to view other people or places as safe. A child who was abused by an adult may start fearing other adults. For example, a girl who was hurt by a tall, blond man may be afraid of her tall, blond uncle because he looks similar to the man who hurt her. If a child experienced a traumatic event in a specific location, they may avoid or become fearful of the place in question. Some children may be able to tolerate it with help from a loved one or security object, but be unable to bear being left there alone. For example, a child abused by a therapist may scream and cry if they see the therapy building, and may panic if they even hear the word "therapy." The child may blame themselves for the traumatic event because of something they did, said, or thought. These fears are not always rational; the child may blame themselves for a situation in which they did nothing wrong, and could not have made things any better. This may lead to obsessive-compulsive behavior. For example, maybe a boy and his sister were playing in the dirt when the traumatic event happened, and now he feels the need to keep everyone perfectly clean and away from dirt. A traumatized child may feel alienated, and may be uncertain how to interact normally with others, or not interested. Or, they may want to talk about or replay the traumatic event, which could annoy or upset other children. A child who has been traumatized may struggle with friendships and appropriate dynamics. They may become extremely passive towards their peers, or try to control or bully them. Other children withdraw, feeling unable to connect to their peers. Children who have been sexually abused may try to mimic the abuse in their play, so it's important to watch how a child plays with peers after trauma. Trauma can result in hypervigilance and the child may always be "on guard". A child may become afraid of wind, rain or sudden loud noises, or seem fearful or aggressive if someone gets too close to them. Children who have been traumatized tend to develop new fears, and may talk or worry about them extensively. It may seem like nothing can soothe the fear and reassure them that they're safe. For example, if the child experienced a natural disaster or is a refugee, the child may talk about worries that their family will not be safe, or will not have anywhere to live. A traumatized child may obsess over their family's safety and try to protect their family. A suicidal child may start talking a lot about death, give away items, withdraw from social activities, and talk about what you will do after they are dead. After a trauma, some children fixate on death and may talk or read about it excessively, even if they aren't necessarily suicidal. If there was a death in the family, talking about death isn't always a sign of suicidality. Sometimes, it's just a sign that they're trying to understand death and mortality. Still, if it is happening a lot, it may be worth investigating if something is wrong. If you think there may be problems, take your child to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Watch your child's eating habits, sleep, mood, and concentration. If any of these change dramatically or seem unusual, it's best to investigate it. Trauma can mimic other conditions. For example, some children become hyper, impulsive, and unable to concentrate after experiencing a trauma, which is frequently mistaken for ADHD. Others may seem defiant or aggressive, which can be misconstrued as simple behavioral problems. If something's wrong, get a professional involved.