“Here, in (Blackmore Vale) the world seems to be constructed upon a smaller and more delicate scale.” 
It has been 111 years since English novelist Thomas Hardy penned those words in the classic story Tess of the D’Urbervilles. The Victorian life he describes belongs to the late 19th century and, for most people, flourishes in a bygone day that we only know through great literature.
Or does it?
About 25 minutes northeast of Capital University is a world “constructed upon a smaller and more delicate scale.” Surrounded by a whitewashed fence, this idyllic setting features a 150-year-old Victorian-style farmhouse, a large barn only slightly newer than the residence and a stream wandering carelessly through a valley.
A sign out front welcomes visitors to Blackmore Vale, a reminder not only of Thomas Hardy’s setting in southeast England, but also a reflection of its namesake owners.
When Josiah Blackmore II retired in 1998 following more than a decade of service as Capital’s 12th president, he was looking for a life that balanced work and responsibility with peace and reflection. He was looking not to retire, but for new ways to experience life.
As it turns out, he found a world “constructed upon a smaller and more delicate scale” when he and his wife, Joyce, moved to Blacklick, Ohio, and became alpaca farmers.
Anyone who knows the Blackmores from their days at Capital knows they worked tirelessly for the university, enjoying concerts, athletic events, alumni gatherings and student interaction seven days a week. Anyone who has seen them lately knows their lives have not slowed down. Joe remains a member of the Law School faculty, teaching part time each semester. He also is writing a book, speaking throughout the community, studying Latin and harvesting honey. Joyce is active in their church and serves as president of the Columbus Bar Association auxiliary.
But despite all that, it’s the alpacas that make their lives complete.
“She is the sweetest little girl I’ve ever seen,” Joe cooed, as he cuddled Astraea, a 2-day-old baby (known as a cria), with black eyes the size of silver dollars and a luxurious, fawn-colored coat softer than down.
The Blackmores are not shy about fawning over any one of the 19 alpacas and two llamas that make up the herd. Each of the animals has a name that either matches its personality or indulges Joe’s love of classic literature. In addition to Astraea, named for the Greek goddess of justice, there is Don Quixote, Taaffee, Sir Galahad of the Andes, Cha Cha, Dulcinea, Colleen (better known as “The Diva”), Jamaica, Alexander the Great, Agamemnon and Pachacuti. The llamas, Black Bart and Bridget, stand guard over the alpacas, keeping them safe from predators such as coyotes and dogs.
Joe explored the idea of raising alpacas after reading an article titled “The Huggable Investment” in an airline travel magazine on his way to the United Arab Emirates. He tapped into the resources of the Alpaca Breeders Association, spoke to other owners and read all he could get his hands on before purchasing his first two animals in February 1999.
“I wanted to do something to keep my blood circulating when I retired,” he said. “I was raised on a farm and had a small farm before I became president. I wanted to raise animals, but not something that would be sent to market.”
It didn’t take much convincing for Joyce to buy into the idea. “We’re just becoming more and more committed to alpacas as a way of life, not just a business,” she said.
“It’s a serene way of life,” Joe added, describing the alpacas as smart, extremely curious, timid, caring, gentle, sweet and very lovable. “I don’t feel tied down, because this is the life choice we’ve made.”
Joe and Joyce feed and water the alpacas in the morning, turning them out to pasture to graze the rest of the day. They spend part of their day training the animals, providing basic veterinary care and cleaning out the barn. The veterinarian duties came as a surprise, but the Blackmores have learned to assist in the births, give vaccinations and trim the animals’ toenails.
Joe shears the llamas himself, but he pays someone to shear the alpacas. “The alpaca fiber is too valuable for me to mess up!” he joked. Each alpaca yields two bags of fiber: the “blanket,” or prime fiber, and the “seconds,” fiber from the legs and neck.
Some of the fiber is sent to a North American fiber co-op, but much of it is sent to Incan weavers in Peru, who spin it into sweaters, scarves and coats, which then are returned to Blackmore Vale to be sold in the store that occupies two of the barn’s former horse stalls. As if they didn’t have enough to occupy their time, Joyce and Joe are taking spinning lessons to better learn the process of preparing the fiber and would like to travel to Peru to see the animals in their native habitat.
Alpacas were first introduced in this country less than 20 years ago. A member of the camel family, the alpacas come in two varieties: huacaya, which has fluffy fiber; and the rarer suri, which has locks that resemble a string mop. Joe explained that Ohio is the No. 1 U.S. producer of alpacas, boasting 234 breeders and 3,500 animals.
While their days are filled from sunup to sundown, the Blackmores are enjoying their retirement to the fullest.
“I wanted to have the opportunity to make choices in my life,” Joe said. “We are blessed right now to be in that situation. These truly are the golden years. There’s something that happens with retirement and age. Your value system changes. You don’t have to justify yourself and your decisions anymore. You have the opportunity to reflect on things, which gives you a sense of insight that maybe you didn’t have before.
“I’ll never be able to repay the debt I owe to Capital University,” he said. “Capital was very good to us. I think 11 years is more than enough time to be a president. If you haven’t been able to achieve the dreams you had, you’re probably not going to do it.”
Joyce said the years of Joe’s presidency allowed them to travel and live a full, exciting life. “Now we’re able to experience a whole new world,” she said.
“We feel we’re still able to make a difference, but in a qualitative way,” added Joe.
With his collie, Lorna, romping at his feet and one of the eight barn cats entwining itself around a nearby fence post, Josiah looked out across the farm and reflected on his life today.
“This is very peaceful, serene. We’ve had some humbling experiences,” he said. “There’s a book called The Force of Character: And the Lasting Life that says old men should be explorers, but they should explore new ideas, new thoughts and new experiences.
“I’m 67 years old and I’m just beginning to explore. It’s just a wonderful time in my life.”