About Whitney and Tom Durrant
We are modern homesteaders in western North Carolina. We purchased a dilapidated tobacco farm in Leicester, NC just 25 short minutes from downtown Asheville and are turning it into a sustainable agriculture farm and bed n’ breakfast.
As a couple, we met while traveling and always had the shared dream to purchase property, start a farm, and open our own bnb to welcome fellow travelers. We offer a slower pace to life out here on the farm, but we have big plans for Durrant Farms. We raise alpacas and harvest their fiber to make yarn, clothing, and other products. We are growing our own fruits and vegetables using sustainable agriculture practices. And, we are doing our part to bring back native endangered species, like the Chestnut tree. With a background in permaculture design, we strive to make our farm self-sustaining and as close to carbon neutral as we can get. We utilize all-natural water sources from various springs, creeks, and waterfalls on the property. We have plans to grow grapes for wine and gourmet mushrooms in the near future!
In our bnb, we promote composting, recycling, and try to use all reusable goods and harm-free cleaning supplies. We offer our guests fresh food from the farm to stay nourished during their stay. Glampsites offer 100% off-grid luxury accommodation including composting toilets, solar powered electrical, sauna, and cold plunge tub.
Meet Grace, Our Farm Assistant
Hello! My name is Grace Rector and I am Durrant Farm’s Farm Assistant. I have been working for Durrant Farms since June 2023, and I have loved every second of it. I graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2021 with a Bachelors in Environmental Studies and Sociology. I moved to Western North Carolina from central Kentucky in the fall of 2022 with no plan of what I wanted to do here. However, I did know that I wanted to work to take care of the environment and inspire others to do the same. Somewhere along the way, I was directed towards Durrant Farms. Tom’s background in environmental science and Whitney’s passion for connection is helping me achieve that desire.
Working so closely with alpacas was never something that I dreamed about or planned for, but I am so happy that this opportunity has found me! I mean, how many jobs do you know that include “alpaca cuddles” as a benefit? Beyond working with the alpacas, I have been helping Tom and Whitney on a number of projects as they develop their homestead. I help with things like landscaping, creek clearing, building, and I even write blog posts for the website. I am so thankful for the endless learning experiences that working at Durrant Farms has brought me and for Tom and Whitney’s love and passion that they bring to the farm everyday.”
We’re so glad to have Grace on the farm. Be sure to say ‘hi!’ when you see us out and about! We love connecting with our guests. Ready to meet the guys??
Our Alpaca Boys
Micah
Born: October 19, 2018
Micah, our second oldest boy, is 5 years old and is a bit more shy and reserved than the rest of the herd. Alpacas, while curious and gentle animals, are not known to be openly friendly and cuddly. Since they have little to no defense mechanisms, they often prefer to stick with their “own kind” and not interact with humans too much. However, many others in our herd differ from that norm and will get up close and personal with you, especially when food is involved!
Hotline and Micah tend to stick together. They share the same bowl during feeding time and can get a little competitive with each other. Micah is usually the first one to spit when any other alpaca tries to take his food. We love our little nervous guy!
Ralph
Born: September 1, 2022
Ralph is one of our youngest alpacas and he has a huge personality! He just turned one in September of 2023. He is cuddly and sociable, which is rare for these shy breeds of animals. He will be the one of the first ones to try and approach you in the field or along the fence line.
Ralph is a Huacaya Alpaca, which means his fiber is more fluffy and cotton-like than Hotline or Micah’s. He is also an appaloosa, meaning he has white fiber with brown spots. We love the brown heart-shaped markings around his face. Isn’t he darling? Come visit Ralph and get some alpaca cuddles at our farmstay this season.
Hotline
Born: September 9, 2014
Hotline is the oldest in our herd being 9 years old. Hotline is a friendly fella, but tends to keep his distance unless food or treats are involved. Both Hotline and his buddy, Micah, are Suri Alpacas, which means their fiber is more smooth and silky compared to the fluffy Huacaya (pronounced wah-KI-ya) alpacas. Hotline is gelded (castrated) which allows him to maintain the luster of his fiber for longer in life as well as having the advantage of being less stressed out by male hormones. Overall, Hotline is a very chill alpaca and we are so glad to care for him at Durrant Farms.
Scully
Born: October 30, 2022
Scully is our youngest cria (baby alpaca) born just after Ralph. Therefore, Ralph and Scully have known each other since birth and have become really good friends! Scully is a mixed gray and white fiber Huacaya alpaca and we love his sweet and shy personality. He might not let you touch or pet him, but he will melt your heart with his big eyes and adorable grin. A fun fact about Scully is that he is especially skilled at twirling straw in his mouth and he is obsessed with peppermint treats!
Our Trusted Guard Llamas
Brinkley
Born: October 19, 2021
Brinkley is one of our guard llamas. He’s a 2-year old gelding, meaning he has been castrated. He is meant to protect our alpacas from predators such as bears and coyotes, but he intimidates other animals too like stray cats and wandering deer. One thing you might notice about Brinkley is his size. He is nearly 250 lbs and still growing. He is a curious and aware guard and can come off a bit intimidating, but in reality he is a big softie.
When we first brought him to the farm, we thought he would become the dominant llama in no time, but it turns out his buddy, Heartbreaker, is the head guy in charge. Brinkley is still an amazing guard though! He constantly monitors the perimeter and when he sees a potential threat, he will either stalk the potential intruder or alert his partner, Heartbreaker, to go take a look.
Llamas are known for being 1.5-2x bigger than alpacas and we originally thought his size would give him an advantage of being the head of the pecking order, but actually when Brinkley sees the threat, then he goes to stay with the alpacas, while Heartbreaker intimidates the intruder. Together, they are a great team and the alpacas trust them!
Heartbreaker
Born: October 30, 2022
Heartbreaker is also about 2 years old and a llama gelding. He has black fiber and is a bit smaller than Brinkley, coming in at about 190 lbs. Heartbreaker is the dominant llama, meaning he usually leads the way and gets to eat first. He is the one who generally attends to threats at the fence line, while Brinkley gathers up the alpacas in their shelter. Heartbreaker is super friendly and will happily eat out of the palm of your hand. We love his quirky face and floppy ears!
Heartbreaker has a full Bolivian bloodline, which is quite rare in the llama world. Even though llamas are not normally kept for their fiber, Heartbreaker actually has really high quality fiber and is the only one on our farm to produce black fiber. We shear all of our llamas and alpacas once a year and send their fiber to a climate beneficial fiber pool. From that, we have products made such as yarn and finished goods like blankets, throws, socks, sweaters, dryer balls, and more. Check out the Durrant Farm’s Farm Store for all of our fiber products!
What Our Customers Say
We loved Brunch with the Alpacas and Llamas! Whitney and Tom were super easy to communicate with, showed us the ropes, and left us to enjoy the furry crew in the pasture. The biscuits were delicious and the alpacas/llamas were endlessly amusing with their own charming little personalities. We enjoyed walking the property after brunch and just enjoying the gorgeous views. I will definitely return!
Debbie Johnson
The Guesthouse is adorable with plenty of space and amenities. We loved the homemade bread and fresh farm eggs! The porch on the back provides a great view of all the boys (Alpacas and Llamas). We recommend that you sign up for an add-on. We chose the Happy Hour and it was so much fun. We plan to be a repeat customer. Thank you Tom and Whitney!
Jo Ann Winn
I had an unforgettable stay at Durrant Farms! Whitney and Tom were exceptionally friendly and made us feel right at home. The highlight of my stay was happy hour, where we enjoyed snacks in the pasture with the llamas and alpacas. It was wonderful to meet each of them by name and appreciate their unique personalities! After a comfy sleep, the next day began with feeding the llamas and alpacas their breakfast snacks, all while taking in the stunning, morning fog-draped mountain views. Next, we enjoyed the refreshing sauna and cold plunge, setting the tone for a rejuvenating day. Walking back into the apartment, the aroma of homemade bread, farm-fresh eggs, milk, butter, and coffee welcomed us. The breakfast was fantastic and added a unique, personal touch to our stay. Durrant Farms was the perfect couples' retreat, but I can also see it being a great spot for a friend's trip! It's convenient to Asheville, making it easy to venture into the city for a nice dinner if you choose. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a charming, unique, and memorable getaway!
Amy Norris
My husband and I really enjoyed our stay at Durrant Farms. The guesthouse is so cute, comfortable, and cozy. We met Tom (the host) and he introduced us to all the adorable alpacas and llamas! This was my favorite part! The hosts also provided fresh eggs, milk, and a homemade loaf of bread. So lovely! Such a wonderful and peaceful stay! Definitely recommend!
Ash Martin
We had such a nice brunch! The farm is peaceful and beautiful, and we loved getting to know the personalities of each alpaca and llama as we handed out treats. We'll definitely be back and have already referred many friends. Thanks for being great hosts!
Ashley Little
