300 ALPACAS, 20 goats, 11 sheep, seven donkeys, five rescue cats, two people and a rescue tortoise on a 110-acre farm.
Debbie, 50, and Paul Rippon, 51, have owned the Heddon-on-the-Wall-based Barnacre Alpacas for five and a half years.
READ MORE: The latest planning applications concerning Tynedale
Before owning the farm, Debbie was a manager for an insurance brokers, while Paul worked in finance and for many years continued to do that whilst Debbie ran the farm.
They have now owned alpacas for 16 years.
Debbie said: "We've actually moved three times because of the alpacas, we've been here five and a half years. We started at High Angerton near Scots Gap, and we only had two and a half acres there. Basically we ran out of space," she said.
"Where we were before we came here, it was very exposed, quite high up and really hard work, so here the grass grows longer, it's better for the alpacas, and we've got space to have a couple of holiday lets to help diversify the income, so there was a bit more opportunity to earn money from the alpacas.
"People come and stay in the holiday cottages to see the alpacas, there's not many holiday cottages that can boast 300 alpacas as their neighbours," Debbie said.
Debbie said the inspiration to leave her job and take the farm on came from her dad.
"He was in a wheelchair and he was poorly, had to leave work early and never actually got to do the things he wanted in his retirement. I thought you know what, life's too short, and I'd always wanted to do something like that, thought we'll give it a go and if it doesn't work, I'll get another job.
"I'd seen how my dad hadn't been able to do the things he wanted to do when he got older and that was really the main inspiration to give it a go and see what I could do, see if I could make it work, and we did," she said.
Debbie explained she chose alpacas to farm from seeing them on television with Michael Palin.
"I spent the next three years researching them and convincing Paul they would be amazing.
"Initially, I thought we'd just get them as pets but the more I researched and looked into it, the more I thought you know what, this could become a job and a way of life.
"I liked the fact that you could do all sorts with them: you could use their fleece; they weren't necessarily for meat; and they were so endearing, they've got Disney eyes that draw you in. I think their eyes and they're all so different, all got their own personalities, and I think it was that that made me delve deeper.
"They've got a very soulful face and they're all so different," Debbie said.
Debbie explained how a day begins at Barnacre Alpacas.
"It depends on the time of year. In summer, when it's birthing time which starts from the end of April, alpacas birth during the daylight.
"I'll get up when the sun gets up in spring and summer so I'll be up at 4 or 5 o'clock and I'll check everybody," she said.
In winter, Debbie is up for 6am and doing inside jobs first and mucking out.
"The first thing I do is check everyone's okay and then everyone gets their breakfast. Everyone gets a hard feed in the morning and top up the hay at this time of year.
"Then we do husbandry jobs, people need their toenails clipped - by 'people' I mean alpacas not humans," Debbie laughed.
"We halter-train, so at this time of year, we're weaning babies, we've weaned 18 babies so they all need halter-training and that's a big job at the minute."
They'll get a head collar on to see how they react, and usually within two weeks weaned alpacas are walking on halters.
Debbie said this gives them confidence, builds up their relationship with her, and as they grow older they join the 'Walk and Talk' team of alpacas paired with members of the public.
People get their own alpaca to walk in a group with others on a gentle walk around the farm.
"People are always surprised by how many alpacas we've got. There's nobody else in the North that have the number of alpacas we have. In fact, I'd say there's only two other breeders that have more alpacas than we do at the minute. It's a sight to see," she said.
Debbie added: "I don't think people expect how calming they are. A lot of people will see alpacas and llamas as the same, they're very different. People are very surprised at the first time they come at how relaxed the alpacas are and how interested they are in human visitors.
"Alpacas don't really smell your typical farmyard smell. They have quite a unique digestive system and they draw everything out of their food so their poo doesn't smell, so I think people are surprised by that."
Alpaca wool is also hypo-allergenic, so those who would react to sheep wool can wear alpaca wool.
When the weather is bad with snow or cold temperatures, the alpacas will get a warm helping of nutritious Speedi-beet.
"That's a bonus meal to keep everybody warm, the girls that have still got babies with them it helps them increase their milk," she added.
At night-time, it's 'generally computer jobs and knitting' that occupies Debbie's time.
On balancing work and life, Debbie said farming is a lifestyle rather than a job.
"We do need to try and find a bit of time for us, it's not something we really do. We've promised ourselves next year we're going to try have half a day a week off to go out.
"It is difficult, when you live and work and breathe a farm, it is hard to get away from that. To be honest, I like being around the animals, it's my happy place.
"If I'm having a bad day I'll go and spend half an hour stood in the field with the alpacas and Paul will go and stoke a tractor," she joked. "We eat, sleep, drink and breathe the farm."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here