Gathering Sheep

In summer we graze our sheep in a communal pasture in the high mountains - a two hour drive from the farm. We are eight farms that share this area, and the gathering is the highlight of the year for all of us.

We have a small lodge about 20 minutes from the nearest dirt road, and the first day we spend most of our time carrying provisions and making sure the pens are ok after winter.

The old lady - Vena - is never left at home, and makes her way there as well. But that is as far as she goes..

The landowner graze her cattle by the lodge, and our dogs have never been too keen on them.

The first few years they were quite agressive towards the dogs, but by now they have been tought to show some respect!

The first days of gathering is spend at the very end of the valley - quite a few hours hike from the lodge. There are some old shelters there, where shepherds and hunters can get some rest.

The sheep are gathered into small droves, and brought down to the bottom of the valley. As the day passes the main drove becomes larger, and is taken down to the pens next to the road.

 So a twelve hour day is not uncommon.

The terrain is very harsh, the mountains high and the sheep are not always keen on going home.

A good sheepdog can do the job of many people, and they are truly appreciated by us all.

The gathering normally takes about four days, but we go back most weekend for the next months or so, to catch strays.

The last day is spent at the pens, where the flocks are separated and counted.

As always there is keen competition who has the best lambs..

Quite a few are sent straight from the pasture to the slaughterhouse - which is why the meat from these is highly prized for its taste & quality.

The trip home is made on trucks.

It is the same drivers that brave the awful road each year, and they are almost as interested in the sheep as we are.