Two weeks ago on Monday afternoon, Julie and I rolled into a small village by bus and awaited to be picked up by our newest host. It was after ten or so minutes, but eventually we were gathered and taken to the place where our hosts call home.
It was over eight months ago that Julie and I found the Workaway host who was a wandering singing shepherd. According to the profile, we would be camping in tents in the mountains alongside the sheep and help with shepherding the sheep to new meadow daily.
When we arrived to our host's home, we found a small community of trailers and wagon homes situated together on a low hill. We couldn't see any sheep. We quickly learned that the shepherd's family had relocated to a more stationary living situation more than 2 years prior. Now they live in their trailer with an outhouse and a water spigot outside for running water. The sheep stay on meadows of grass within a 3-5 km radius.
Julie and I were shown to our caravan that would be our little home for our time with the shepherd. It was a nice place to sleep and we had wifi almost everywhere around the trailers we walked. That was super surprising and pretty neat!
That first day with our host we cut up small sticks for firewood and fuel for winter and colder days, enjoyed doing some exercises with the mom of the family and learned how to move and set up the electric fences that keep the sheep in their area of grass. Everywhere we went with M the mom, she had her two young children with her; either on her back or walking alongside.
Tuesday started with the sun hot and high and Julie and I again cut up sticks. We also cleaned out many water tubs and filled them with a hand pump. More and more our time with this host was reminding me of Zambia and some of my experiences there.
The best parts of our days were spent with M and her children. She was great to chat with, learn some new stretches and exercises from, and drink some of her delicious, fresh herbal tea. We also had the chance to go cherry, currant and raspberry picking! It was super fun to be so high in the tree getting the cherries!
Wednesday evening came, and the shepherd wanted to move the sheep to a further meadow. We drove to the sheep and with the sun setting in the sky, the shepherd and his dogs started to lead the 150 ewes and rams down the road. Julie helped take down and put up the new fence while I headed down behind the sheep. I was to stay 50-100 yards away from the last sheep and warn cars to slow down. We walked 1 1/2 to 2 miles slowly along the road, then through some trees and grass and finally to the water tubs Julie and I filled the day before. The sheep were so grateful for the water!
The shepherding of the sheep down the road was a very unique experience. It was such a quiet, relaxed walk and thankfully the weather had cooled to a tolerable temperature! Most of the cars who met the sheep were patient and very curious. There were some drivers and bystanders however who were not so keen on having sheep going down the middle of the road. I didn't quite understand all the words exchanged by those who were unhappy and the shepherd, but it did seem to become pretty heated discussions as we walked down the road.
The best part of walking and moving the sheep was the beautiful full moon that was rising as the sheep were finally let into their new home for the night. The green rolling hills and patches of evergreen and leafy forests made the evening sky amazing to see and enjoy in the stillness of dusk and then the moonlight.
After our late night moving the sheep to further meadow, Thursday morning came and the heat again as well! M was ready for a full day and we set about washing the dishes with just a lemon and preparing to bring loads of compost and manure for M's garden. At the horse farm, while the children sat on a blanket nearby and watched, Julie, M and I loaded shovel and fork-fulls of rich horse manure and compost. It was warm in the sun, but such good hard work. It was a welcomed task, especially working alongside with M.
After the many hours of good, hard work, Thursday evening arrived, and we had decided it would be our last evening near Güssing in southeastern Austria. We helped take down the previous days fence as the shepherd stood with the sheep. M again had her 16 month old daughter on her back as she easily went up and down the side hill picking up the fence posts. We then staked out two new fences for the following two days. We were under some trees, and unfortunately the bugs and mosquitoes tried to eat us alive! We were happy again when the moon creeped up into the sky and illuminated the land in bright full moon light and chased away a lot of the early evening insects.
Our last evening with the shepherd and M and their children was concluded with an amazing meal of crepes and fresh berries. M really knows how to make a super tasty crepe!
After a late night again of packing and using the one shower available in the unfinished house nearby, Julie and I started our Friday around 4am and left with M and the children bound for Vienna. M was off to see her family and was gracious enough to give us a lift to the city on her way through.
Even along the way, we stopped to buy some locally made pumpkin seed oil which is grown almost exclusively in the southeast regions of Austria. We can't wait to try it on our salads back in the States!!
Julie and I were so happy to be in Vienna, a beautiful city for sure. We had such an interesting experience the 4 days with the shepherd and his family. It was definitely not the experience we expected, but surely was a learning time and will continue to be a great story to share! We loved the time we shared with M and her children and will remember the beautiful hills, the quiet walking with the sheep and the amazing and bright full moon.
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