Transhumance (aka "mooooving day" ^_^)

[Alex]

A Zoom presentation sponsored by Culinary Historians of Chicago: January 25 at 7 p.m. Central Time (US)

 

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Every spring, Swiss dairy farmer Béat Piller escorts his 56 cows up the slope of the 6,000-foot Alp Vounetz to a grazing pasture and hand-built stable. They will stay there for the next six months, making milk and cheese every single day. In late autumn, they will descend back down to the valley where his family lives year-round. It’s a routine that has existed for millennia.

 

This seasonal shifting, called transhumance, is not uniquely Swiss. Similar journeys are found in Italy, Argentina, France, Brazil…pretty much everywhere on earth where herd animals and mountains or highlands co-exist. While it may seem like a lot of work to simply let animals graze on “the grass up there”, its actually a brilliant solution designed to help valley communities grow and thrive. 

 

Do join us to learn more about this elegant cultural practice with culinary educator and author Adam Centamore. He’ll discuss the history, how it works, and why it matters.

 

[Anna N]

It's a very interesting, widespread and ancient lifestyle. Transhumance as discussed is vertical, but there is also horizontal among those who herd reindeer, etc. I became quite interested recently when I listened to this on the radio. 

[chromedome]

4 hours ago, Anna N said:

It's a very interesting, widespread and ancient lifestyle. Transhumance as discussed is vertical, but there is also horizontal among those who herd reindeer, etc. I became quite interested recently when I listened to this on the radio. 

I'd heard that one while driving back from NS to NB, and meant to post a link, but had long since forgotten by the time I got home.

 

...this happens a lot.