The Swiss Shepherdess on Living a Good Life, Taking Great Leaps, and What We can Learn from Goats

Swiss sheep aren't known for their wool. But they still play a vital role in the Alpine ecosystem: that of agile and incredibly efficient lawnmowers.

Which is exactly why Claire Jeannerat and her husband Damien began farming in 2014. From their farm in Crans Montana, they raise rare and indigenous breeds of sheep and goats that are highly adapted to the Alpine environment. On any given day, the animals can be found nibbling everywhere from grassy pastures and the occasional neighbor's garden to the steepest of Alpine slopes—all of which Claire shares with the world through her much-loved Instagram account, The Swiss Shepherdess.

Claire and her husband are among the last farmers in Switzerland to continue the ancient tradition of transhumance, which involves moving the flocks by foot over multiple days and long distances to and from their summer pastures high in the Alps. Wool Channel founder Clara Parkes catches up with Claire just a few days before she and Damien embark for the season.

They talk about what led Claire to leave a successful career in hospitality and hotel management to become a full-time first-generation farmer. And Claire shares some secret tips from the new project she's begun with her twin sister Kate. Called "How Being More Goat Can Support Your Resilience and Wellbeing," the 60-minute interactive webinar combines Kate's professional training as a resilience expert with the invaluable life lessons Claire has learned from her animals—in particular, the goats. Details and tickets for the July 27, 2021 session here.

Voices in Wool is made possible by members of The Wool Channel. To find out more, and to learn how you, too, can join the flock, go to thewoolchannel.com/membership. 
 

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