"The herd is Navajo-Churro, a heritage breed long tended by the Diné people of the American Southwest. Resilient and rooted in a fragile history, these sheep carry something beyond wool and weight."
"Herding, Melissa has come to understand, is never just one thing. It's a system of care, timing, and learning to read what a piece of land needs and when."
"Melissa believes the land is asking us to form a more intuitive relationship with it, toward a less extractive farming and herding model."
"I took it over from friends who had cared deeply for it and showed me that small-scale farming can be a quiet act of rebellion."
Melissa Schneider moved from Los Angeles to Maine seeking a quieter life and found herself managing a farm with Navajo-Churro sheep. This heritage breed, significant to the Diné people, plays a vital role in regenerative farming. Schneider emphasizes the importance of understanding land needs and fostering a more intuitive relationship with it. Her experience illustrates a shift towards less extractive farming practices, highlighting the potential for small-scale farming to contribute positively to the environment and community.
Read at Modern Farmer
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