Diane Anastasio on Lessons in Shepherding Scott on Growing Skills, Confidence, and Humility as a Beginning Farmer
Our guest this week is Diane Anastasio, program manager and shepherd at Shepherdess Land & Livestock in Ojai, California. Diane describes how, although not growing up in agriculture, their Austrian and Italian family heritage is expressed through their practice of shepherding today, and how other creative endeavors like weaving and dancing tie in as well. We also talk about Diane’s early experiences in agriculture at shearing school and New Cowgirl Camp, balancing an agrarian’s need for urban and rural community, and what it’s like to be a contract sheep grazier for fire mitigation on the hot hillsides of California.
Music attribution:
A Folk Story by Alex Cristoforetti
Shownotes
1:14 Quivira announcements
2:53 introducing Diane
3:37 Diane’s background
6:08 career plans and how they changed
8:52 experience at sheep shearing school
13:33 new cowgirl camp
17:54 cultural connections to shepherding
21:47 where Diane is at now
24:52 working for a customer contract grazing company
30:12 embracing chaos in agriculture
32:48 putting up fencing in impossible areas
33:42 water source logistics
34:46 how to juggle a half urban half rural lifestyle
37:44 finding a queer community
41:04 love of line dancing
45:47 what is on the horizon
46:45 rapid question round
49:22 overview of Grazing School of the West
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