There are blue skies, a cold wind and a view across to the Channel Islands here in San Marcos Foothill Preserve in Santa Barbara County.
But for Jenya Schneider it’s her office. This is not a job she can do from home or over Zoom.
"They say it's the second oldest profession," said Schneider. "I am a shepherd, modern day shepherd."
And she’s one of the owners of Cuyama Lamb, whose flock are currently grazing in the preserve.
They have a flock of about 1000 sheep – based on the Gaviota Coast. We walk into the Preserve to find around 330 sheep working here - enclosed in an expansive pen, surrounded by electric fencing.
"They looks so natural on the landscape," she enthuses.
They are protected overnight by guardian dogs, who stay up overnight to scare off any predatory local wildlife. Schneider's faithful sheepdog who helps to round up the sheep follows her quietly by her heel.
The sheep are used to graze the land for a few reasons but one of the main ones is to reduce the risks from wildfire.
"Grazing can help be part of the mosaic of answers to how we get to live alongside wildfire in a safe way. California is a wildfire ecology and we need that but we need to be safe in our homes and communities while those wildfires happen.," said Schneider.
She added, "These guys are such a wonderful and adorable part of that solution."
Schneider says that shepherding has evolved to include a little more office work than a couple of thousand years ago, but much of the job is traditional practices.
"Now my job is really shepherd and business owner so it's a mix of things. We are shepherds who follow modern labor laws so it's a little different to traditional ways," said Schneider.
Schneider rises a little after sunrise, and then spends her days checking on the sheep's health and welfare in person.
It’s not a bad life for these Merino sheep, whose soft wool will be shorn in the Spring – which Schneider says will be made into natural fiber clothing. And being around them this often, means she’s able to speak some limited, erm, sheep…
"They have certain bahs for when they find water, or for lambs and mothers looking for each others," said Schneider.
"The teenagers, the yearlings, gossip and tell rumors all the time. It drives me crazy!" said Schneider.
So next time you hear a sheep bleating, just know they could be gossiping about you!
