For centuries, great flocks of sheep and goats grazed the mountains of Greece and the Balkans. Some herders were completely nomadic, travelling with their whole household between grazing grounds. Now very few shepherds make the traditional journey to the high pastures each spring and down again each autumn. Theoharis Gratsos has been a shepherd his whole life in the Zagori region of northwestern Greece.

Maria Margaronis is a writer and audio producer. This piece was made during an artists’ residency at the Ecomuseum Zagori