Pastures in mountains
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A shepherd’s life is similar in all mountains: entire months on high pastures called hala spent grazing and guarding flocks assisted by the indispensable shepherd dog, taking care of sheep, milking and producing cheeses. Production is only the senior shepherd’s task, as he is the only one who knows the secrets of curdling milk to produce the exceptional cheese oscypek. His helpers, young shepherds, guard the sheep. Although this life takes on different shades on different mountain pastures, depending on specific customs and shepherds’ experience, the essence remains common to all: taking care of the grazed animals, protecting them from wolves and producing milk products. Polish highlanders share the oscypek recipe with their Slovak neighbours as in the mountains everything has the cross-border quality.