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Pastoralism was once one of the pillars of the rural economy of Poghju, Riventosa and Casanova. It has survived to the present day but has been profoundly transformed. The micro-region is imbued with this pastoral tradition in its identity, its landscapes and its architecture. Pagliaghji, stazzi, casgile, compuli and mandrie are regularly found around the villages and at high altitudes, bearing witness to this predominant activity. THE KING SHEPHERD Goat and sheep rearing provided a living for a large part of the population of these three communities. At the beginning of the 19th century, there were more goat herds than sheep. In the three village communities, there were 1200 goats and 500 sheep. The arrival and establishment of the Roquefort dairy industry in Corsica at the end of the 19th century changed this balance and caused a decline in the number of goats in favour of ewes. THE FARMER VERSUS THE SHEPHERD In connection with this pastoral tradition, some customs survived until the beginning of the 20th century for the most part. Closely linked to the traditional agrarian system, the "vaine pâture" (a grassa) consisted of allowing the herds to graze on private plots of land left fallow, after the harvest and before the next sowing. The territory, even if private, was thus managed according to collective constraints. This fuelled the mistrust of farmers, landowners and agronomists towards shepherds, who were held responsible for the failure of agriculture in Corsica. I CUMUNI The inhabitants of Poghju di Venacu, Riventosa and Casanova once jointly owned the mountain territory, also undivided with San'Petru di Venacu. This area was cultivated and herded. After the demarcation of the communes, this common land became communal property. This mountain territory, which is still used by the herds in summer, still bears the traces of the dry-stone constructions linked to pastoralism. Stazzi (shepherd's huts), casgile (shelters for maturing cheese), compuli (ewe pens) and mandrie (goat pens) are scattered throughout the mountain. Although shepherds no longer accompany their flocks in the mountains today, hundreds of shepherd's huts continue to be occupied during the summer season.

Casanova

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