Summer camp for sheep: Ferryland farmers send flock across the sea to fatten up

It's arguably one of the most interesting summer camps happening in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Farmers near Ferryland load their flock into dorys and ship them across the water to the Isle aux Bois to feed for the summer. 

"This has been happening in Ferryland year after year," said Jane Thomas Yager of Kindred Spirits in Ferryland. 

"It's a very moving experience to watch the sheep going out to the island and then coming home in the fall."

The land loving lambs said goodbye to their farmer families on Saturday and headed over to the pastures on the island.

"Usually it's about 30 [sheep] per person," said Rubyvilla Farm's Laurie Ruby.

 "There are probably four or five sheep farmers that usually do it. Each person gets so many sheep and lambs that get to go."

Despite getting to enjoy an all you can eat buffet on Isle aux Bois all summer long, the sheep will ultimately end up on someone's plate in the fall.

"We do have a lot of individual families that like fresh local lamb," said Ruby.

"We get people from as far out as Labrador and the west coast calling us who want some fresh local lamb. They know where it is coming from."

But until that fateful day comes, it's off to greener pastures for the little lambs. 

"The sheep will be out there all through the summer months," Yager said.

"They go out as little lambs and come back as 50 to 60 pounds sheep."