Geassi - summer (july- august)

Geassi means summer in northern Sámi. During the summer reindeer can usually be found on the coast, on islands, or in lower plains where there is good access to green fodder. The reindeer’s “winter bodies” are opposite to our “summer bodies”. In the summer they try to get as fat and solid as possible to prepare for the winter months. For them to survive the winter, they need to gather as many nutrients during the summer. They do this by eating herbs, grass, heather (a purple-flowered Eurasian heath), and seaweed. This diet provides the “wild” taste that reindeer normally have. Marking calves and other chores, such as repairing fences and overseeing the herd, are the main duties of reindeer owners during this season.