why goats?
Goats provide an all-natural, highly-effective way to clear any land of overgrown brush and invasive plants without harming the environment.
Goats conveniently love to eat the things people don't want around their property, no matter how difficult it can be to get to it. They eat yellow star thistle, poison oak, blackberry bushes, and other difficult types of brush, vines, and briars. They climb high and low to eat everything they can find, leaving behind a pristine, low-level of vegetation.
On the other end of things, the manure goats leave behind is odorless and provides the soil with rich nutrients without reseeding the plants they digest. (It's more nitrogen-rich than manure from cows or horses!)
Most importantly: there are no chemicals involved. You don't need to worry about your family, animals, or neighbors walking through areas that have been treated with toxic chemicals. There's no risk of damaging your soil or nearby groundwater. Anything left behind by the goats is 100% organic material.
Old traditional ways of clearing brush include brush cutting, bulldozing, and burning. But each of these solutions leaves much to be desired.
Brush cutting requires gasoline/petroleum-powered equipment such as chainsaws, weed whackers, etc. Gas lawn mowers alone are responsible for 5% of total carbon dioxide emissions in the US, according to the EPA. Eco-friendly farmers and landowners want better alternatives.
Bulldozers/tractors are invasive to the local habitat and wreak havoc on animals and insects that play a vital role in the ecosystem. Plus, they can't clear land that has steep or rugged terrain.
Controlled burns in Northern California are extremely high-risk. Given the increasing frequency of lethal wildfires in our area, it's becoming unsafe as an option.
Goats are emissions-free, friendly to local animals, able to clear any kind of land, and safe for you, your land, and your neighbors.
What we do
Our team is comprised of a goatherd, a ranch hand, and a couple of useful canines. First, we will properly prep your land for grazing. Generally, this involves surveying the area for potential hazards and inspecting all existing fencing. Additionally, as needed, we will set up temporary electro netting and temporary solar-powered electrical fencing to house the goats. We need a water source and water trough for the animals but can bring in water if necessary. When everything is ready, the goats are delivered to the property by a trailer.
During the day, our herd of goats will eat away at your unwanted brush. A small herd of goats (~4) can clear anywhere from a third of an acre to an entire acre of land within a week. With 150+ goats currently available, we can take on sizable pieces of land with ease.
Goats typically clear brush and plants from 4-6 inches to 5-6 feet off the ground, including climbing onto those uneven pieces of rocky terrain that are hard for people to reach. Our ranch hand will be present to ensure the goats' safety, health, and effectiveness.
If the land is large enough to require more than one day of work, temporary areas will be fenced off for the goats to stay at night, along with a trusty canine to protect them from any predators.
Once the area is cleared, the goats will load back up on their trailer to return to the happy ranch from whence they came, and all the temporary facilities will be removed.
Please note: Many fall in love with these helpful grazers and look into getting their own as a lawn mower replacement and outdoor family pet. We do have goats available for sale for anyone who may wish to purchase their own.
How we're different
Our farm uses only sustainable practices. We have been involved with local conservation efforts for over 20 years.
We are able to graze residential, municipal and industrial areas. We have done many local residential grazing jobs to decrease the fire risk and also post fire to clean up lots where houses once stood. We have grazed to establish shaded fire breaks. We have also grazed industrial areas that were neglected and overgrown with brush.
Ready to learn more?
