Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Got Your Goat

Goats!
A few weeks ago, we drove past 11th and Belmont here in SE Portland to an unusual sight...goats. There is a large, vacant block full of weeds there and instead of having machines and people come in and mow them down, the property owner has brought in goats to graze! I was instantly enamored, as I think goats are super-cool...and love how "green" this solution is. The sign posted on the chain-link fence reads:

sign
Banquet In Process

The Goats are here to enjoy and feast upon what spontaneously grows on this urban meadow. Unlike gas-powered mowers, goats require no fossil fuels to trim the vegetation. Goats are available for rent from Goat Rental NW (phone #)
A collaboration between Killian Pacific, Goat Rental NW, & Free Associate Design.

MoreGoats
I thought this was pretty cool, and judging from the crowds I always see watching the goats at work, I'm not the only one!

13 comments:

  1. That is super cool! Wish I had the space for goats:)

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  2. LOVE IT! Now THAT's using your noodle. Now I want a little plot of land even more!

    Thanks for stopping by my place and leaving such a lovely note. You're welcome to visit any time.

    Blessings,
    Carolynn

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  3. A little bit o' country in the city. I love it. Did you see that you wrote Gree Associate Design but the sign says Free Association Design? I just wondered if there was something to that. Are they planning a garden for this area?

    To answer your question about Impatiens balfouri, are you up for a drive? I found the plant a few years ago at a small nursery south of Corvallis. If you'd like more information I can provide it. I'm trying to collect seeds but it isn't easy because the pods will pop when they're ready. Now isn't a good time to transplant them since they're pretty much an annual in our climate. You could tromp down to the nursery. The plants were only a little over $2.00 in a 4 inch container. I did a post on this particular nursery on my blog: Gindhart Nursery. Just scroll down the archives if you like. Grace

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  4. This is so cool! I love visiting the goats here on the local organic farm. They have so much personality. What a great idea!

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  5. The goats are so cute, I live in Sacramento and they use cows for the same purpose.

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  6. Conscious: Me Too!!!

    Carolynn: Totally a good idea! Thanks to you too for stopping by :-)

    Grace: Me too...oh, and that was my typo...my flying fingers strike again :-)
    Thanks for the info on the Impatiens, I'll check out your archive...I'm always up for a road trip when plants are infolved ;-)

    Violet: I know...they are so funny and endearing!

    Kristi: That's great...I can only imagine seeing cows in the city!

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  7. Those goats are pretty cool! I know some people who keep goats in the suburbs. They take them on walks for exercise! BTW, I think your garden is very beautiful and your house is so cute :-) - Joe in Northern California

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  8. What a fabulous alternative. I think it was The Colbert Report that did a spoof on this topic not that long ago.

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  9. It's a wonderful idea. They could have gotten cows too. Goats for rental? I think the service should be free. After all, the goats get fed. :) Enjoy your post.

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  10. Goat rental - what a fabulous idea! I wonder if they do it in the UK. And fabulous photos too.

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  11. Thanks for posting this, Scott. I know that California uses goats to graze underbrush in areas prone to wildfires, but didn't know that others have clued into this terrific idea. And it's true, they'll eat most anything. I knew a guy with goats on his farmette -- nothing was safe from them! LOL

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  12. Cool! A few years ago, we went to a gathering with the folks my husband works with. The family lives on a lake. They took us in their boat to see an island, where their homeowner association had paid a guy to have his goats come keep the weeds down for a summer. I took some photos with my camera phone.

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