Neighbors devise unique approach to remove fire hazard from steep, exaggerated roads: utilizing goats to graze overhill foliage
Goats Gone Wild: A Sustainable Approach to Clearing Urban Flammable Weeds
Hellooo June, and welcome to the mid-year chaos! Let's talk about an unexpected solution to a common problem: controlling highly flammable weeds on steep Los Angeles hills. Think goats and sheep, rolling through the city, noshing on invasive plants, and leaving behind a trail of nutrient-rich manure. Yep, it's as delightful as it sounds!
The natty hills of Mount Washington have become a grazing paradise, thanks to a group of small landowners working together. Watching these adorable herds munching away on weeds is a far cry from the polluting whine of gasoline-powered weed whackers! However, this pastoral scene comes with a financial hiccup – it's not cost-effective for small landowners. Brittany "Cole" Bush, owner of Shepherdess Land & Livestock, points out that the transportation and labor costs for herding these animals, as well as protecting them from predators and setting up solar-powered electric fences, resulted in a money-losing proposition for her company.
Buying in together is key for these small landowners, according to Bush. Building partnerships with nonprofits, public entities like fire safe councils, resource conservation districts, and even county parks and recreation programs will be instrumental in getting state grant money to help cover expenses.
While the Los Angeles-based company Party Goats LA has a narrower focus (taking care of small parcels, usually an acre or less), their costs can also run upwards of $1,200 to $2,000. Scout Raskin, the owner, took her side hustle full-time once the TV industry went south in 2023, and she's been receiving a ton of requests lately. She adds that the benefits of grazing, from reduced vegetation density to enriched soil, are incredibly rewarding to both landowners and our ecosystem.
More cooperations lead to happier neighbors, as Michael Tessler, a parcel owner in Kite Hill, can attest. The newly formed friendships and joy that come with goats and sheep have driven him to embrace the idea wholeheartedly. So, here's to putting more joy in the world, one sheep at a time!
Bonus Links:
- Project Phoenix: Join the community scientists at UCLA and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County in monitoring how wildfire smoke affects California, Oregon, and Washington birds.
- Arlington Garden Fire: Learn more about the arson-free fire that devastated Pasadena's Arlington Garden. The garden has launched a $40,000 fundraiser to replace the damaged shed and equipment.
Upcoming events:
- Free soil testing for lead affected properties downwind of the Eaton fire burn area * San Gabriel Valley Chrysanthemum Society Chrysanthemum & Plant Sales * Propagating California Native Plants From Cuttings * Monrovia Community Garden Volunteer Day * Compost Workshop at Apricot Lane Farms * California Botanic Garden's Introduction to the Sunflower family (Asteraceae) * Community Habitat Restoration work around the Audubon Center * Comprehensive Irrigation for California Native Plants * Planting for Pollinators at San Clemente State Beach * Southern California Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts Carnivorous Plant Show & Sale * Black Thumb Farm Native Plant Stewarding and Propagation * Summer Rose Care Class, Nature Club for Kids: Butterflies * Guided Nature Walk at Alta Vicente Reserve * Los Angeles International Fern Society Annual Fern & Exotic Plant Show & Sale * Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy's Native Plant Sales * Three-Part California Native Garden Design class * Grow Native Nursery Milkweed Fest & End-Of-Season Plant Sale * Fire-Resilient Gardens: A Maintenance Walk and Talk * Early Summer Tours of Apricot Lane Farms * Propagating California Native Plants From Seed During the Warm Season * Los Angeles Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers Humongous June Plant Sale * Botany of Oaks: A walk and talk native tree workshop * Queer Ecology Walk and Mixer.
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- Brittany "Cole" Bush's company, Shepherdess Land & Livestock, is based in Los Angeles, a city known for its vibrant culture, fashion-and-beauty, and food-and-drink scenes.
- The transportation cost for moving these goats and sheep is a significant contributor to the high costs, a factor related to the city's extensive transportation network.
- Education about the benefits of goat grazing, such as reduced vegetation density and enriched soil, could be shared through workshops at home-and-garden centers, promoting environmental sustainability.
- In Los Angeles, the Rams, a popular professional American football team, share the city's focus on sustainability, with their commitment to reducing waste and promoting recycling at their stadium.
- The goat grazing program is not only about weeds management but also about fostering relationships and creating a community, much like the close-knit community of pet owners in the city.
- The arson-free fire that devastated Pasadena's Arlington Garden highlights the importance of fire safety in California's urban environments, a topic often discussed in law forums and debates.
- Upcoming events like the Los Angeles International Fern Society Annual Fern & Exotic Plant Show & Sale or the Southern California Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts Carnivorous Plant Show & Sale could offer opportunities to see these goats up close, further promoting the idea of sustainable weed management.
- The San Gabriel Valley Chrysanthemum Society Chrysanthemum & Plant Sales could potentially include educational booths about goat grazing and its impact on weeds and soil, aligning with the society's focus on horticulture and gardening.
- Michael Tessler's experience of forming friendships through the goat grazing program is a testament to the power of shared interests, a crucial aspect of maintaining healthy, fulfilling relationships.
- Traveling to see the goats at work could be an offbeat adventure for tourists visiting California, offering a unique blend of culture, wildlife, and eco-tourism, further promoting the state's tourism industry.
