Comments on: Goat rentals for clearing brush http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 17:43:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Caroline http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622850 Caroline Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622850 You mean W. doesn't need to personally clear all the brush in Texas? You mean W. doesn’t need to personally clear all the brush in Texas?

]]> By: winkybb http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622857 winkybb Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622857 Now I think I'll start a service offering to remove goat-shit from previously brush-infested sites. Now I think I’ll start a service offering to remove goat-shit from previously brush-infested sites.

]]> By: EFDisaster http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622859 EFDisaster Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622859 an old friend from high school moved back to his family's "ancestral" land in Kentucky and is now raising goats... he told me that the state of Kentucky pays him if his goats eat the particularly nasty invasive plants in his area. an old friend from high school moved back to his family’s “ancestral” land in Kentucky and is now raising goats… he told me that the state of Kentucky pays him if his goats eat the particularly nasty invasive plants in his area.

]]> By: bolamig http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622865 bolamig Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622865 Yep, we've had the goats clearing the wildfire buffer zone on our Bay Area property for decade or so now. The goatherder pulls his fifth wheel trailerhome on to the property and lives there for a week or so while the goats do their thing. The kids love it, and it brings a smile to everyone's eyes. Yep, we’ve had the goats clearing the wildfire buffer zone on our Bay Area property for decade or so now. The goatherder pulls his fifth wheel trailerhome on to the property and lives there for a week or so while the goats do their thing. The kids love it, and it brings a smile to everyone’s eyes.

]]> By: LogrusZed http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622870 LogrusZed Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622870 The Oregon Extension Service (a program based out of Oregon State University) offers goat "rentals" as well as gardening information, help with canning and preserving, and pretty much any other agriculture related help you can think of. The Oregon Extension Service (a program based out of Oregon State University) offers goat “rentals” as well as gardening information, help with canning and preserving, and pretty much any other agriculture related help you can think of.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-623126 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-623126 Stoned goats clear Humoldt County farm.... Stoned goats clear Humoldt County farm….

]]> By: Sean Eric FAgan http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622878 Sean Eric FAgan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622878 We saw the Goats R Us team once, I think, driving home from San Francisco: a person watching a few goats merrily chew up the brush alongside the highway. It was pretty neat to see. (And there was at least one fairly large goat with them, much taller than the small goats I'm used to from petting zoos.) We saw the Goats R Us team once, I think, driving home from San Francisco: a person watching a few goats merrily chew up the brush alongside the highway. It was pretty neat to see. (And there was at least one fairly large goat with them, much taller than the small goats I’m used to from petting zoos.)

]]> By: MrsBug http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-623656 MrsBug Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-623656 I love this. Our local waste water treatment plant has a fenced lagoon where they use a small herd of sheep (with a watch llama!) to 'mow' the lawn around the lagoon. I love this. Our local waste water treatment plant has a fenced lagoon where they use a small herd of sheep (with a watch llama!) to ‘mow’ the lawn around the lagoon.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622892 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622892 In the "after" picture, the brush does not appear to be cleared. Merely de-greened; it's still impassibly tangled with scrub, although much less attractive to look at. In the “after” picture, the brush does not appear to be cleared. Merely de-greened; it’s still impassibly tangled with scrub, although much less attractive to look at.

]]> By: ill lich http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622895 ill lich Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622895 Great, so instead of clearing brush I'm clearing piles of goat droppings. Great, so instead of clearing brush I’m clearing piles of goat droppings.

]]> By: jyindc http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622897 jyindc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622897 Are they really clearing all the brush, or are they just eating all the green leaves, leaving the rest of the bush for a person to remove? Are they really clearing all the brush, or are they just eating all the green leaves, leaving the rest of the bush for a person to remove?

]]> By: anders411 http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-623158 anders411 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-623158 Save gas by not using a lawnmower by renting goats that are hauled around in a 5th wheel. Uhm.... Save gas by not using a lawnmower by renting goats that are hauled around in a 5th wheel.

Uhm….

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-623159 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-623159 it happens in Los Angeles too. It is nothing weird. Goats been known for that. You City people!!!! I live in LA it happens in Los Angeles too.
It is nothing weird.
Goats been known for that.
You City people!!!!
I live in LA

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622904 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622904 Man, they eat *everything.* My mom's property was covered in blackberry bushes, and they ate the thorns, the stalks, all of it. Their tongues are like leather. Man, they eat *everything.* My mom’s property was covered in blackberry bushes, and they ate the thorns, the stalks, all of it. Their tongues are like leather.

]]> By: adamnvillani http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-623160 adamnvillani Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-623160 The City of L.A. has used goats at Angels Knolls Park a couple of times now: http://la.curbed.com/tags/goats The City of L.A. has used goats at Angels Knolls Park a couple of times now:
http://la.curbed.com/tags/goats

]]> By: V http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622908 V Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622908 also the star of Pemco Insurance's 'We're a Lot Like You" ad campaign. http://www.werealotlikeyou.com/ (Flash site - Profile #80) also the star of Pemco Insurance’s ‘We’re a Lot Like You” ad campaign.

http://www.werealotlikeyou.com/ (Flash site – Profile #80)

]]> By: Roy Trumbull http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622938 Roy Trumbull Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622938 We've used an SF area company for 2 years on our temple property. The kids love to watch them. Only downside is that when they're done you'll find all the old tires, dead branches, and other refuse that had been covered up by the grass and weeds. There were more than two truckloads of that junk. There's a trailer on site and the goats are kept behind temporary fencing. We’ve used an SF area company for 2 years on our temple property. The kids love to watch them. Only downside is that when they’re done you’ll find all the old tires, dead branches, and other refuse that had been covered up by the grass and weeds. There were more than two truckloads of that junk. There’s a trailer on site and the goats are kept behind temporary fencing.

]]> By: LogrusZed http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622939 LogrusZed Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622939 @#15: Why would you clear goat droppings? They don't really smell and they fertilize, and they're hard and dry. Goat poo isn't really very messy. @#15: Why would you clear goat droppings? They don’t really smell and they fertilize, and they’re hard and dry. Goat poo isn’t really very messy.

]]> By: bcsizemo http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622946 bcsizemo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622946 Won't the brush just grow back? I mean I can brush cut English Ivy to the ground and it will re-sprout and continue to thrive. The same goes for most of the plants I need to get rid of. Of course manually ripping it all out seems to work pretty good. It's just hard on the hands and back. Won’t the brush just grow back?

I mean I can brush cut English Ivy to the ground and it will re-sprout and continue to thrive. The same goes for most of the plants I need to get rid of. Of course manually ripping it all out seems to work pretty good. It’s just hard on the hands and back.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-1076840 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1076840 The amount of time and energy a goat operation uses compared to conventional mechanical methods is just as inefficient. You have a crew of men showing up to install the fence....multiple trips in their rigs...the energy to put up the fence..time and energy waste. then the goats really dont do that good of job...they do not eat hardwood,dead hardwood branches, and can not eat plants that are poisonous to them.For a 100x100 lot can be done in one or two days with one person working efficiently with a mower and weed whacker...and use about 2 gallons of gas. Instead of 10 trips out with the goat trailor unloading goats all day...just that alone uses more gas then me showing up alone to work. Mechanical methods far exceed any goat eating processes. Not only that...then its 10 more trips out to pick up the goats and all the cyclone fence surrounding the property. In the end the goats do not work efficiently. and goats being "green" is a joke. i can prove it any which way you need. The amount of time and energy a goat operation uses compared to conventional mechanical methods is just as inefficient. You have a crew of men showing up to install the fence….multiple trips in their rigs…the energy to put up the fence..time and energy waste. then the goats really dont do that good of job…they do not eat hardwood,dead hardwood branches, and can not eat plants that are poisonous to them.For a 100×100 lot can be done in one or two days with one person working efficiently with a mower and weed whacker…and use about 2 gallons of gas. Instead of 10 trips out with the goat trailor unloading goats all day…just that alone uses more gas then me showing up alone to work. Mechanical methods far exceed any goat eating processes. Not only that…then its 10 more trips out to pick up the goats and all the cyclone fence surrounding the property. In the end the goats do not work efficiently. and goats being “green” is a joke. i can prove it any which way you need.

]]> By: bobbiej http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-623208 bobbiej Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-623208 goats eat the leaves which is the best way to kill the brush. If they were to eat the whole plant, then as it is when you cut back any other plant, they would send four times as much growth. When only the leaves are eaten the bush thinks it is still alive and doesn't send new growth. the goat pellets are good for the land. if you think 1,000 is a lot of money to clear a 1/4 acre of blackberries, you have never cleared blackberries. goats eat the leaves which is the best way to kill the brush. If they were to eat the whole plant, then as it is when you cut back any other plant, they would send four times as much growth. When only the leaves are eaten the bush thinks it is still alive and doesn’t send new growth.

the goat pellets are good for the land.

if you think 1,000 is a lot of money to clear a 1/4 acre of blackberries, you have never cleared blackberries.

]]> By: alowishus http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622953 alowishus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622953 I used to ride my bike up into the hills behind Berkeley. They use goats to clear brush up there. One day I stopped to talk to the herder, who was living in a little camper with a dog. He said he was from South America, traveled the US managing goat herds for brush clearing. Said he'd worked in Texas, Oklahoma, a few other places. I wanted to ask him more, but there was a language barrier that I couldn't cross (my Spanish is lame). Anyway, he was an extremely interesting guy and I wish I could've spoken with him more. I used to ride my bike up into the hills behind Berkeley. They use goats to clear brush up there. One day I stopped to talk to the herder, who was living in a little camper with a dog. He said he was from South America, traveled the US managing goat herds for brush clearing. Said he’d worked in Texas, Oklahoma, a few other places. I wanted to ask him more, but there was a language barrier that I couldn’t cross (my Spanish is lame). Anyway, he was an extremely interesting guy and I wish I could’ve spoken with him more.

]]> By: asplund http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622958 asplund Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622958 When I was a kid, I used to see goats around military installations - my understanding was that they were used around munitions storage (no sparks from lawnmowers). When I was a kid, I used to see goats around military installations – my understanding was that they were used around munitions storage (no sparks from lawnmowers).

]]> By: fivedog http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-1076849 fivedog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1076849 The amount of time and energy a goat operation uses compared to conventional mechanical methods is just as inefficient. You have a crew of men showing up to install the fence....multiple trips in their rigs...the energy to put up the fence..time and energy waste. then the goats really dont do that good of job...they do not eat hardwood,dead hardwood branches, and can not eat plants that are poisonous to them.For a 100x100 lot can be done in one or two days with one person working efficiently with a mower and weed whacker...and use about 2 gallons of gas. Instead of 10 trips out with the goat trailor unloading goats all day...just that alone uses more gas then me showing up alone to work. Mechanical methods far exceed any goat eating processes. Not only that...then its 10 more trips out to pick up the goats and all the cyclone fence surrounding the property. In the end the goats do not work efficiently. and goats being "green" is a joke. i can prove it any which way you need. The amount of time and energy a goat operation uses compared to conventional mechanical methods is just as inefficient. You have a crew of men showing up to install the fence….multiple trips in their rigs…the energy to put up the fence..time and energy waste. then the goats really dont do that good of job…they do not eat hardwood,dead hardwood branches, and can not eat plants that are poisonous to them.For a 100×100 lot can be done in one or two days with one person working efficiently with a mower and weed whacker…and use about 2 gallons of gas. Instead of 10 trips out with the goat trailor unloading goats all day…just that alone uses more gas then me showing up alone to work. Mechanical methods far exceed any goat eating processes. Not only that…then its 10 more trips out to pick up the goats and all the cyclone fence surrounding the property. In the end the goats do not work efficiently. and goats being “green” is a joke. i can prove it any which way you need.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-929410 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-929410 Oregon State University Extension thanks you for the plug. We are pretty amazing, if I must say so, however, WE DO NOT RENT GOATS. The good news is we have the contact information for quite a few companies that offer 4 legged brush removal services. In Washington County call 503-821-1150 and one of our friendly Office Support Specialists will be happy to help you. LorifromOSU Oregon State University Extension thanks you for the plug. We are pretty amazing, if I must say so, however, WE DO NOT RENT GOATS.
The good news is we have the contact information for quite a few companies that offer 4 legged brush removal services. In Washington County call 503-821-1150 and one of our friendly Office Support Specialists will be happy to help you.
LorifromOSU

]]> By: nutbastard http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622986 nutbastard Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622986 @#7 "Read through the web site. You need to understand that the service *starts* at $1025 per day..." that's only $10.25 per goat. Also, it might be prudent to see what conventional methods cost to get a sense of perspective. a quarter acre is 10,890 square feet - or a square ~100 feet on a side. that's a not insignificant amount of brush. plus, with conventional means, you have to have all the material hauled off, which can be expensive. @#7

“Read through the web site. You need to understand that the service *starts* at $1025 per day…”

that’s only $10.25 per goat. Also, it might be prudent to see what conventional methods cost to get a sense of perspective. a quarter acre is 10,890 square feet – or a square ~100 feet on a side. that’s a not insignificant amount of brush. plus, with conventional means, you have to have all the material hauled off, which can be expensive.

]]> By: hawkins http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622991 hawkins Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622991 Depending on the vegetation, and the amount of time you leave them there, and how bored they get, goats will often destroy the vegetation right down to the dirt-line. Goats are an extremely destructive natural force, to be used with care. They will nibble on absolutely anything they can get into their mouths: from the leather upholstery on your vintage MG Midget convertible to the (lit) cigarette in your hand. The REALLY cool thing about goats is that their eyes have rectangularly-dilating pupils, which just looks amazingly satanic. Here in Charlottesville, the service is called Goat Busters. Har, har. Depending on the vegetation, and the amount of time you leave them there, and how bored they get, goats will often destroy the vegetation right down to the dirt-line.

Goats are an extremely destructive natural force, to be used with care. They will nibble on absolutely anything they can get into their mouths: from the leather upholstery on your vintage MG Midget convertible to the (lit) cigarette in your hand.

The REALLY cool thing about goats is that their eyes have rectangularly-dilating pupils, which just looks amazingly satanic.

Here in Charlottesville, the service is called Goat Busters. Har, har.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-832143 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-832143 You don't kow much about goats. They are a little bit more pricey than that. Also they require some care, hoof trimming and vaccines. You don’t kow much about goats. They are a little bit more pricey than that. Also they require some care, hoof trimming and vaccines.

]]> By: fivedog http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-1077137 fivedog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1077137 Also...the goats dont actually eat the stem off at the ground. They eat the fresh green leaves...which mean it will grow back much faster ensuring they get paid to come back again. Wasting more gas and money and time and energy. ...also..they do not eat brush thats more then 4 ft off the ground,leaving stuff dangling on the fence line and trees. ...so to bring out 100-200 goat to your property requires many multiple trips in a truck hauling a trailor. This process is called "gas consumption"....contrary to your belief that goats are green. And remember to multiply this process by not just 2..remember they be coming back...so multiple it by multiples of 4. .........conventional methods of mechanically clearing the brush with a blade that turns at 8-10,000 rpm does not consume this much gas. I can clear an acre of brush better and fast and more efficiently then any goat...with less time and energy then any goat hauling crew. AND......FOR THE SAME PRICE OR LESS!!! ....brush clearing with brush goats is a sham from start to finish. Also…the goats dont actually eat the stem off at the ground. They eat the fresh green leaves…which mean it will grow back much faster ensuring they get paid to come back again. Wasting more gas and money and time and energy.
…also..they do not eat brush thats more then 4 ft off the ground,leaving stuff dangling on the fence line and trees.
…so to bring out 100-200 goat to your property requires many multiple trips in a truck hauling a trailor. This process is called “gas consumption”….contrary to your belief that goats are green. And remember to multiply this process by not just 2..remember they be coming back…so multiple it by multiples of 4.
………conventional methods of mechanically clearing the brush with a blade that turns at 8-10,000 rpm does not consume this much gas. I can clear an acre of brush better and fast and more efficiently then any goat…with less time and energy then any goat hauling crew. AND……FOR THE SAME PRICE OR LESS!!!
….brush clearing with brush goats is a sham from start to finish.

]]> By: Tensegrity http://boingboing.net/2009/10/28/goat-rentals-for-cle.html#comment-622993 Tensegrity Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622993 @asplund The spark issue is quite important. Major fires have been started by sparks from landscaping equipment. @asplund

The spark issue is quite important. Major fires have been started by sparks from landscaping equipment.

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