Congressional Goats – “Green” Mowers | National Geographic

it’s a little unusual week in the

it’s a little unusual week in the cemetery we welcomed almost 60 goats to

cemetery we welcomed almost 60 goats to

cemetery we welcomed almost 60 goats to a perimeter area and they’re going to be

a perimeter area and they’re going to be

a perimeter area and they’re going to be grazing for six days eliminating our

grazing for six days eliminating our

grazing for six days eliminating our invasive species

invasive species

invasive species lots of kudzu poison ivy even English

lots of kudzu poison ivy even English

lots of kudzu poison ivy even English ivy that tends to kill our large and

ivy that tends to kill our large and

ivy that tends to kill our large and mature trees down there

in leaves and stems a typical goats

in leaves and stems a typical goats eating somewhere between 10 and 15

eating somewhere between 10 and 15

eating somewhere between 10 and 15 pounds of green material day they’re

pounds of green material day they’re

pounds of green material day they’re very sustainable livestock they’re

very sustainable livestock they’re

very sustainable livestock they’re they’re fun to watch they’re they’re

they’re fun to watch they’re they’re

they’re fun to watch they’re they’re low-impact and I think we’re

low-impact and I think we’re

low-impact and I think we’re rediscovering some real old technology

rediscovering some real old technology

rediscovering some real old technology that needs to be brought back sites like

that needs to be brought back sites like

that needs to be brought back sites like this where we have rocks piles of dirt

this where we have rocks piles of dirt

this where we have rocks piles of dirt deep ditches lots of down logs the goats

deep ditches lots of down logs the goats

deep ditches lots of down logs the goats you know do a really good job just

you know do a really good job just

you know do a really good job just clamoring over whatever they need to and

clamoring over whatever they need to and

clamoring over whatever they need to and standing on them to get to get up higher

standing on them to get to get up higher

standing on them to get to get up higher so they’re they’re a great way

so they’re they’re a great way

so they’re they’re a great way especially on highly erodible soils

especially on highly erodible soils

especially on highly erodible soils they’re very low impact a big goat

they’re very low impact a big goat

they’re very low impact a big goat weighs 150 pounds they’re very agile and

weighs 150 pounds they’re very agile and

weighs 150 pounds they’re very agile and they don’t tear up the ground it’s

they don’t tear up the ground it’s

they don’t tear up the ground it’s actually incredible the amount of

actually incredible the amount of

actually incredible the amount of progress they’ve made in one day when we

progress they’ve made in one day when we

progress they’ve made in one day when we walk back here yesterday you could

walk back here yesterday you could

walk back here yesterday you could barely see anything around you post or

barely see anything around you post or

barely see anything around you post or something like herbicides or pesticides

something like herbicides or pesticides

something like herbicides or pesticides things like that we’re right near the

things like that we’re right near the

things like that we’re right near the Anacostia River we’re quite close to

Anacostia River we’re quite close to

Anacostia River we’re quite close to that and so this is a way to control it

that and so this is a way to control it

that and so this is a way to control it without using chemicals and we were

without using chemicals and we were

without using chemicals and we were especially aware of that because we’re

especially aware of that because we’re

especially aware of that because we’re in Anacostia watershed it’s actually

in Anacostia watershed it’s actually

in Anacostia watershed it’s actually much cheaper to hire the goats we would

much cheaper to hire the goats we would

much cheaper to hire the goats we would have to hire humans and as well as

have to hire humans and as well as

have to hire humans and as well as purchase you know pesticides herbicides

purchase you know pesticides herbicides

purchase you know pesticides herbicides and then we’re left with the debris that

and then we’re left with the debris that

and then we’re left with the debris that we clear out but the goats costs about

we clear out but the goats costs about

we clear out but the goats costs about four thousand dollars for the week and

four thousand dollars for the week and

four thousand dollars for the week and if you break it down it’s about 25 cents

if you break it down it’s about 25 cents

if you break it down it’s about 25 cents per goat per hour