Low Tech Solution In a High Tech World
May 29, 2008
Posted by CindyC in : Communities , trackback
What does Silicon Valley use when it needs to clear brush? A robotic mower or a “cutting edge” machine? How about a herd of sheep (and goats) to munch away the vegetation? According to city officials, this old fashion solution not only saves money but also reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases from using fossil fuel machinery. These natural mowers will also service other areas in San Jose. The imagery of these sheep mowers makes me giggle 
In all seriousness, it seems like a great idea. Why not take care of overgrown brush and fields (especially during fire season) the old fashioned way? I checked out Living Systems (which provided the herd service to San Jose) and it’s pretty interesting. The company provides grazing services utilizing trained herds, shepherds and herding dogs and the necessary electrified 
fence to keep the herds off the roads. Sheep and goat grazing not only eliminates weeds and excess growth but also reduces the need for mechanical tilling, pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. These trained herds can graze anywhere from fields surrounding the airport to vineyards to open land next to residential developments.
I’m not sure if this land management system is feasible on a large scale but at least it’s being tried…..
CindyC at Organicpicks
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Comments»
I hope this idea spreads…it is environmentally a very sound idea.
And if the mowers get too close to the fence…I guess their owners can have lamb or sheep kababs for dinner. (OK, tacky…but I think its funny)
This makes me giggle too. I wanna see the sheep!
Very funny. Just don’t lose the goats. They are massively destructive when it comes to eating native plants, or all plants for that matter. These mowers consume everything.
Cutest mowers I’ve ever seen.
A local minister tried this in his chuchyard, as this was the usual way years ago of keeping the grass down in country churchyards. It worked well until a visitor to a grave, a townie, not used to animals, was butted by an annoyed sheep!
A great idea though, they soon learn to respect the electified fence,
When driving around the back roads of Central Oregon years ago, we stopped at a house with a produce stand. They had the cutest goats and told us they rented them out to help people control blackberry brambles.
We do this in Western Oregon, too. The first time I saw goats eating blackberries on the side of the road I thought they had escaped from somewhere, but it turns out they were hired to eat. It works really well, too!
They have tried this in blackberry infested Seattle with some success… I have been looking fo rrental goats but with no luck! Here is a pic of an early riding lawnmower
Rob: awesome picture
Poor goat. It’s a good thing that all he seems to care is eating more grass. Goats are such tough and robust animals.