Bio-mowers

[Dr_Zinj]

I know this is going to sound like heresy, but does anyone use a rotary mower to knock down the big stuff in their lawn, and then keep it maintained using sheep?

 

[DAY]

Skip the mower, just use the sheep! - for thistles, brambles, poison ivy, use goats. They are browsers, like deer. Or you could cut both at the same time, with a Deere. Unlike the critters, they don't need a fence.

 

[civesnedfield]

I know this is going to sound like heresy, but does anyone use a rotary mower to knock down the big stuff in their lawn, and then keep it maintained using sheep?

No to the mower I just let the goats and llamas on the lawn.

 

[MarkV]

We have Kudzu and Poison Ivy in my area. Both are horrible things to try and get rid of. There are some cottage industries that rent out their goats to control it around here. They come in and set up temporary solar powered electric fence to contain the goats and let them have at it. Once a week they come move the containment area. I have no idea what they charge, just thought it a cool idea.

MarkV

 

[Ford tractor]

I've read where big "green" cities like Seattle are paying a premium to have lots cleared with goats. No noise, no flying debris, no "harmful" emissions, in fact the "emissions" promote growth.

(just like CO2)

 

[rockinmywaypa]

a few years ago I was running in circles trying to keep up to everything that had to be done and just decided one day that the lawn ranked really low on my list of priorities. I did the same as has been suggested here, used netfence that was easily moved and used the lawn as another paddock in my rotational grazing, turned out to be a win win, helped prolong other pastures and eliminated time needed to cut the lawn and or repair lawn mowers as well as no gas going through mowers. I say go for it if you can.

 

[big bubba]

go w/ the goat. this one also keeps snakes away when crawling under the junker bub

 

[DAY]

i operated an organic goat dairy years ago, delivered to heath food store in five counties.A little known side benefit of drinking the milk: if the goats are grazing on poison ivy, an immunity to it is passed through the milk! Cheaper and less painful than the shots.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I've read where big "green" cities like Seattle are paying a premium to have lots cleared with goats. No noise, no flying debris, no "harmful" emissions, in fact the "emissions" promote growth.

(just like CO2)

I'm guessing goats aren't as hard on bums sleeping it off in the weeds as are big machines (see Safety forum).

BOB

 

[TripleR]

A guy a couple of miles down the road uses miniature donkeys in his yard.

I personally don't want anything to do with goats, sheep etc., I use to raise cattle, goats, pigs and don't want to be bothered with them anymore.

 

[DAY]

California utility companies are using goats to brush out the power lines in steep, inaccessible areas. Cost, not the environmental impact, is the driving force.