Yesterday morning I went to go see the goats again. They have done a wonderful job of clearing the invasive buckthorn and I am told they eat the seeds, so next year their job should be lighter.
The babies who were primarily nursing last week are also now feeding on the ground foliage. The difference one week makes.
Today my friend sent me this picture
Clearly the goats are wrapping up what they are going to eat on the ground level right now and are looking for yummies at new heights. They will soon be picked up and brought to their next grazing site.
Thoughts will then turn to next year. If the historical site is able to raise funds again the goats will come back next year for round two.
If you are so inclined, donations can be sent to Hastings Area Historical Society at 104 Fourth Street East in Hastings, MN 55033.
This morning I went up to a local historic cemetary where a friend volunteers quite of bit of time and resources. She has lovingly researched the lives of many of the people who are buried there, sharing with written narratives placed at the grave sites as well as discussions during events and visits. Many of the lives of the people buried in the cemetary date to pre-Civil War, including two veterans of the War of 1812.
History is very important – how people lived, took on challenges, struggled, survived and worked to thrive. If we lose that information, we lose perspective – and that would definitely not be a good thing.
I also love old gardens, and old trees, and eco friendly solutions to handle challenges. Enter my impetus for visiting the cemetary today. Today was a visiting day – a chance to perhaps catch a glimpse of some temporary contributors, and definitely to see what they are accomplishing.
A couple local organizations worked to raise funds to bring in 61 goats to eat in the woods of the property, and were successful in achieving that goal. The goats will eat buckthorn, an invasive species, that has been a challenge in the woods at the site. What an awesome solution!
My friend, Shirley Dalaska, the local historian and author, has provided the attached pictures. These were from when the goats first arrived a couple days ago. Today the goats were far into the woods so you couldn’t see them, but you could see they had been there for sure – by the results. They’ll be there a week and a half to 2 weeks until they stop eating, and then they will come back next year for another stay. After two years it’s supposed to be way more controllable so the area could potentially be mowed then to keep the buckthorn growth down.
Susan's Daily Garden 