"Check my LP's."

Remember the experimental goat herding at 5 Acre Woods post? Here's some video that was shot that day. Coach Counter gives a brief summary of what exactly is going on before I come in carrying the late Digby. Count how long it takes him to start eating. This place is a goat's Land of Milk and Honey.

Another short clip of John Abraham doing what he did best.

It didn't take them long at all to completely decimate what little vegetation we encircled. Unfortunately, I was alone when the resources ran out and the goats got rowdy. Keeping them under control and relocating their paddock would have been nearly impossible, so I spent the morning pulling up the surrounding privet and tossing it in with the goats. Had there been another set of hands, or, better yet, a larger and sturdier enclosure, goats could easily make a dent. Wouldn't take too long at all to see a noticeable change for the better. Maybe as our class moves into the project, I can convince someone to let me try again.

"What are you, a park ranger now?"

Guerrilla Goat Herding

The idea came up during a "Privet Pull" at a local urban forest, 5 Acre Woods. It was an extra credit opportunity, so I expected to get in, get out, and earn a couple gimme points on my next Planning test. When I mentioned to the man in charge and hometown friend, Coach Counter, that his overgrown lot could use the help of my goats, he jumped all over the idea. 48 hours later, I was getting permission to miss Tuesday's classes so I could herd my goats.

Everything went relatively smoothly. The goats had two temporary paddocks, with the first pictured above. I spent from 9:30 to 1:30 with the goats at the first paddock, watching them obliterate every privet plant within reach. The second paddock was monitored by Coach Counter and several of his classmates, also landscape architecture majors, while I ran back to campus to take a Plant ID quiz. The goats left the property right at 5:00 PM. After roughly 7.5 hours of non stop eating, our three guys were noticeably stuffed.

Picture worthy?

The transportation went pretty well. With two pairs of hands, it'd be a cinch. Another Dougie Shoutout to Hans for loaning us Millie's jumbo dog crate. Once I got all three inside, they rode comfortably both to and from the site. (I spotted one guy in a pickup truck leaning over his dash with a camera taking a picture of the above scene. I wonder if he was an Achiever...)

There were a few complication with the fencing. This black plastic stuff just won't cut it. It's too brittle and the goats can lean on it way too easily. Some taller, orange construction fencing might do the trick, especially in terms of mobility. And then electrical fencing is always an option if you really wanted to be temporary. If you had the time and resources, the best bet would be to string up hog wire around the entire area and let the goats do their thing. It wouldn't take long for a small herd of goats to make an obvious dent in a privet infested lot like 5 Acre Woods.

Overall, Coach Counter and his classmates seemed to enjoy the goats' help. There were plenty of pictures taken and even a video or two, so I'll be sure to share when I get a hold of them. Unfortunately, keeping goats within Athens city limits isn't at all legal, so we can't go too big with using goats on the property, but it's definitely something to consider on down the road.

Suggested Reading

Here's a cool article on Chattanooga's attempt to control kudzu using goats. It's interesting to think that goats could be the first step in the invasive control and restorative processes. Just during the brief amount of time I've observed them, it's clear that goats can, in fact, be extremely helpful in clearing out exotic invasives. (Quick before/after example.)

• For one, every piece of foliage is stripped from the stems and branches of the evil English ivy. Take, for example, the downed mulberry on the other side of the creek. It's stump and lower trunk were completely carpeted with English ivy. Once defoliated, the ivy pulled right off the tree. Now, the tree is entirely visible again. Much more visually appealing.

• It didn't take long to realize that privet was like goat candy. Of all the plants in the back yard, native or introduced, privet disappeared first. Now, all that's left are their individual leafless stalks. I haven't tried, but it looks like they'll be much easier to grab a hold of and pop out of the ground with the help of a spade.

• The patch of light green reedy plants by the creek was taken care of pretty quickly too. I'm not 100% sure on its ID, but if I had to guess, I'd go with Nepalese Browntop. If you happen to know the mystery plant, don't be shy. Be a hero and let everybody know through the comment box.

• The liriope is also starting to disappear, or at least become visibly sheared off. They've still got plenty to nibble on though. My neighbor pointed out that goats won't get down to the roots on these plants, so their permanent eradication will take some extra grunt work.