Instead of herbicides, Lawrence KS is using a herd of goats to weed a city park

[MoonRiver]

The City of Lawrence has enlisted the eager assistance of goats to help weed a city park.

The Parks and Recreation Department is using about 50 goats in Prairie Park, 2730 Harper St., to assist with eradicating honeysuckle, which is an invasive plant. The program is intended to be a natural alternative to using herbicides.

Honeysuckle has overtaken an area of the park, crowding out other species, according to Roger Steinbrock, of Parks and Rec. It might be pretty to look at it, but its spreading vines deprive native plants of nutrients and sunlight, effectively smothering them.

https://www2.ljworld.com/news/general-news/2021/jul/22/instead-of-herbicides-lawrence-is-using-goats-to-weed-a-city-park/

[multigraincracker]

1. Win, win

for everyone.

[niyad]

2. we have been doing that for years. The goats have become a tourist attraction.

[abqtommy]

3. When I was a kid and visiting on my Grandparents' farm I was shown a treasured growth of

honeysuckle. But that wasn't in Kansas. Goats will fill the bill and provide their own fertilizer too,
but how do you get them to eat only honeysuckle and not all the other native plants? asking for a
friend

[MoonRiver]

4. DK, but the article did say they are picky eaters.

They don't like anything that is bitter, and prefer sweeter plants, like honeysuckle.

[abqtommy]

6. That sounds reasonable. I find that I still have a fondness for honeysuckle nectar.

[Dream Girl]

5. Been doing this for years here as well. There are people who will rent them to clear out you lot.

[MoonRiver]

9. Yes, there is a company in Lawrence that rents them out.

That's what happened in the park.

[uponit7771]

13. How long do they take to clear something out? thx in advance

[lagomorph777]

7. They're using them on roadsides around here.

(always behind a guardrail and temporary fence)

Makes good sense, I think.

[keithbvadu2]

8. $1800 - Probably cheaper than herbicides and the labor.

$1800 - Probably cheaper than herbicides and the labor.

[Sneederbunk]

10. Just don't go barefoot after they've been there.

[Goodheart]

11. And kids love them.

Goats are cute, funny, mostly friendly, and very cool.

[onethatcares]

12. I would wager

there are gardeners lined up to collect their manure.

[EndlessWire]

19. Goat turds are like rabbit turds

little pellets, not hard to take. You can walk over them without a problem.

[Bayard]

14. I'd be afraid to rent ours out

Too attached to our little herd of Nigerian Dwarfs. We're waiting for the weather to cool some before fencing more area for them to mow.

[MoonRiver]

16. Awww, they sound cute. Got a pic?

[Bayard]

17. Well, sure!

[MoonRiver]

18. Oh my gosh, what little darlings!

[Luciferous]

23. They are adorable!

[MustLoveBeagles]

24. Very Cute

[cally]

15. In my area, there is a shortage of goats to rent

There are goat businesses that the city uses to clear open space areas. I watched a herd clear out about a square mile of grassland under power lines. Took maybe a week to 10 days. They were moved around to cover entire area.

[marie999]

20. Here in Eastern North Carolina many people use goats to clear the land.

[Raine]

21. That's what they've been doing in my area of Los Angeles county

for awhile now. Everyone seems to love the goats 🐐 ❤️ and will go to see them when they bring them in.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

22. Parks in Oregon have done this for 20 years, it's great for everybody

[MustLoveBeagles]

25. Good idea