Thursday, May 26, 2011

Goats vs. Weeds: A Targeted Grazing Demonstration

For those hard to reach places!
Goats vs. Weeds: A Targeted Grazing Demonstration
Mountain goats
photo by Alfred Viola, Northeastern University, Bugwood.org
At the Adkins Arboretum, 12610 Eveland Road, Ridgely, MD 21660 on Thursday, June 2, 10 a.m.-noon and Saturday, June 4, 10 am - noon.
Invasive species crowd out native woodland plants and animals and can strangle trees and bring down limbs. Machines often can't reach problem areas, manual removal is very labor intensive, and herbicides can inflict collateral damage on water, plant, and animal resources. Targeted grazing with goats can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of controlling invasive species on your property. Goats graze in places that mowers can't reach and humans don't want to go, including bramble and poison ivy thickets.
This demonstration is your chance to see goats in action at the Arboretum and learn how to implement this practice on your own land. Presenters will include Nevin Dawson, forest stewardship educator, University of Maryland Extension; Sylvan Kaufman, Sylvan Green Earth Consulting, and Brian Knox, president of Sustainable Resource Management, Inc. and supervising forester for Eco-Goats. Light refreshments will be served, including goat cheese.
Fee: $15 members, $20 general public. For more information or call 410-634-2847.