Goats

I have been doing some research on Blackberries. Everything you would normally want to do to clear land is really bad and encourages more growth. If you leave the debris on the ground the blackberry can re root and send out new shoots. If you burn the pile, that encourages new growth. Loosening the soil encourages new growth. They must be dug up and carried off.

The landscaper bid the job at $1850. $400 was just for dragging the berries to a dumpster in front of the house. I looked up renting a dumpster and the big one, which we would need, was $400. We would have to do all the work. Which in our house means Tom and I would do most of the work. Tom has asked to borrow back a steel tipped weed eater we had given to my Dad a few years ago. He thought he might go rip through the field with the right tool. I am thinking tractor as the berries are over our heads.

Everyone said get a goat. Some were joking but I decided to look into it. Checked Craigslist. Turns out there is a company out of Tacoma that rents goat herds just for this purpose. $700 including delivery and pick up, gets you a herd of seven to ten goats dropped off at your home for three or four days, which is all the company says it will take to clear less than half an acre of berries. They also eat ivy down to the roots. They fertilize as they go. Its a very green blackberry abatement, chemical free.

If I can own a goat, and from what the ads say, I really want two, I would never have to worry about ivy or berries again. The females are twice as expensive as the males. A male sells for around $65. Females seem to run about $150. Cheaper than our dog. I do love Feta cheese. I don't think the new yard though is fully fenced so I may just have to borrow for the weekend.

Tom wants me to check with the city ordinance to make sure we can do this. My thought is they will be gone before anyone notices. I wasn't planning to keep them, unless I can. No, on second thought, I don't want permanent goats. They smell and they don't snuggle nicely. They butt. They eat everything, even the stuff you don't want them to eat. I wouldn't mind borrowing a set upon occasion though, just to keep the unwanted growth down.

I do know a couple of people with goats. Perhaps they will loan them out to me. First I have to find out if it's allowed. The city ordinance guy I need to speak to is on vacation until tomorrow.
Perhaps a goat is considered a family pet, like a dog, as long as we are not breeding them. I will let you know what I find out.