At least these do their jobs.







WASHINGTON August 7, 2013 (AP)


More than 100 goats are taking over Washington's Historic Congressional Cemetery to help clean up the landmark.

The cemetery welcomed the grazing herd Wednesday. The goats will graze 24 hours a day for six days to eliminate vines, poison ivy and weeds, while also "fertilizing the ground."

The livestock will be penned outside of the burial areas. The cemetery is open from dawn to dusk.

The cemetery says the use of goats will eliminate the need for harmful herbicides and will keep invasive species from killing large trees.

The Congressional Cemetery was founded in the early 1800s and covers 35 acres on Capitol Hill. Thousands of people are buried at the cemetery, including former senators and House members.


http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/graz ... c-19890029

What a great and ecologically sound idea!

When I read this, it brought back a vague memory. I looked it up and there it was! I remember my parents referring to Alabama's capitol building as "goat hill". How appropriate!


The first capitol building to be built in Montgomery was designed by Stephen Decatur Button of Philadelphia. Andrew Dexter, one of the Montgomery's founders, kept a prime piece of property empty in anticipation of the capital eventually being moved to Montgomery from Tuscaloosa. This property, atop what was then known as Goat Hill due to its use as a pasture, was chosen as the site for the new capitol building.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_State_Capitol

I love this idea ~ this could easily be a silly question, but ... do goats not react to poison ivy? ~

Sooz

Sooz, they use goats for this a lot around Austin and other places. I love it.

No, goats do not react to poison ivy. They apparently think it is really delicious and they eat it with no problems.

The rental goats live near me. I drive by their home several times each week. They get lots of cool jobs. They work at airports and they work on farms and they even had a job with public works eating roadside brush. My dog's friend helps get them on the trailer for their commute.

They better wear orange safety vests or OSHA's gonna fine them big time.

Absolutely/positively LOVE "... My dog's friend ..." ~

Sooz

Good point. I think they ate them.

It's all part of the nanny state.