Getting rid of your Christmas tree? This goat farmer can put it to good use

Add Christmas timber to the lengthy record of surprising snacks goats take pleasure in.

The prickly plant usually adorned with lights and ornaments in December can even have well being perks for goats — and one Dauphin County farmer is asking for many who nonetheless have to do away with their Christmas Bushes to drop them off at her farm.

“Its a win-win,” stated Kim Batz, co-owner of Batz Farm. “They take it as a deal with and it helps do away with the timber and recycle them.”

Pine needles are excessive in vitamin C and are jam-packed with antioxidants. Moreover, Christmas timber are confirmed to function a pure dewormer for livestock.

Folks can drop off a tree any time to the East Hanover Township farm, positioned at 45 Bullfrog Highway. Batz and her husband, Mike, arrange a wagon on the backside of the driveway that anyone can throw their tree into.

Batz Farm, which produces beef and pork merchandise, additionally dabbles in goat leisure: Child goat cuddling periods and goat yoga, for instance, draw massive crowds.

So, with 60 hungry goats who’ve taken a liking to the style of pine needles and sappy tree bark — how may Batz flip the chance away?

She took to Fb final yr for the primary annual tree drive — and acquired about 80 to 100 timber final yr. To date this yr, she’s acquired about 30 timber, with extra on the way in which. Some folks drop off Christmas Bushes as late of February, she stated.

“They eat the needles and bark and depart the trunk,” Batz stated. “We floor the trunk into mulch, so the entire tree will get used.”

Batz Farm bought its begin in 2019 as a supply of fundraising for the Make-A-Want Basis. Ultimately, it grew right into a fully-fledged enterprise.

Goats, particularly, helped Batz Farm take off in reputation.

“Its truly grown by itself particularly by means of 2020,” Batz stated. “We had these cute lovely animals that folks may safely be exterior and maintain.”

Although goat snuggling did not initially take off, as soon as photographs on social media popped up — the Batz goats booked up instantly.