By Kirsten Mitchell | WCCO through CNN
SPRING VALLEY, Wisconsin — Christmas could also be three weeks behind us, however a vacation feast is simply getting underway at a farm in western Wisconsin.
Goats are serving to recycle tons of of discarded Christmas bushes from throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin as a manner to assist the setting, and the goats.
About 5 years in the past, Dana Myers’ property in Somerset was invaded by Buckthorn crops, so he purchased a number of goats to munch it away and maintain the issue at bay.
“I had no intentions of ever having a farm or doing any type of ranching actions, so, simply occurred, you understand,” Myers stated. “The neighbors, all of them needed them, and subsequent factor you understand we had 30 goats.”
His venture was a word-of-mouth buckthorn mitigation firm, which he now calls Scapegoats. They now have about 150 goats grazing in the course of the summer season, and about 50 cashmere goats. The goats vary in age and have their very own distinctive personalities and names. Within the winter, the goats tackle a second job. Our tinsel-free trash is their tasty treasure.
“The bushes supply antioxidants and hint minerals, plenty of vitamin A and C,” Myers stated. “And so they even have de-worming, anti-parasitical properties.”
Phrase of his Christmas tree recycling unfold like wildfire this yr after he posted an commercial on the Nextdoor app asking for tree donations.
“Going into the landfill doesn’t actually do any good. There’s already sufficient stuff within the landfill as is,” Myers stated.
Tons of of bushes had been donated from throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. Some households even go to the farm to see the goats themselves.
“Seeing the enjoyment it brings to folks, it’s simply so cool,” Myers stated. “Everybody simply loves them. It’s a very constructive expertise.”
He says town of Menomonie has expressed curiosity in partnering with him for tree recycling. In the event you missed your probability to donate, there’s at all times subsequent yr.
For extra data on Scapegoats, e mail Dana Myers at dana@scapegoats.biz.
