The Holy Cross Cemetery has apparently rented 250 goats and sheep to keep its plantlife under control, according to one eagle-eyed local resident.
Fleur Hervas lives near the cemetery, and she decided to call them last week when she spotted the animals.
They told her about the deal between the cemetery and the beasts, which were utilized in Malibu before making their way over here. The goats and sheep clear bushes, and naturally remove invasive plants.
It’s not an uncommon approach; Arlene Marturano wrote in the Columbia Star that, “Landscaping livestock are ruminants like goats and sheep. Their natural behavior to browse is an inexpensive and environmentally safe alternative to manage weeds, brush and jungle vegetation. According to livestock behaviorists, ruminants can be trained to eat certain plants and non-traditional forages… In California, goats and sheep are dispatched to graze on brush in canyons, around schools and homeowner estates in an effort to stem wildfires. Goats are good at clearing fire lines, which halt advancing flames.”
According to Fleur, one shepherd is taking care of the livestock, while there are two guard dogs to keep coyotes away.
Adrian Alarcon, director of media relations at Archdiocese of Los Angeles told the News that, “Holy Cross Cemetery is using goats and sheep to clear the hillsides of overgrowth and brush. This is being done as a natural alternative.
The mix of sheep and goats is used because they eat different things and together they are very effective at keeping the growth of brush and grasses at the proper level. I believe the herd is scheduled to be finished later this week.”
The above comes from an Aug. 4 story in the Culver City News.
Compliments to the cemetery, it’s a great idea.
It’s usually done as a fire prevention measure. (Or, actually, a fire containment measure.) In addition to the downsides of herbicides, using goats doesn’t create the same erosion problems when the rains come. It’s fascinating that they can be trained to eradicate certain plans, like invasive species.
Sheep and goats can sometimes work well together. The shepherd will sort them out in the end.
Might we all be as discerning as these sheep in what we consume. And, I’m more concerned about wolves than coyotes.
Highly unlikely there are wolves in that area of California!
au contraire mon frère, there are wolves in California, some even in shepherds’ clothing.
See Acts 20:27-31.
Thumbs downer, I don’t think I posted anything controversial here. Would you mind sharing what part of what I posted got your thumb down? Thanks.
Deacon, it wasn’t me, but I wouldn’t let it bother me. People always thumbs down every post of mine even the most innocuous and orthodox. I can’t be bothered with the negativity and ad hominem way some people approach these pages.
Maybe they don’t like the animals in the graveyard.
Maybe they don’t like the Shepherd.
You never know.
Don’t worry about it.
Thumbs downs used to hurt my feelings. But now I hardly notice.
Ur way 2 sensitiv
You are a disrespectful, Anti-Catholic creep, looking for negative attention. And your spelling is awful.
Deacon Anderson deserves our respect!
Love all your excellent posts, including this one, Deacon Anderson. This is a wonderful idea, a herd of sheep and goats, to care for the Catholic cemetery lawns, naturally. Thanks for explaining all about it. Please ignore the disrespectful, ignorant “dumb clucks” who are Internet trolls, that harass excellent posters, on Catholic websites. They are immature, seeking negative attention.
Looks like they did a good job
Maybe too good. I mean, some grass should be left, amiright?
Mind you don’t step in the “leftovers”.
HA! Good one.
And they fertilize at the same time. What’s not to like?
The goats and sheep also allude to Matthew 25, which is apropos for those who have died.
With some marketing savvy, this could be an opportunity to increase visitation at the cemetery. Kids could visit their deceased relatives and spend time petting the goats and sheep on the premises. A cemetery petting zoo. But definitely not a Pet Sematary.
Puts the mental in silly environmentalism.