Joe Murphy has the University of San Francisco's vegetation in check
By: Juliana Bunim
July 6, 2009
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| Joe Murphy, Environmental Safety Manager at the University of San Francisco. (Courtesy photo) |
The Environmental Safety Manager at the University of San Francisco recently partnered with City Grazing and their team of hungry goats to help get the campus’ vegetation in check.
How do goats help control weeds and vegetation? The goats are eating machines. As long as there is daylight they are eating. Grass, leaves and other vegetation are constantly going in one end and coming out the other.
How many goats are necessary to control the area? We had approximately 55 goats ... They work cooperatively, with the larger goats pulling down the low hanging branches of trees and shrubs so the small goats and babies can chew on them. In this way they can clear vegetation from about 8 feet high down to the ground.
How much space were the goats tending to? We had them working three main areas of the campus. The hillside around Negoesco Soccer Stadium, which was about half an acre; the west side of Lone Mountain campus along Parker Street, about 2.5 acres; and the north side of Lone Mountain campus along Anza Street, which is a little over an acre.
Where do they go when they are not eating their way through USF? During their stay at USF they remained on site. The company, City Grazing, provided 24-hour oversight during the work ... After a few days the goats settle in and get to know the site and you get about 14 hours of chewing out of them before they fall asleep each night.
