Goats munch on grass in Confluence Park in Calgary as part of a pilot project to control invasive weeds. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

By Alison Sandstrom

Weed control

Goats on the grass: City ponders green mowing

Jul 16, 2020 | 12:34 PM

Are you looking for an environmentally-friendly alternative to your lawn-mower?

Prince Albert city council is considering allowing residents and companies to use supervised goats and sheep to clean-up grass and weeds.

The city’s politicians voted 5-4 to have administration prepare a report on the matter for discussion at a future meeting.

Council’s interest was sparked by a request from a resident who wanted to use them to clean-up his property in an industrial area of town.

Citing that Prince Albert already has a law on the books allowing for the use of goats and sheep for weed control on city property, Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp said it seemed reasonable to consider extending the option to citizens.

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“Since we passed that, I think it would make sense to look into this,” she told the meeting.

Mayor Greg Dionne had reservations. He told council the letter-writer brought goats to the same property in the past, only to have them escape.

“Someone cut the fence and the goats were out,” he said. “And unless you’re going to have a shepherd right there watching them in the city, that’s what’s going to happen.”

Coun. Evert Botha said he was also familiar with the property. He explained its terrain and set-up made it difficult to maintain using hand tools.

“It is a lot that could benefit from being cleaned up using goats,” he said.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom