Environmentally friendly weed control at Kendal-Crosslands Communities

Local herd of goats used to clear brush

KENNETT SQUARE » It’s not every day you see a heard of goats at a retirement community, however every day residents and staff at Kendal~Crosslands Communities in Kennett Square, care for the environment.

“We have a section of our 500-acre campus that can easily be overrun with invasive or otherwise problematic species of plants”, says Casey Groff, staff horticulturist and grounds manager. “Instead of resorting to herbicides, machine rental or exhausting manual removal, goats will eat and thrive on many of these weeds. This can be a win/win situation,” says Groff.

Goats are a beneficial land clearing tool. The versatility of goats as a sustainable agricultural asset has been well documented for centuries. Using goats in the role of eco-friendly, all-natural, land-clearing machines is a fairly new concept that is catching on across the nation as an option to herbicides.

“Our goats are our most important asset”, say Kalyn Butt, Owner, Green Grazer Goats. “Part of our core values is a belief that all creatures have a purpose and to date, we have rescued most of our herd and have given them a new purpose”, says Butt. “We were thrilled to partner with Kendal~Crosslands, it was a great match in values”, says Butt.

“Our campus includes a certified Arboretum surrounded by woods, meadows, tranquil water features, perennial gardens, over 7 miles of hiking trails, and rolling hills,” says Michele Berardi, Director of Community Outreach. “Our Kendal value of preserving the campus’ capacity to sustain and inspire, requires a creative responsibility towards the Earth and the goats were a creative experiment that was a hit with residents and staff,” says Berardi.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Goats clear the weeds at at Kendal~Crosslands Communities.