Mike Scott
13th August 2008, 07:31 AM
Jared Lewis is an engaging 32-year-old with a liberal arts degree, a vast knowledge of weeds and a curious profession. Sometimes he calls himself a "grazing specialist." In fanciful moments, he'll introduce himself as a "modern-day pastoral nomad." In plain English, he'll acknowledge he's a goatherd.
As a manager in a San Francisco company called Living Systems Land Management, Lewis oversees a crew of hungry but fickle employees: 600 sheep and 300 goats that are eating the weeds and grass near San Jose's airport radar equipment.
It is the year of weed-snackers rather than weed-whackers. As a way of controlling invasive vegetation and renewing the land, the ancient idea of using sheep and goats is finding renewed favor. In Northern California alone, at least 10 companies compete for the business.
The Living Systems people stress that this is not - repeat, not - mowing. The sheep and goats are not machines. While they're on the job 24 hours a day, they work at their own pace. And sometimes, they leave a stalk or two standing.
"You have to treat the animals as you would human beings," he said. "In the heat, they may want to lie down, chill and drink some water. You can't just say, 'Eat!' "
Munched, not mowed
A spokeswoman for Living Systems, Charlotte Lewis, who happens to be Jared's mother, says the company - which rents animals from farmers - used herds on 100 acres last year. This year, they expect the acreage to exceed 300.
Twenty-six of those acres belong to the Mineta San Jose International Airport. If you take De La Cruz Boulevard south from Highway 101, you can see the goats and sheep on the right. They're expected to be on the job until mid-June, chewing through a couple of acres a day. Total cost to the city: $11,700.
"It's a nice thing to brighten your morning to see a flock of sheep out there next to a piece of radar equipment," said airport spokesman David Vossbrink. "It's a reminder that you don't have to have the latest technology to solve a problem."
That doesn't mean supervising a herd of sheep or goats is a stroll in the park. As delicious as the yellow-star thistle or tumbleweed is, it won't do as a whole diet. So Lewis and his colleagues supplement the feed with sources of minerals, like white beans. And because each animal will drink as much as a gallon a day, they bring in water in a 500-gallon tanker truck, letting the goats and sheep drink from large vats.
Herd on the street
Urban herding presents its own unique problems. The Living Systems people say they have to educate onlookers that it is different than, say, raising a goat in your back yard.
A certain number of animals, for example - about 1 percent - will die in a season from natural causes, particularly because many are older and are not expected to be slaughtered for meat. That can cause consternation in the neighborhood.
"A homeowners association, if they see a dead animal, might call the police or humane society," said Charlotte Lewis. "We often have to write dissertations about our animal care."
The Living Systems people (www.livingsystemslandmanagement.com) take care to treat the animals well, providing 24-hour human supervision with American and Peruvian shepherds. (The latter are more accustomed to the job's loneliness.)
The advantages lie with a better ecological balance. Instead of using tractors and herbicides, cities and ecologically minded companies like Agilent let the animals do the work, leaving their droppings to fertilize the ground.
"It's post-modern," says another Living Systems manager, Brian Kirbis. "It's not only good for ecology, it's good for business."
PS: Yes this is the same group of goats that we see around the runways/taxiways at SFO every once in awhile. Those of you not familiar with the old board will no doubt question the affinity with goats and what it has to do with aircraft etc. Just accept that it does and please dont ask us to explain !!! :o:o:o:o
As a manager in a San Francisco company called Living Systems Land Management, Lewis oversees a crew of hungry but fickle employees: 600 sheep and 300 goats that are eating the weeds and grass near San Jose's airport radar equipment.
It is the year of weed-snackers rather than weed-whackers. As a way of controlling invasive vegetation and renewing the land, the ancient idea of using sheep and goats is finding renewed favor. In Northern California alone, at least 10 companies compete for the business.
The Living Systems people stress that this is not - repeat, not - mowing. The sheep and goats are not machines. While they're on the job 24 hours a day, they work at their own pace. And sometimes, they leave a stalk or two standing.
"You have to treat the animals as you would human beings," he said. "In the heat, they may want to lie down, chill and drink some water. You can't just say, 'Eat!' "
Munched, not mowed
A spokeswoman for Living Systems, Charlotte Lewis, who happens to be Jared's mother, says the company - which rents animals from farmers - used herds on 100 acres last year. This year, they expect the acreage to exceed 300.
Twenty-six of those acres belong to the Mineta San Jose International Airport. If you take De La Cruz Boulevard south from Highway 101, you can see the goats and sheep on the right. They're expected to be on the job until mid-June, chewing through a couple of acres a day. Total cost to the city: $11,700.
"It's a nice thing to brighten your morning to see a flock of sheep out there next to a piece of radar equipment," said airport spokesman David Vossbrink. "It's a reminder that you don't have to have the latest technology to solve a problem."
That doesn't mean supervising a herd of sheep or goats is a stroll in the park. As delicious as the yellow-star thistle or tumbleweed is, it won't do as a whole diet. So Lewis and his colleagues supplement the feed with sources of minerals, like white beans. And because each animal will drink as much as a gallon a day, they bring in water in a 500-gallon tanker truck, letting the goats and sheep drink from large vats.
Herd on the street
Urban herding presents its own unique problems. The Living Systems people say they have to educate onlookers that it is different than, say, raising a goat in your back yard.
A certain number of animals, for example - about 1 percent - will die in a season from natural causes, particularly because many are older and are not expected to be slaughtered for meat. That can cause consternation in the neighborhood.
"A homeowners association, if they see a dead animal, might call the police or humane society," said Charlotte Lewis. "We often have to write dissertations about our animal care."
The Living Systems people (www.livingsystemslandmanagement.com) take care to treat the animals well, providing 24-hour human supervision with American and Peruvian shepherds. (The latter are more accustomed to the job's loneliness.)
The advantages lie with a better ecological balance. Instead of using tractors and herbicides, cities and ecologically minded companies like Agilent let the animals do the work, leaving their droppings to fertilize the ground.
"It's post-modern," says another Living Systems manager, Brian Kirbis. "It's not only good for ecology, it's good for business."
PS: Yes this is the same group of goats that we see around the runways/taxiways at SFO every once in awhile. Those of you not familiar with the old board will no doubt question the affinity with goats and what it has to do with aircraft etc. Just accept that it does and please dont ask us to explain !!! :o:o:o:o