Semiahmoo residents use goats to clear overgrown land

Residents passing by a Semiahmoo subdivision recently may have done a double take as nearly two dozen goats munched on blackberry bushes while they cleared land for a new house to be built.

Goats named Booboo, Cause and Effect at their lunch from brush and weeds in St. Andrews Green, a Semiahmoo subdivision off Drayton Harbor Road, on September 29 while Carol Osterman, of Sedro-Woolley’s Akyla Farms, monitored their progress. J.R. Simmons and his wife, Maria, hired Osterman’s goats to clear the overgrown vegetation on their .3-acre lot in the St. Andrews Green subdivision, before they start construction on their future home.

Simmons said the couple researched using goats as a method of clearing land after seeing their neighbors in Lake Stevens do it and came to the conclusion that it was the best option for their lot. He said they wanted to start construction in March but were unable to hire a surveyor until the land, which contained blackberry bushes as tall as eight feet, was cleared.

“It’s just too big and too thick,” Simmons said. “For us it was far more environmentally appropriate, rather than trying to use a bazillion gallons of weed killer or big machinery to scrape it all out, and then you’d have erosion issues,” he said. “The goats were not just a cute and environmentally appropriate way, but just a better way in general for what our goals are.”

Using goats for land management isn’t a new concept. Many across the country use the same landscaping technique that Osterman made a business out of in 2006. California fire departments have made headlines for using ‘goatscaping’ for wildfire prevention, and Seattle Department of Transportation used goats to clear land under the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge in late September.

The goats prevent erosion because they don’t eat blackberry cane, which dissipates the rain’s force when the rain hits the ground. Osterman said the goats don’t hurt the ground more than walking on it, unlike heavy equipment that can impact soil compaction.

“Most landowners are looking at trying to get their land to a spot where they can maintain it,” Osterman said. “They don’t want all the vegetation gone. They just want to get everything under control.”

Goat clearing is in high demand with few businesses in northwest Washington, Simmons said. After several calls to people giving long waitlists, Osterman gave Simmons a three-month wait. The project took almost 10 days to complete.

Osterman said her favorite part is helping landowners enjoy their land again. 

“Being able to come and do this in an environmentally friendly way and being able to enjoy the view while I’m here is a plus,” she added.

Osterman charges a base rate of $400 per day, increasing depending on the project. Those interested in Osterman’s services can contact her by calling at 360/941-1533 or emailing barnyard@akylafarms.com.