Get Off My Lawn – #WATWB

It’s spring, I think. I know the Equinox has occurred, and the days are officially longer than the nights, but spring weather is never guaranteed in early April in New England. The last few years, it hasn’t really felt like spring around here until late May. One sure sign of spring, however, is the presence of people stuffing our mailbox, filling our newspapers and (the worst) bringing to our door, offers for lawncare.

I wrote about lawncare before – we’re not interested. Our yard is not a place for a lawn. Our yard is Maddie’s playground, the Editor’s firewood storage lot, home to the Editor’s vegetable garden and a table for 6-10 squirrels, a couple of chipmunks, a bunny or two and, a cauldron of hawks, a banditry of chickadees, a murder of crows, a chattering of starlings, a herd of wrens, a bevy of doves, a colony of bees, a college of cardinals, a bunch of ‘birdy-birds’ (as I am wont to call them), and apparently, an opossum whom we named Polly.

If it were up to the Editor and our daughter, our small yard would be home to chickens, baby versions of every feline known to man, the occasional bear cub and a veritable tribe of baby goats.

I mentioned the baby goats last, because I found a great article to share for the We Are The World Blogfest (#WATWB). The article was supposed to be shared on Friday, but Friday was Good Friday and I wanted a little less screen time that day. Apparently, my observance was appreciated, because I was rewarded with a better “good news” article than the one I was planning to share. I’m not suggesting that Jesus reads my blog – I’m just saying that I chose not to post and it turned out well for me. Draw your own conclusions.

My story comes from Pittsburgh, where the City Council signed a 5-year contract with a company that provides goats to complete some tricky landscaping jobs:

“It’s a great thing having the goats do this because they are able to get into areas where it may be a problem for our workers to get into,” said Mike Gable, public works director. “It helps to get rid of a lot of invasive vegetation like poison oak and ivy.”

I don’t know about you, but if a guy came to my door offering to let a goat loose in our backyard for a few weeks to take care of the crabgrass, I might just hire him.

Typically operating between April and November, Allegheny Goatscape sends the animals to a location, fences it off and allows them to graze until it is clear. Mr. Deming said it takes anywhere between 14 and 21 days to clear an acre of vegetation.

I think we’re all set, our yard is already fenced in.

Although this story boarders on silly, I’m posting it as part of “We Are the World Blogfest.” I like the fact that members of a city government are (for the most part) putting aside fears and concerns about liability, in favor of a novel solution that may produce better results.

#WATWB is a blog hop on the last Friday of every month. The blogfest is in its twelfth month of a year-long journey. Note: Late-breaking news indicates that the organizers are extending the blogfest for a second year. The goal is to spread the message of light, hope and love in today’s world. We are challenging all participants to share the positive side of humanity. This month’s co-hosts are: Belinda Witzenhausen, Sylvia McGrath, Sylvia Stein Shilpa Garg, and Eric Lahti.

Click HERE to check out the intention and rules of the blogfest and feel free to sign up at any time between now and February of 2019.

The Editor adds flowers to her vegetable garden to attract pollinators and friends.

This little bee is covered in pollen.

From last summer. We’ve seen bunnies this year, but only briefly.

The squirrels like to sit on the fence to eat.

“Thanks for the peanut!”

Yardgoats mascot

Maddie is ready once again to share her yard with the squirrels.

At the ballpark where the Hartford Yardgoats play, the attendants are “Goat Herders”

One of our bees

Maddie is a little confused by the stiff wind and the many smells it brings.

This little guy is getting a little too close.

Chippy

Birdy bird

“Hi Maddie. I just came by to see if I could snag a peanut.”