Learning the Craft
About Our Practice
Toil Land Care LLC offers targeted grazing to aid in the reduction of invasive, nuisance, and unwanted vegetation. This process involves a herd of goats, contained within a pulsing electrical fence, which consumes all available foliage, inhibiting the plants ability to photosynthesize. This forces the plant to use its stored energy contained in it roots to re-leaf. This leaves the plant open for weather conditions, seasonal shifts, insects, pathogens, or other animals to cause further disruption in its growing pattern. This also provides a cleared area for further stem removal of the target species.
What’s with
the Goats?
Using goats for landscaping is an excellent alternative to using other, more modern alternatives, because of how natural they are. With modern methods, one will expect excessive use of pesticides and machinery, all of which has a number of harmful side effects. Alternatively, using the goats allows for a natural method of accomplishing the same tasks, without the side effects. This is also cost-effective in regards to uneven terrain, as they easily manage difficult terrain without requiring specialized machinery being brought in, or just the outright restructure of the terrain. They even come with some beneficial side-effects, being that their excretions naturally fertilize the land that they work on.
Promotes Biodiversity
Our goats help maintain local biodiversity by managing invasive species and allowing native plants to flourish.
Ease and Effectiveness
Our goats can navigate steep, rocky, or uneven terrain that conventional equipment cannot easily reach, ensuring thorough vegetation management in challenging areas.
Don’t Be Sheepish, Learn with Goats!
More than Meets the Goat
“While Goatman stories originated in the early 1970s, some of its legends are set in the late 1930s, within Prince George’s County, following the disappearances and/or deaths of multiple dogs, which were later attributed to the creature. However, given the condition of the remains, the deaths may more likely have been the result of passing trains. Despite evidence to the contrary, stories of Goatman’s existence continued to circulate, especially among local students. Go By Graffiti reading, “Goatman was here,” were not uncommon, and law enforcement would habitually receive calls of reported sightings, albeit with a number being pranks.” (“Goatman (Urban Legend),” n.d., para. 2)
Goat Grazing Facts!
Fact 1
The goats subside off of the leaves and tender shoots of the plants. They are of a hardy breed, Kiko, that thrives on the variety that foraging has to offer. The plants preferred but not limited to include;
Buckthorn, Honeysuckle, Poison Ivy, Autumn Olive, Wood Nettle, Eastern Red Juniper, Multiflora Rose, Vetch, overgrown Prairie Plants, Canadian Goose Berry, Raspberry and Black Caps, Barberry, Dame’s Rocket, and Sumac
Fact 2
These Goats have been adapted to eat a wide variety of plants, however there are still some that they avoid. Often it is the case that Wild Bergamont or Monarda species are left alone by the goats. Jack-in-the-Pulpit plants are more often stepped on than consumed. Both of these plants have the advantage of being considered beneficial for the surrounding ecosystem.
A few plants that prove to be more poisonous to the goats are Cherry species and Yew.
List of Services
Praire Planting and Maintenance
Safe removal of hazardous, diseased, or unwated trees. Precise techniques for controlled felling minimized property damage.
Natural Path Clearing
Enhance the beauty and accessibility of your landscape. Selective clearing for trails and pathways while preserving the natural environment.
Goat Driven Landscaping
Eco-friendly vegetation management. Our goats clear unwanted plants, brush, and invasive species, leaving your land naturally rejuvenated.
Interested in Our Services?
Our Goats are Standing By
Click Here and let’s get started on your next project with us!