Goats on this NC farm are helping control the invasive Kudzu weed
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- Опубликовано: 28 июн 2018
- Meet the Kudzu goat gang of Wells Farm in Horse Shoe, NC. These goats are highly sought after around the Southeast for clearing out hard to reach infestations of the strangling Kudzu weed. See how these goats work in a sustainable, efficient and most delightful way.
I have 17 goats that keep my home safe from fire! Six years ago, they saved our lives. I live off-grid on a mountain in S. California. It burns here about every 6-10 years, out-of-control wildland fires. In 2006 my neighbors all lost their homes in the Esperanza fire. Worst of all, Five brave firefighters died while trying to save my neighbor's house. My neighbor built a beautiful memorial to those men instead of rebuilding his house. Now, firefighters come from all over to train and pay respects to this tragic loss of their brothers. I'm the "crazy goat lady" out here to some, but the firefighters love my goats and wish more people would do this. Six years ago, my house was surrounded by flames and my son and I weren't able to evacuate. I got sick with pneumonia from the smoke inhalation, but we survived and didn't lose any animals or buildings. There were two fire engine companies who stayed with us in the driveway, but they mostly watched. The fire didn't get close enough to burn the house because the goats leave nothing but rock and bare dirt for hundreds of feet around. When the worst was over, the fire captain told me, "Your goats SAVED your asses!" I love my goats!
@R V Probably should be! I've been trying to think up a different name, since "Lazy I Ranch" was what my ex called this place. He got that from a "Simpsons" episode.
Had a similar experience, but with cows saving house and plot, while fire took everything. As for the death of firefighters: no need to save building if nobody is inside...just dont do it...walk away and control it. It will anyhow go in flames some other day. Build fire proof
We used to do a lot of controlled burns here in California. One got out of control in N. LA county back in the 1970's. They were burning out brush under power lines and etc. After that fire they pretty much stopped doing ANY controlled burns. Those sure are some healthy looking goats in the video!
@@dennisg4053 that's exactly why our power cables are inside pipe conduit and buried. My house is powered by solar and wind, the two banks of batteries are inside a 20 ft. steel storage container. It's survived two major wildfires. We got the idea to use a storage container because of a story I read about how the US government brought solar power to a remote African village. They put the panels, inverters, and batteries inside the container and delivered it. They had it up and running in a day to power a mobile hospital. It's worked well, and I love having no poles and wires to spoil the view.
@Narciso Duran not too bad, but there was a boulder that weighs at least a ton that slid down the hill and now rests next to my house after a massive storm back in February. It would have happened anyway, rain was so bad it destroyed the bridge near my house and I wasn't able to get out for over a month. Further up the mountain, it took out large sections of highway that still aren't fixed. Might not be open until 2020. With all the rain, there's been a lot of growth of chaparral so our fire danger is very high. There were six new baby goats this Spring, i was going to sell some but decided to keep them all as they are needed to eat the brush. Also, they're too cute and i fell in love with all of them. That's always a danger with sweet goats.
We've been using this method for years here in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. We've even got them to target specific plant species so as to not disturb native species. With the country we have to deal with, goats can provide weed control that no herbicide can do. The best part is that their digestive system actually neutralizes the seeds and makes them sterile so they won't germinate. Bring on the Great Pyrenees puppies! Great video.
A natural way of dealing with it without poisoning the land.👍👍
Its used in Chinese medicine so bit of a waste destroying all of it !
@@raslion9974 It's all over the South, it won't ever be scarce
They're even fertilizing the land with their little goat pebbles. Lovely animals.
Way better than toxic pesticides!! Way to go!
@@raslion9974 Kudzu is an invasive species in the United States because the South does not have the frost that Japan has to keep it under control. Think of it like water hyacinth.
I didn't think much about goats until I was surprised one day to find a goat staked up on the edge of our neighbor's property. It was alone and scared. I turned around as not to face it. It came up sniffing me like it was going to chomp on my leather wallet. I found that goats greatly prefer their herd. Goats are smart and inquisitive. They are very social.
Here in Boston, MA, goats eat the poison ivy. They get their picture in the neighborhood paper every year.
@nuff said what they eat doesn't seem to affect the flavor.
As someone that raised a lot of goats as a teenager I can say it’s hard not to love them... they are the sweetest adults when treated right and the babies are so cute and playful ... to this day when I hear a baby goat call out to it’s mom I smile... they just little balls of life
I've been saying that for years. Wanted to rent a goat for the property. Those nay sayers need to shut their mouths when they don't know what they are talking about. Good job guys!
@Bill Rayvan fuck you dummy
@living the dream goats prefer weeds before grass. Or trees and brush. We have 20 acres with good grass and free choice hay bales. The goats will go after any weed theycan find or small trees and brush. They definitely don't have to be starved. They refused to eat Broome hay and preferred prairie especially if they could find a weed in it. We have mostly kiko goats. The Boers don't seem to like the weeds near as much.
Nay sayers...no pun intended.
This is a fabulous way to rid the forest and fields of unwanted plant matter. When I was 10 years old I saw a trip of goats clearing a hillside in Los Angeles, Ca. I was so impressed by the idea that this could work anyplace and the value to the soil was surprising. The eat to clear unwanted plants, they drop fertilizer, the break up the soil by walking on it, they do a neat job. If our forests were cleared of grasses where fire breaks are need, this could help reduce the potential of losing control of fires in some events. I commend you for having executing your dream. I still wish I had and I'm now 80. Natural resources are not as costly as losing thousands of acres of wilderness and so many homes and treasurers they held within.
Wonderful animals. Once my neighbors loaned me their goats. The goats cleared the vegetation down to the soil *and* the goats were friendly and fun to be with.
Such a wholesome story!
@@MinaBellonaAckerman Here’s an idea keep multiplying the goats until there’s enough of them to eat invasive plants Up to the point where they will be none left
@@jamessparkman6604 that sounds like a plan to me :-). A cool plan 😎👌💯%. Yeah. I hate invasive species of plants too. I specially hate invasive animals.
@@eddypuentes6155 Just the same You might want to remember that there are some invasive species with thier good points
@@jamessparkman6604 name 3.
You can cut down on their hoof maintenance substantially by just bringing large boulders for them to climb on
That's good info thanks.
@David cool story bro. Try harder next time
@David No, he was talking about you. He correctly identified your true gender.
@David cit?????? Don't you mean c l i t ?
@David Says the guy who is circumcised...
Charge to get free feed for your goats. Sounds like a good business model!
We have a neighbor in Glendale Arizona that rents out her sheep for people who buy overgrown properties. They are not like goats who eat everything but he sheep do eat tons of grass. I see you loan out your goats. Really a great way to go.
Love your business! Thank you for providing a safe and enjoyable way to clear brush!
Goats in the trailer are like: "Weeee!!!! We're going on a picnic!!!!"
SO HAPPY to see you keep a family farm going!
Enjoyed watching your goats! That's AMAZING that you get paid for them eating weeds!!! Blessings!!!
Would have loved to see a wide angle still camera placed in posistion filming for a couple weeks to get a sense of how the goats devour an area. Great video though
Falcon262. Several other people have done it. One couple sat a camera up in their badly overgrown backyard and let it run for 6 days. You wouldn't believe what the goats uncovered. Look around. I'm sure you'll see one because these goats are catching on all over the country, especially in the south because of the kudzu. They love the stuff.
@@marlenalinne7958 Is that the one with the steep garden, that the goats ate everything except one particular plant? Everyone was of the opinion that that thing must taste vile if even the goats wouldn't eat it.
@@snipper1ie Yes, I think so. And they uncovered what looked like, maybe, some steps made out of landscape timbers. But there are so many videos going around now that it would really be hard to tell. They're really cool to watch.
@@marlenalinne7958 I mentioned that video in my shop and another guy said he watched it too
@@marlenalinne7958 totally false, they dont eat kudzu at all.
Goats are the GOAT for weed control.
HA! I see what you did there.
I would love a hobby like this! I love goats and I like how they can be used for weed management. What a wonderful life these people have and also the goats!
I know these folks! Good mountain people and proud to be thier friends
I run my own little goat farm too here in Jamaica
We all the same just from different places. My parents run a a corn farm with some cattle here in mexico
Your farm address please and what price you sell at ?
YES MON!!!!
They keep some handsome, healthy animals. Nice!
I like how they self load
Goats are very cute😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😍😍😍
Goats a very intelligent. And know their keepers. I got 180 of them. My main milking herd will come to me on call. Try that with sheep.
They probably figured it out "Oh We're going to a Restaurant? Great Drive on Hooman!" and hop aboard.
We lived on Banner Farm Rd in the 1980s. Loved the Dairy Farms that used to be there...Love your goats
nice to see the Farm still going.
Those goats look so happy to get to all that food!
This is wonderful! I am glad to see a natural way of brush clearing using goats in our parks. There have been controlled burns by fire crews here also in the past, and unlike fire, I believe goats pose no threat to the wildlife. I grew up in Gaston County, NC and spent time hiking at Crowders Mountain State Park in NC and camping/hiking at nearby Kings Mountain State Park in York County, SC. There is a trail that crosses the state line between the two, around 12 miles long. Beautiful places in both states to take the family, although Crowders Mountain is dangerous in certain places, especially at the top. There has been a rash of deaths in scenic places associated with folks falling from heights in the US, and this is one of them. Watch your children closely! The Kings Mountain Military Park, part of the National Park Service, is the site of a Revolutionary War Battleground, called 'The Turning Point' of the Revolution in the South, and is adjacent to the Kings Mountain State Park, where camping is available. Y'All come see us here in the Piedmont of the Carolinas, and bring your money!
Some environments require fire to reproduce. In other words, the right tool for the job at hand.
Ti Man
Fire isn’t as cute as goats.
@@countessratzass5408 True and it would be great if fire was not required in some areas but it is.
Infomercial reply...🙈
Tell me how feral goats came in australia.
Y'all don't have as much trouble with snakes as we do down here in Florida. Just a couple of small pigs and let them go into the field. Small pigs so they can get into the tight places snakes go and under the places Kudzu grows. Those pigs will love eating those snakes. The snake bites won't hurt the pig. This will help keep you and your goats safe.
I think that anything that helps reduce Kudzu is a wonderful thing. Having that something involve goats is just priceless.
As it happens I like puppy videos and I have watched my fair share of kittens. But when I'm feelin' down and need a little lift to my heart it is baby goats that I watch.
Aunt B
Aunt B
Why don’t the bites hurt the pigs?
@Countess Ratzass: People believe all kinds of nutty crap. Any venomous snake that can hurt a goat if it bites it can hurt a pig if it bites it. Non venomous snakes won’t hurt anything too big to swallow. If it’s large enough to swallow a goat whole, it can swallow a “little pig” whole as well. I don’t care if they kill giant pythons down in Florida, but I don’t understand people who just hate all snakes indiscriminately. They eat mice and rats, why kill them? May they suffer a plague of rodents.
@Lazy I Ranch ❤️ SoCal 🐍 In thirty years of hiking in the SanGabriel’s I’ve never come across a Rosy Boa. 😕 I guess they don’t like the mountains. Lots of Gopher, California King, and Patch nose. Horned lizards are cool too.
@@A1Skeptic I was so happy the first time I found a horned lizard, I cried! I spent my first 40 years in Texas, played with "horny toads" as a kid, but they're pretty much extinct there now. I was thrilled to learn we have plenty up here on San Jacinto mountain, along with some beautiful jewel-toned varieties of lizards. Pesticides and fire ants killed off the big red Harvester ants that horned lizards eat, but we have plenty of those ants here. I will not use any kind of poison, I look for natural ways to deal with pests. I also keep a kiddy pool with water and rocks for the bees. I used to see big swarms here, but sadly the numbers have really decreased.
Great story, a natural safe way to get rid of invasive species of plants.
Not only does the goat clear the brush...they also provide free fertilizer!
Kudzu is edible and safe to eat. It’s considered a staple vegetable in Japan. Make sure the plant you’re harvesting is safe to eat. Most kudzu vines in the wild have been sprayed with herbicides. Don’t eat them if you’re unsure whether they’ve been sprayed with chemicals or not.
Kudzu leaves and young shoots can be served raw or cooked, tossed on a salad, added into soups, deep-fried or stir-fried. Much like the common arrowroot, kudzu roots are also full of edible starch. This starch is a powerful thickening agent used in soups, stews, and sauces. It is also gluten-free, making it a great wheat flour substitute for those with a gluten allergy or intolerance. The fragrant blossoms can be served raw, cooked, or pickled. Flowers can be used as an edible garnish on salads and desserts and you can make them into jelly, syrup and candy.
Kudzu has so many health benefits to offer: rich in dietary fibers, making it a good and filling energy source. It’s also a great source of minerals, such as iron, sodium, calcium, potassium, copper, magnesium, and manganese. It does contains isoflavones which act like estrogen in the body, often used to treat menopause symptoms. Studies also suggest that kudzu’s isoflavones may be able to prevent and help treat breast cancer and uterine cancer.
Kudzu is also a popular herb among those with drinking problems. This herb can treat alcoholism and relieve hangover symptoms, such as headaches, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. It’s believed that kudzu can combat drinking addictions by increasing blood flow and making drinkers feel the alcohol effects sooner. This way, drinkers are more likely to drink less and stop drinking earlier.
Kudzu is also used to treat other ailments, such as cold, fever, flu, hay fever, sinus infection, migraine, upset stomach, diarrhea, dysentery, muscle pain, and neck stiffness. It can also treat skin problems, such as itchiness, rash and psoriasis. Kudzu can help control blood sugar levels in diabetic patients as well. Lastly, it’s also great for treating cardiovascular diseases. The flavonoid-like compound in it increases blood circulation and flow. For this reason, kudzu works great to treat high blood pressure, stroke, cholesterol, angina, and even heart attacks.
Plants only grows because the Nature Goddess knows the locals/ people needs it.. it is their loss to eat junk foods and ineffective expensive meds instead of free medicine here.
It’s a Invasive species that chokes out native species, don’t really care to read your whole spiel about it been a good thing
In case anyone's wondering, the seeds are destroyed in the chewing & digesting process. So they are not "replanting." Talk about win-win.
Husband: We can make people pay us to feed our goats. Wife: I don't think so that is nuts. Husband: Hold my Beer.
This "weed" control method is marvelous. I hope it catches on. - By the way, humans can eat kudzu, too. But only the new tips. When steamed, those new tips taste a lot like asparagus.
We live in Colorado and Goats are our best friends. We have 6.
If a goat is your best friend you probably need to improve your social skills.
Awesome! The vineyards in my area are using sheep for weed control and ducks for pest control.
About 40 years back my dad bought 3 nannies and one billy to clear out a mess of privit and kuduz. They were the "nervous type" just clap your hands and they would freeze up and fall over. They would be murdered however if you did not keep them under electric fence due to dogs and coyotes. Kuduz can be controlled with most grazing animals however, it cannot tolerate over grazing, you must put enough animals on the plot to keep it grazed to the ground for about 2-3 seasons, it stores much food in it roots and if the roots are allowed to put out growth for a short time they will remain viable. The most money I made farming for the effort was with hogs (sows with piglets) on kuduz. They consumed little grain and required no protein supplements. That lasted about 2 summers until the hogs killed it out. The pigs brought top price at the feeder pig sales.
I got to see goats in action at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. There were some areas in the back of the property that were covered in Kudzu. They handled it like it was nothing. Lots of fun to see.
Goats are incredible animals. They eat virtually any plant matter (no, they don't eat tin cans). Have a patch of blackberry brambles? 10 goats can take down an acre in 2-3 days. They produce milk just as good as a cow. From which you can make cheese and many other dairy products. They are also very kind, gentle animals. They are entertaining to watch, and are very funny in their behavior.
They are also provide good meat. Sorry if that upsets you. But there is a reason why so many cultures across the globe, are goat herders.
Fabulous! Not a pesticide in sight!😁👏🥳💞
Please don’t play music, so we can hear the sounds of the land.
I couldn't agree more.
You have my dream job, I love goats!
Theyre so sweet! I love them! 🥺the couple AND the goats ! Awwww
What a nice couple! I'm pleased to see goats without annoying bells around their necks. Blessings from Canada. (Gordon's wife)
The state of Florida needs these to clear the I75 south roadsides.
I never seen nothin like it. Goats are under appreciated for their help. Thanks!
Who! clicked on the did not like button! Seriously what is not to like, nice old couple find good clean living and loads of goats!!
Hi neighbor! I've lived all my life right there in that area. How nice to see our area of Western North Carolina on youtube.
Goats can be fun. I used to have a couple.
What a great job yours do keeping down that dag blame kudzu.
Thanks for the clip. 👏 👏 👏
I seriously need these goats at my house!! The previous tenants didn't take care of the yard so there's a massive overgrowth of ivy
KRISTEN D0880 agreed. Sounds like my neighbors.
Ivy? TOXIC
Goats love poison ivy.
I live on NC/SC line. Kudzu was brought into US for erosion control. You live in a beautiful area. Thanks for sharing!
A lot of Kudzu in Alabama even in the 70's. Understand beneficial constituents in herbs is dependent on soil, climate, strain of plant, even altitude, etc. But Kudzu root is said to help people who drink too much, or addicted to alcohol reduce cravings for alcohol.
I had plans like this fellow is living. Using goats for land clearing. Plenty more, but this was one of my plans. Very natural.
Guess you got side tracked because you were not using the kudzu treatments.
@@chrisallen2005 😃, I never needed Kudzu, just something to stop all the acted out scripts that'll warp a person's mind.
Goats are natures lawn mowers lol...........
In german the noise they make we call "mäh", and the thing that cuts your grass mechanical is a Rasen (grass) Mäher. We have a lot of jokes about that.
@@sanSDI Thanks for the neat comment.
Goats don't mow lawns well at all. God made them to eat leafy shrubbery and if they get their food off the ground, they get wormy. Worms can cause death quickly in like 2 weeks by blood loss in the gut
Weed wackers
Hedge pruners
Goats are the most misunderstood livestock. I get to spend everyday with my goats better then humans.
ALL animals are better than humans.
@@BigRW
Certainly true as far as flavor of the meat.
@@BigRW
💯 🐙 NO CONTEST! 🐘🐨🐧🐢🐐 (just a few of my favs right here. Need an orca & a better goat emoji tho, imo)
Kudzu vs. goats.
Very entertaining.
After the goats eat it down, follow up with sheep; they’ll eat it down to the dirt.
And then send in the pigs, they'll turn the soil and eat the roots too.
@ettekamba6969 both goat and sheep are DELICIOUS
@ettekamba6969 if you like wool sheep are good too.
Some Kudzu is good to have for goat feed. Not good to kill it off.
Barbarians! We don't eat our goat friends! Make cheese out of the milk. It's better for kids than cows milk!
I could live on this farm; so peaceful and heaven-like.
Thank you for sharing this information.
I remember from my youth, how my uncle had nicely trimmed trees in his goat pasture. I watched as the goats stood on there hind legs and nibbled everything lower than six feet off, to make a landscape that looked like it had been professionally trimmed. Goats are great for getting rid of thorn bushes, also. They love blackberry and rose.
Thank you for the lovely video that is awesome little goats controlling weeds
Man you have a good-looking heard and that's the way to raise them
Such wonderful persistence and creativity.
Wonderful goats - Wonderful life - Bless you folks
The natural control for Kudzu. Goats and sheep. Need plenty in the Carolina's, Georgia, and even here in eastern Virginia. Idea....maintain a herd of goats (the larger species preferrably...not sure of the name...not a goat peson) and rent them out with a temp. solar electric fence and let them get their belly full. Need to check area for wolf-bane, cow-bane and other poisonous plant varieties first.
Now that is a great idea! I thought there would be a way to keep it in check!
It works! Brother-in-law's place was covered BUT the Goatees took it down to the ground and kept it there.
Your goats are very nice, warm greetings from Indonesia🇮🇩🇮🇩
Your goats are well behaved. It was a nightmare getting my neighbor’s goats loaded up in the trailer.
In Germany they have vegetable packs for making soups for less than one Euro (around 50 cents) this includes roots such as Kudzu root, carrots, leeks, onions then one can add other ingredients such as chicken - but is not necessary. And the grocery stores give out recipes.
They get right to work !
THIS WAZ A VERY KOOL LiL VIDEO HERE.
CONTINUED MUCH MORE SUCCESS 🐐🐐🐐
( KNUCKLE👊🏽BUMP ) My Home NC .....
Inspiration. Thanks!!!
Kudzu is used to feed horses when a drought limits the hay supply.
cows too.
Penguins, also.
But most who use it are irresponsible jerks and cause irreversible damage to endangered species and other property.
Interesting..never knew that.
Good man.. don't know what Kudzu is but in Australia we are run over by Black Berry bush and stinging Nettles which are all foreign introduced (hopefully by mistake) and the Goats annihilate them and never touch the native vegetation. We also have farmers that 'rent' them out. they get fenced off and eat until even the seeds in the ground are gone.. it's a new industry but absolutely amazing results.. they can handle steep hillsides, rocks,, you name it.. and they only attack the weeds... it's an amazing natural solution to mans worst enemy..WEEDS!
Stinging nettles have a lot of nutritional value and can be quite tasty. BEWARE: Some plants are commonly called nettles that aren't actually nettles and some of those mis-named plants are poisonous.
It's a common problem. For example, purslane is an edible and highly nutritious "weed", but the stuff my mom has been calling purslane all her life is actually a poisonous look-alike.
@@gewgulkansuhckitt9086 Hahah.. i wouldn't trust what we have to be anything other than poisonous. Australia is like that.. everything just about will either kill you or make you very sick.
@@bicanoo_magic3452 Yeah, like the suicide plant. That thing's horrific.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendrocnide_moroides
I think it's funny that people think you guys are getting paid just for letting your goats eat weeds. I'm sure it's a hell of a lot of work caring for and maintaining a herd that size. Hats off.
I've considered getting a couple or few goats to keep my property "mowed down" for me, but I can't be bothered to build a fence lol. I guess that's baad on my part.
Beautiful land and animal!
That was really great!
Klaus
You can distill Kudzu for bio fuel. The bare vines are goof for kindling and crafts. You too can eat the boiled leaves.
Yet another reason to love goats.
Ya, I love goats cause I don't own any.
@@nancyfahey7518 Your loss.
I'm here in SC and it hard to get rid of those vines it will take over the place. We had to burn them and use a back hoe to get the roots. Goats seem the better way to keep our property cleaned off. I'm only 15 minutes from king's mountain neighbor.
Goats are so cool also ! Like little crazy people !
One of the ways to use goats for weed control is to train the goats. You might have to walk your goats into the yard to show them the forage. Once they have figured it out and know how to take down the forage, they will move through it like a tank. But they need to arrive hungry, and usual is what the goats want.
Seriously, who would hit the dislike button for this?
That is really nice.
I love these stories of 21st Century American heroes/ranchers!
Scrolling through the comments and not one single goat joke, are you kidding me?
I enjoyed the video. I subscribed and gave thumbs up.
Thank you Stephen!! Those goats are great!!
I’m a goat lover ❤️
Love your videos watching from Bangladesh
Please stay connected
Beautiful dogs to watch over the flock.
I LOVE THIS COUPLE~~~~
I love how his wife loves the goats ...
we love our little goat herd, brush clearers extraordinaire - black berry brambles, little trees all just disappear and even better they love eating off the fence line, full rumens :D
Kudzu is taking over Tennessee!
Fantastic!,,
I may come see you guys sometimes and bring my grand.
Great business, wonderfull looking goats. How many lines of electric fencing are needed to control the herd, please. Blessings from Colombia
Goats are terrific 'cept when you find 'em on your car.
lovely goats.
saw that pink goat at the start of the video and thought this was going to be a lot more interesting then i was expecting XD it was still interesting just in a different way.
I really enjoyed my goats and check them every day and feed the LGDs