breaking ground
Don't Lose
a Bid to Goats
T
Lauren Heartsill Dowdle
Editor-At-Large
he first article I wrote for TLC was about sheep. I mapped out a timeline
covering the history of mowers – starting with those wooly grass eaters and ending
with today's commercial ZTRs. But I had no idea livestock might be the past and future of lawn maintenance when I wrote that piece three years ago.
Chicago's O'Hare Airport enlisted the help of about 30 goats to maintain – or graze in
their case – its 120 acres, including spots along creeks and hills that are too difficult and
expensive to manually mow. Not only will these four-legged animals cut down on the grass,
they will also reduce carbon-dioxide emissions and the use of toxic herbicides. And natural
fertilizer is just another added bonus.
Although herds aren't going to trample and replace mowers anytime soon, it is interesting
to watch the continued movement of getting back to the natural basics.
A decade ago, you might have had trouble
selling sustainable projects such as rain gardens, green roofs or xeriscaping. Now, instead
of having to explain what those things are,
many are discussing which eco-friendly option
would work best for the sites and clients.
It's no longer an issue of "if" things are
changing in the industry, but "when" you will
adapt and profit from these practices. (You
can start your transformation by flipping to our
special sustainability section on page 21.)
So, don't just throw around the "go green"
buzzwords – change the way you think and
operate. Or, you may be out bid by a goat.
J U LY 2013
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