After around three years at the head of the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank’s goat grazing operation, Island farmer Zachary Jesse is hanging up his hat as lead goat herder.
The approval of a new awning for the Land Bank Goats comes after a meeting last month between land bank staff, the Agricultural Society and Island animal control officers on the wellbeing of the herd.
Questions about the wellbeing of the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank goat herd were raised at a meeting this week between land bank staff, Island animal control officers and the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society.
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank has acquired 120 goats, following a two-year pilot program at the Farm Institute, and plans to deploy them as living lawnmowers as early as next week. The goats will take up residency at Waskosim's Rock in Chilmark.
Imagine sheep grazing at Wasque Point on Chappaquiddick, or goats and cattle browsing the greenery at Long Point Wildlife Refuge.
It’s not a long shot if farmers and conservation groups can manage land together, says David R. Foster, an ecologist and director of the Harvard Forest.
“This is a fabulous time for agriculture and there’s a wonderful opportunity for agriculture, land owners and conservationists to come together in a way that they haven’t previously,” Mr. Foster said in an interview at his home this week.
“Do you hear them?” Kristen Fauteux said standing at the edge of Daggett Pond at Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary.
The still June morning had just settled over the pond on Wednesday as three pygmy goats made their maiden voyage from the head of the pond to its eastern edge, a small wake trailing behind their raft.
If this was a children's story, it might be titled Goldilocks
Meets Billy Goat Gruff. But the story is true, however bizarre, so
instead it must be titled something more straightforward, like Goats
Trash Chilmark Home. And the subtitle? Only on Martha's Vineyard.
