WHEN I FIRST READ about goats eating Christmas trees, I was skeptical. But then I watched a video on Goat Dispatch and saw for myself goats devouring these sharp-needled evergreens.
This Sunday afternoon, January 24, River Bend Nature Center in Faribault will feature the Christmas tree eating goats at Winterfest. The event runs from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Randy unloads our Christmas tree.
Last Sunday afternoon, on one of Minnesota’s coldest winter days thus far this season, my husband and I headed across town to River Bend. The parking lot was empty as we unlatched our Charlie Brown tree from the roof of the van and Randy pulled it onto a pile of discarded holiday trees.
I photographed these goats grazing in a pasture near Northfield in August 2015. They are not a part of Goat Dispatch.
I remember as a child reading that goats will eat tin cans. I may have gotten that idea from The Three Billy Goats Gruff, a favorite childhood fable. Myth or truth? Probably truth.
Goats graze on buckthorn at River Bend Nature Center, Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo October 2014.
Goat Dispatch, a rural Faribault business that rents out goats for land management/brush removal grazing, states online that goats have narrow strong mouths. I would expect that given Goat Dispatch goats have attacked invasive buckthorn at River Bend. I’m quite familiar with the sharp thorns of buckthorn.
This sign was posted on a fence enclosing Goat Dispatch goats at River Bend. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo October 2014.
And I personally know Goat Dispatch owners Jake and Amanda Langeslag. This young couple is about as down-to-earth friendly and honest as they come. They are passionate about the environment and their goats and their business. If they say goats eat Christmas trees—and they show that in a video—I believe them.
© Copyright 2016 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Love this. Great concept.
Yeah, pretty creative idea.
And I get an upset stomach from eating pepperoni pizza. 😦
Well, then, it is a good thing you are NOT a goat.
Someone accuses me of being an old goat. 🙂
Are you?
Crunch, crunch, crunch. 🙂 Aaron used to date a girl who had a goat landscaping business . They work hard, that is for sure! 🙂
I bet he learned a lot about goats. They are certainly cute.
That’s awesome. I love it!
I agree.
What a terrific idea and a great problem solver! To boot it’s a natural solution!! HooRAY!!! 😀
I agree.
Goodness, what a fantastic idea!
I knew you would appreciate this idea.
Hummm….. a belated Christmas dinner!
Oh, that is a creative thought. Why didn’t I think of that for a title for this post?
Not sure what all a goat will eat. I have found that deer here will eat most anything not poison. Deer here eat cactus, tree leaves and all sorts of other stuff and about every flower I find. While most of God’s creatures are “cute”, I really do not want to mess with any of them unless they are domesticated! I ran into a rather large “cute” fur-ball on my back porch early one morning. He had a cute “mask” to match (Raccoon). Problem was he wanted the food scrapes behind me that my wife was saving for the compost pile. I politely ducked back into the house and change the “rules” for food scraps.
Laughing here about that change in the food scrap rules. I would have retreated inside also when faced with a masked creature.
This is such an interesting concept, goats eating Christmas trees. I hope the goats come hungry 🙂
Goats are probably hungry all the time.
Just like children needing strong guidance to ‘funnel’ that unlimited energy of theirs, goats’ voracious eating tendencies can have positive outcomes, with some creative/constructive channeling!!!!!!!
There you go. Well explained.
I must say this is one of the most unique concepts I have ever heard of- goats eating Christmas trees. There is a never ending supply. Do you have any idea how many people actually take advantage of this service?
I love the name and enjoyed the video 🙂
Sue
I’ve not asked Jake about his customer base. I do know that other such businesses exist around the country. I agree about the name. It’s perfect, catchy and memorable.
Extremely interesting- What a great idea!
I just talked to Jake of Goat Dispatch this morning at church. He said he’s gotten 60 Christmas trees for his goats to eat.
Reblogged this on carolkean and commented:
Goats for hire! Don’t buy weed killer! “Goat Dispatch, a rural Faribault business that rents out goats for land management/brush removal grazing, states online that goats have narrow strong mouths. I would expect that given Goat Dispatch goats have attacked invasive buckthorn at River Bend. I’m quite familiar with the sharp thorns of buckthorn.
‘
I just saw a story on a Twin Cities TV station several days ago that the City of Minneapolis is considering hiring Goat Dispatch to get rid of buckthorn. Jake and Amanda Langeslag, who own the company, are the most wonderful young couple with two small children.