Prospect Park Is Throwing A Party To Welcome Back Their Famous Gardening Goats

Remember last year, when a happy herd of goats we brought to prospect park to eat all the weeds? Well, they’re coming back soon… and they’re hungry!

Next month sees the return of the city’s favorite gardeners, the Prospect park goats. They were brought in last year to trim the grass and weeds from the Vale of Cashmere and became an instant hit citywide. They were SO good they wound up eating themselves out of a job, but thanks to their popularity, and the tenacity of the weeds in the green space, they were brought back in August, later that year.

The Prospect Park Alliance is hosting a Fun on the Farm day to welcome back our furry friends on the May 21. You’ll be invited on a tour of where the goats’ work in the park’s woodlands, see a sheep shearing demonstration and be shown how sheep’s fleece is turned into wool.

The event is free and open to the public. You’ll find more details HERE.

Tomorrow is the last day the Prospect Park goats will be spending with the Prospect Park Alliance this year. While here, they worked diligently to clear the Vale of Cashmere of invasive and unwanted plants, like poison ivy. The clearing of areas via goat is a multiple-step process, however. They’ll make the journey back to Prospect Park next year to continue their work. After they finish, the Prospect Park Alliance will be able to plant new native species, which will allow the area to flourish once more. Thanks to the goats for doing such a great job! We’ll see you again next year ??? #ProspectPark #prospectparkgoats #brooklyn #goats #fall ?: Paul Martinka

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The goats are back! After a brief respite to allow plants to grow back, they’re back in action. Mary Keehbauch, foreperson of the Alliance’s Natural Resources Crew, oversees the goats and spoke with us about their time together. “It is great to have the goats back to continue their important work,” said Mary. What is it like to work with goats? According to Mary this earth-friendly approach has been a learning experience. “Each day the crew (also performing restoration work), first checks the goats, bringing them fresh water and herding them to the area that needs the most grazing. We secure them in the area having learned the hard way that the goats want to be where ever we happen to be working. They treat us as if we are an extension of their group. It’s sweet, really.” At the end of the day, the goats are returned to their overnight pen with fresh water and enough forage to last until the morning. The goats are a valuable asset to the restoration efforts of the Prospect Park Alliance, and they might be Prospect Park’s most adorable workers. #ProspectPark #prospectparkgoats #goats #brooklyn #summer ?: @bianca.nelson

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Check out this awesome goat photo thanks to @yukimonsta! ?? #ProspectPark #prospectparkgoats #Brooklyn

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