Vermont Town Buys Livestock To Save Money, ‘Go Green’

A Vermont town has decided to save some money and go green at the same time by renting a few sheep and goats to chomp down the grass at the city’s cemeteries.

And it seems to be working, as the chair of the Cemetery Commission in Charlotte, Vermont believes the town is saving a minimum of $2,000 each year on fuel costs, reports Newser.

The old-fashioned method of cutting grass seems to be popular with the residents as well, including Charles Russell, a farmer who has called it a “great idea.” Russell added that, “I have ancestors that are buried in various cemeteries.”

The method has been a great way for the city to keep the lawns at their local cemeteries trimmed, a problem that often faces small towns whose tight budgets have forced them to neglect their cemeteries.

NPR notes that Stephen Brooks, the town’s Cemetery Commission chairman, added that despite it being rather pastoral, the move is financially necessary. Brooks stated:

“Depending on the time of year, sheep and goats can chew a higher percentage or a lower percentage of what needs to be chewed down in direct proportion to how fast the grass is growing.”

The two goats and two sheep have been rented from a local farmer. Before the wonders of a power mower were discovered, grazing goats and sheep were an effective method used by towns to keep their grass trimmed, with some towns in England still leaving the work to the livestock.

So far, the town has only had one complaint for their replacement lawn mowers. Russell stated that, “There was just this one complaint from one person out of state who didn’t like the fact that the sheep were urinating and defecating on the hallowed ground.” He adds, however, that, “I’d say it’s not very respectful to spray gasoline and spray fumes all over the gravestones either.”

What do you think of Charlotte, Vermont’s decision to employ goats and sheep to cut the grass in their cemeteries?