11 goats are currently grazing the slopes of Cliff Drive, housed in a portable trailer enclosed with electric fencing. They graze during daylight hours and clear about one acre every two months. Our shepherding team provides the goats with water, additional food, and supervision. Every 2-3 weeks, Jerusalem Farm organizes volunteers to remove trash, clean the goat trailer and migrate the electric fencing to create a new grazing paddock. Our goal is to clear 3-4 acres a year and replant these spaces with native plants.

The goats inspire community events around the restoration process as well as allow people to interact with farm animals—something many people living in the Northeast have never done. Our goats have also been invited to neighborhood events where people are thrilled to meet them and create a rural connection within the urban core. Citizens visit the park to watch the goofy creatures work, learn about habitat restoration, and enjoy nature in the city.

Short-term impacts include reduction of invasive species, clean parks, decreased likelihood for illegal dumping, and enhanced community engagement in restoration and the parks. Long-term impacts include increased visibility and natural health of our city environment, more hiking and biking trails created, and a standard of effective and sustainable land management in the parks.