In the Town of Hempstead, hungry goats will munch your Christmas tree
The Town of Hempstead’s annual “Mulchfest” — in which residents can have their live Christmas trees chopped into mulch — will offer a new way to dispose of pines this year: hungry goats.
Several Long Island farms accept the evergreens to feed their menageries, but this will be the first time the town has ventured into the world of recycling Christmas trees via goats.
The town has kept Nigerian Dwarf goats in Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve in Merrick since 2009. The eight goats, which are part pet and part employee, chow down on invasive vegetation and overgrowth.
During this year’s third annual mulch event, Hempstead residents can choose to have their tree mulched or donate it for the herd to nosh on a nutritious, post-holiday treat, Supervisor Donald Clavin said. Pines provide a source of vitamin C for goats and also are a dewormer.
“It’s a fun time,” Clavin said. “We’re always looking for new ways to help the environment.”
The goat herd got a taste of what’s in store for them in the coming weeks at a news conference Tuesday. About 100 pounds each — and roughly the size of a large dog — the animals wandered out of their enclosure and descended upon pines that Pat’s Farms on Merrick Avenue donated.
Elvis, a third-generation goat, led the pack as they nibbled on the evergreens. Sneezy, the oldest in the herd at 13 1/2 years old, lazily chomped on pine needles, while park workers gave Freckles some pats and scratches.
This year’s public event will be held Jan. 7-8 at Baldwin Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The goats will kick their heels with joy for the firs, said Tina Ryan, Levy Park’s chief ranger. Residents who frequent the park and know the goats occasionally have dropped off trees in the past for the herd, but an influx of pines is expected this year during Mulchfest.
“They like the bark. They like the pine needles,” Ryan said. “They eat the whole thing.”
Park visitors shouldn’t feed the goats without permission, and trees should be donated free of tinsel or holiday decor, according to the ranger.
Each of Hempstead’s goats has a distinct personality, Ryan said.
She described Elvis as a “rock star,” and said goat Naughty, as one might guess, has a mischievous streak.
The goats, practically local celebrities among visitors, are friendly and often interact with humans on their daily strolls through the park, which used to be a landfill before its transformation into a nature preserve.
“They’re a big attraction,” Ryan said. “A lot of people come to the park to visit the goats. … You can come take a nice little pleasant walk and also see goats at work. They are our little rangers, too.”
The Town of Hempstead’s annual “Mulchfest” — in which residents can have their live Christmas trees chopped into mulch — will offer a new way to dispose of pines this year: hungry goats.
Several Long Island farms accept the evergreens to feed their menageries, but this will be the first time the town has ventured into the world of recycling Christmas trees via goats.
The town has kept Nigerian Dwarf goats in Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve in Merrick since 2009. The eight goats, which are part pet and part employee, chow down on invasive vegetation and overgrowth.
During this year’s third annual mulch event, Hempstead residents can choose to have their tree mulched or donate it for the herd to nosh on a nutritious, post-holiday treat, Supervisor Donald Clavin said. Pines provide a source of vitamin C for goats and also are a dewormer.
“It’s a fun time,” Clavin said. “We’re always looking for new ways to help the environment.”
The goat herd got a taste of what’s in store for them in the coming weeks at a news conference Tuesday. About 100 pounds each — and roughly the size of a large dog — the animals wandered out of their enclosure and descended upon pines that Pat’s Farms on Merrick Avenue donated.
Elvis, a third-generation goat, led the pack as they nibbled on the evergreens. Sneezy, the oldest in the herd at 13 1/2 years old, lazily chomped on pine needles, while park workers gave Freckles some pats and scratches.
This year’s public event will be held Jan. 7-8 at Baldwin Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The goats will kick their heels with joy for the firs, said Tina Ryan, Levy Park’s chief ranger. Residents who frequent the park and know the goats occasionally have dropped off trees in the past for the herd, but an influx of pines is expected this year during Mulchfest.
“They like the bark. They like the pine needles,” Ryan said. “They eat the whole thing.”
Park visitors shouldn’t feed the goats without permission, and trees should be donated free of tinsel or holiday decor, according to the ranger.
Each of Hempstead’s goats has a distinct personality, Ryan said.
She described Elvis as a “rock star,” and said goat Naughty, as one might guess, has a mischievous streak.
The goats, practically local celebrities among visitors, are friendly and often interact with humans on their daily strolls through the park, which used to be a landfill before its transformation into a nature preserve.
“They’re a big attraction,” Ryan said. “A lot of people come to the park to visit the goats. … You can come take a nice little pleasant walk and also see goats at work. They are our little rangers, too.”
Brinley Hineman covers the Town of Hempstead and the City of Long Beach for Newsday. She previously was a reporter in Nashville, Tennessee, and is a West Virginia native.
