project leader
Gavin D
location
Pittsburgh
(Pittsburgh)
latest update rss
Trailer Purchased!

the project

We believe in caring for our public land by clearing problematic weeds so that our gardens and parks can be healthy.

Goats are proven to be an effective, eco-friendly and fun way to manage vegetation where overgrown and unwanted invasive plants are growing. The Allegheny GoatScape herd is adept at arriving at designated sites and immediately getting to work, eating through the plants until their job is done. They effectively provide a "clean slate" for those wishing to use the property, allowing the ability to manage the space, plant desired plants or get creative with how the space might be used for personal or community projects. 

In the years that this herd has been operating from site to site, they have lacked one significant component to their operation: legitimate transportation. A small horse trailer is a perfect size for this outfit, providing the opportunity for the animals to easily get in and out at a job site, without having to maneuver a truck to find just the right location to get in and out every time. A horse trailer allows safe travel, and easy in and out access.

the steps

Allegheny GoatScape will seek a quality used horse trailer that will sufficiently transport the herd and purchase it with the funds raised through this campaign. After obtaining this key component to the operation, Allegheny GoatScape will then be able to transport the herd to locations in need of their vegetation mitigation services in communities throughout the Pittsburgh region. A portion of the funds will allow the herd to operate on a site in need of goat management in 2017 for approximately two weeks as well.

why we're doing it

Using goats as a means to mitigate unwanted vegetation in vacant property and parkland settings addresses both environmental and community challenges. Invasive species run rampant in our urban and suburban settings, including the beautiful parks therein. Too often the solution is to apply chemical treatments that puts poisons into our environment, with residual effects. Mechanical solutions often fall short due to the topography of our region; our municipalities and land steward capacity simply don't have the capacity to address these vigorous growers. In some cases, invasive vines have blanketed large areas, choking out the native vegetation; in other situations unwanted plants have taken over lots, making neighborhood spaces appear to be blighted rather than a community asset.

Goats are an all-natural solution to these issues. Their ability to eat through vegetation reduces need to spray additional herbicides where they have worked. They also are able to get to hard to reach places that are difficult or impossible for humans and machines. 

Once goats have eaten through a property, the opportunities for that space can be reimagined. Parkland that was once seen as obstructed now carries the potential for new trails or native vegetation restoration. Vacant lots that only seemed to serve to collect trash considered an eyesore and liability can become spaces for neighborhood development.

Applying a goatherd to invasive plant-infested areas in the Pittsburgh region is not an end-all-be-all to address the environmental and community challenges we face with these areas, but it can be a significant piece of the solution. 

 

budget

Disbursed Budget:

trailer = $3,000
set up and work for goats for approximately an acre: $500 + $1,500 = $2,000
promotional materials = $145.63



RAISED = $5,335.00
 less ioby Platform Fee  $35.00
less ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $154.37
TOTAL TO DISBURSE = $5,145.63

Original Budget:

1 – used 2-horse trailer. Quality trailers in the region tend to cost up to $3,000 on Craigslist and rennug.com (a local farming classifieds page)

1-1.5 acre of work for the goats, totaling approximately 3 weeks of work. If a client or partner were to pay for these services, it would cost $500 for set up and $90/day for the duration of the project. This cost was determined based on our operation and debt allocation/capital costs for the organization. Crowd sourced funding through ioby may not quite reach that amount, but it will still show supporters the good work that the goatherd provides on a demonstration site, addressing knotweed or other invasive species. 



SUBTOTAL = 5,000
ioby Platform Fee  $35
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $150
TOTAL TO RAISE = $5,185

 

updates

Trailer Purchased!

We wanted to make sure you all knew that thanks to you we purchased a used trailer - slant trailers are not easy to find these days! We were excited to find this one and the previous owner, Ashley was happy that it was going to a good home. 

The goats have yet to use it, but will be happy to ride in spacious luxery to their future projects! 

Thank you!

 

Allegheny GoatScape's "new" trailer!

You did it! so we can do it!

Thanks to you, we are able to purchase our own trailer to get the herd out and about, as well as get them out on a site to be determined this summer. 

It was such an encouragement to receive support from 78 different donors over the duration of the month. This broad support confirms that the goats are doing something good and beneficial for our landscapes (their cute faces and friendly demeanor help), and now, with our own trialer, we'll be able to get around easily, and in relative style!

We look forward to you being able to see a trailer around town adorning the logo below.

Thanks again to everyone who made this campaign a success.

Most sincerely,
Gavin

AGS logo

The Allegheny GoatScape herd is working!

It has been a very busy month, with the goats on their second project of the seaon after succesfully eating through targeted patches primarily of knotweed and poison ivy at Garfield Community Farm in Pittsburgh's Garfield neighborhood.

You might be wondering, "But I thought they didn't have a trailer - wasn't that the point of this fund raiser?" You would be right! We were able to utilize a trailer from OakGlade Realty in Pittsburgh's North Side to get the herd to and from their first few projects as a stop gap until we raise the funds to have our own.

Thank you to all of you who have supported this endeavor to date. We have one week left and are doing well but still need support. We are well on our way as we hit the home stretch; stay tuned!

 Goats in their temporary trailer The herd at Garfield Community Farm

On our way!

We are about a week into our Goats on the Go! campaign and things are looking good! Thanks to all of you who have already contributed!

A few of the herd got to take part in a wonderful celebration of Earth Day at Frick Park in Pittsburgh, getting to show off their stuff and nibble on some garlic mustard and other lush green unwanted vegetation. I think the goats that went told the others about it because they have been chomping at the bit (nearly literally!) to get into greener areas. We were able to get to Frick Park thanks to a friend of the herd lending his truck, but once we reach our goal, we'll be able to get there on our own accord. Thank you all for helping to make this a reality!

Favourite enjoys some treats in Frick Park on Earth Day

photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • Anonymous
  • William and Katherine Shimko
  • Chris and Kelly Cooke
  • Michael F.
  • John S.
  • JW/CW/AW
  • Janet G.
  • Elizabeth C Chapman
  • East End Remodleing
  • Anonymous
  • Mark W.
  • Derek L.
  • Dinette
  • Bradly and Carrie
  • Anonymous
  • Evaine
  • The Schenks
  • Anonymous
  • Sherry Anderson
  • Julie Holmes
  • Anonymous
  • Danny Bracken
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous
  • Nancy T.
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous
  • Robin Alexander
  • Anneke
  • Bryan and Sarah Perry
  • Anonymous
  • Emily Wilmore
  • Diane Jackson
  • Joe Radosevich
  • Taya Cohen
  • Laurie M.
  • Anonymous
  • Nancy Ross-Madnick
  • Anonymous
  • Gary C.
  • christopher tracey
  • Eileen K.
  • Grace P Ferguson
  • Dick & Judy Wallis
  • Erika & Andy
  • Jeanette Harris
  • Mark B.
  • Garfield Community Farm
  • Anna D.
  • Jeffrey P Bergman
  • Jake Milofsky
  • Brendan C.
  • Renee Rosensteel
  • Sara Rearick
  • Anonymous
  • Harold W.
  • Kaity
  • Gary & Sandy
  • Saleem and Patti Ghubril
  • King Wenceslas
  • Lynn
  • Pam & Ed Johnson
  • Tom Wilson
  • Kyle W
  • Marlene v.
  • Carolyn & Jonathan
  • Lora W
  • Weaver family
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous
  • Pam and Jim Evans
  • Love Goats, MI
  • Crissy
  • Joe
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous

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