Goats on this NC farm are helping control the invasive Kudzu weed 

We've been using this method for years here in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. We've even got them to target specific plant species so as to not disturb native species. With the country we have to deal with, goats can provide weed control that no herbicide can do. The best part is that their digestive system actually neutralizes the seeds and makes them sterile so they won't germinate. Bring on the Great Pyrenees puppies! Great video.

I have 17 goats that keep my home safe from fire! Six years ago, they saved our lives. I live off-grid on a mountain in S. California. It burns here about every 6-10 years, out-of-control wildland fires. In 2006 my neighbors all lost their homes in the Esperanza fire. Worst of all, Five brave firefighters died while trying to save my neighbor's house. My neighbor built a beautiful memorial to those men instead of rebuilding his house. Now, firefighters come from all over to train and pay respects to this tragic loss of their brothers. I'm the "crazy goat lady" out here to some, but the firefighters love my goats and wish more people would do this. Six years ago, my house was surrounded by flames and my son and I weren't able to evacuate. I got sick with pneumonia from the smoke inhalation, but we survived and didn't lose any animals or buildings. There were two fire engine companies who stayed with us in the driveway, but they mostly watched. The fire didn't get close enough to burn the house because the goats leave nothing but rock and bare dirt for hundreds of feet around. When the worst was over, the fire captain told me, "Your goats SAVED your asses!" I love my goats!

Here in Boston, MA, goats eat the poison ivy. They get their picture in the neighborhood paper every year.

Charge to get free feed for your goats. Sounds like a good business model!

I didn't think much about goats until I was surprised one day to find a goat staked up on the edge of our neighbor's property. It was alone and scared. I turned around as not to face it. It came up sniffing me like it was going to chomp on my leather wallet. I found that goats greatly prefer their herd. Goats are smart and inquisitive. They are very social.

I've been saying that for years. Wanted to rent a goat for the property. Those nay sayers need to shut their mouths when they don't know what they are talking about. Good job guys!

Would have loved to see a wide angle still camera placed in posistion filming for a couple weeks to get a sense of how the goats devour an area. Great video though

A natural way of dealing with it without poisoning the land.👍👍

Goats in the trailer are like: "Weeee!!!! We're going on a picnic!!!!"

I run my own little goat farm too here in Jamaica

You can cut down on their hoof maintenance substantially by just bringing large boulders for them to climb on

Husband: We can make people pay us to feed our goats. Wife: I don't think so that is nuts. Husband: Hold my Beer.

Love your business! Thank you for providing a safe and enjoyable way to clear brush!

Wonderful animals. Once my neighbors loaned me their goats. The goats cleared the vegetation down to the soil *and* the goats were friendly and fun to be with.

Goats are natures lawn mowers lol...........

Please don’t play music, so we can hear the sounds of the land.

Not only does the goat clear the brush...they also provide free fertilizer!

This is a fabulous way to rid the forest and fields of unwanted plant matter. When I was 10 years old I saw a trip of goats clearing a hillside in Los Angeles, Ca. I was so impressed by the idea that this could work anyplace and the value to the soil was surprising. The eat to clear unwanted plants, they drop fertilizer, the break up the soil by walking on it, they do a neat job. If our forests were cleared of grasses where fire breaks are need, this could help reduce the potential of losing control of fires in some events. I commend you for having executing your dream. I still wish I had and I'm now 80. Natural resources are not as costly as losing thousands of acres of wilderness and so many homes and treasurers they held within.

As someone that raised a lot of goats as a teenager I can say it’s hard not to love them... they are the sweetest adults when treated right and the babies are so cute and playful ... to this day when I hear a baby goat call out to it’s mom I smile... they just little balls of life

We have a neighbor in Glendale Arizona that rents out her sheep for people who buy overgrown properties. They are not like goats who eat everything but he sheep do eat tons of grass. I see you loan out your goats. Really a great way to go.

I like how they self load

Goats are the GOAT for weed control.

After the goats eat it down, follow up with sheep; they’ll eat it down to the dirt.

They keep some handsome, healthy animals. Nice!

Enjoyed watching your goats! That's AMAZING that you get paid for them eating weeds!!! Blessings!!!

SO HAPPY to see you keep a family farm going!

Goats are the most misunderstood livestock. I get to spend everyday with my goats better then humans.

I'm here in SC and it hard to get rid of those vines it will take over the place. We had to burn them and use a back hoe to get the roots. Goats seem the better way to keep our property cleaned off. I'm only 15 minutes from king's mountain neighbor.

nice to see the Farm still going.

Scrolling through the comments and not one single goat joke, are you kidding me?

Kudzu is edible and safe to eat. It’s considered a staple vegetable in Japan. Make sure the plant you’re harvesting is safe to eat. Most kudzu vines in the wild have been sprayed with herbicides. Don’t eat them if you’re unsure whether they’ve been sprayed with chemicals or not. Kudzu leaves and young shoots can be served raw or cooked, tossed on a salad, added into soups, deep-fried or stir-fried. Much like the common arrowroot, kudzu roots are also full of edible starch. This starch is a powerful thickening agent used in soups, stews, and sauces. It is also gluten-free, making it a great wheat flour substitute for those with a gluten allergy or intolerance. The fragrant blossoms can be served raw, cooked, or pickled. Flowers can be used as an edible garnish on salads and desserts and you can make them into jelly, syrup and candy. Kudzu has so many health benefits to offer: rich in dietary fibers, making it a good and filling energy source. It’s also a great source of minerals, such as iron, sodium, calcium, potassium, copper, magnesium, and manganese. It does contains isoflavones which act like estrogen in the body, often used to treat menopause symptoms. Studies also suggest that kudzu’s isoflavones may be able to prevent and help treat breast cancer and uterine cancer. Kudzu is also a popular herb among those with drinking problems. This herb can treat alcoholism and relieve hangover symptoms, such as headaches, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. It’s believed that kudzu can combat drinking addictions by increasing blood flow and making drinkers feel the alcohol effects sooner. This way, drinkers are more likely to drink less and stop drinking earlier. Kudzu is also used to treat other ailments, such as cold, fever, flu, hay fever, sinus infection, migraine, upset stomach, diarrhea, dysentery, muscle pain, and neck stiffness. It can also treat skin problems, such as itchiness, rash and psoriasis. Kudzu can help control blood sugar levels in diabetic patients as well. Lastly, it’s also great for treating cardiovascular diseases. The flavonoid-like compound in it increases blood circulation and flow. For this reason, kudzu works great to treat high blood pressure, stroke, cholesterol, angina, and even heart attacks. Plants only grows because the Nature Goddess knows the locals/ people needs it.. it is their loss to eat junk foods and ineffective expensive meds instead of free medicine here.

Kudzu vs. goats. Very entertaining.

The natural control for Kudzu. Goats and sheep. Need plenty in the Carolina's, Georgia, and even here in eastern Virginia. Idea....maintain a herd of goats (the larger species preferrably...not sure of the name...not a goat peson) and rent them out with a temp. solar electric fence and let them get their belly full. Need to check area for wolf-bane, cow-bane and other poisonous plant varieties first.

Goats helped save the Ronald Reagan Library from burning. October 31, 2019

Your goats are well behaved. It was a nightmare getting my neighbor’s goats loaded up in the trailer.

In case anyone's wondering, the seeds are destroyed in the chewing & digesting process. So they are not "replanting." Talk about win-win.

This "weed" control method is marvelous. I hope it catches on. - By the way, humans can eat kudzu, too. But only the new tips. When steamed, those new tips taste a lot like asparagus.

I would love a hobby like this! I love goats and I like how they can be used for weed management. What a wonderful life these people have and also the goats!

I know these folks! Good mountain people and proud to be thier friends

We live in Colorado and Goats are our best friends. We have 6.

You have my dream job, I love goats!

The state of Florida needs these to clear the I75 south roadsides.

Fabulous! Not a pesticide in sight!😁👏🥳💞

I've considered getting a couple or few goats to keep my property "mowed down" for me, but I can't be bothered to build a fence lol. I guess that's baad on my part.

I seriously need these goats at my house!! The previous tenants didn't take care of the yard so there's a massive overgrowth of ivy

Kudzu is used to feed horses when a drought limits the hay supply.

Goats are wonderful to watch. Please don't buy any weed killer because they eventually cause cancer. 12/2019

This is wonderful! I am glad to see a natural way of brush clearing using goats in our parks. There have been controlled burns by fire crews here also in the past, and unlike fire, I believe goats pose no threat to the wildlife. I grew up in Gaston County, NC and spent time hiking at Crowders Mountain State Park in NC and camping/hiking at nearby Kings Mountain State Park in York County, SC. There is a trail that crosses the state line between the two, around 12 miles long. Beautiful places in both states to take the family, although Crowders Mountain is dangerous in certain places, especially at the top. There has been a rash of deaths in scenic places associated with folks falling from heights in the US, and this is one of them. Watch your children closely! The Kings Mountain Military Park, part of the National Park Service, is the site of a Revolutionary War Battleground, called 'The Turning Point' of the Revolution in the South, and is adjacent to the Kings Mountain State Park, where camping is available. Y'All come see us here in the Piedmont of the Carolinas, and bring your money!

goats could save california from wildfires. just let 10,000 of them go in the hills and there would be little to burn

Great story, a natural safe way to get rid of invasive species of plants.

Those goats look so happy to get to all that food!

Doing something for the environment OR making some money of it? Why not both, they have shown it's possible.

Seriously, who would hit the dislike button for this?

I wonder if it would help to follow up the goat clearing with some hungry pigs, they are vigorous rooters, and then plant mint, it is an aggressive plants that can be a real hassle but it produces something of value. Also, I understand that walnut tree roots give off an enzyme that inhibits competing undergrowth, I don't know if it is strong enough to to overcome kudzu. Does anyone have any more information on this subject?

I want goats. I should just put a huge fence in my yard and no one would know what I have in my yard. Then I would get my chickens back too.

It's win win situation, you get money they get food

I got to see goats in action at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. There were some areas in the back of the property that were covered in Kudzu. They handled it like it was nothing. Lots of fun to see.

Y'all don't have as much trouble with snakes as we do down here in Florida. Just a couple of small pigs and let them go into the field. Small pigs so they can get into the tight places snakes go and under the places Kudzu grows. Those pigs will love eating those snakes. The snake bites won't hurt the pig. This will help keep you and your goats safe. I think that anything that helps reduce Kudzu is a wonderful thing. Having that something involve goats is just priceless. As it happens I like puppy videos and I have watched my fair share of kittens. But when I'm feelin' down and need a little lift to my heart it is baby goats that I watch. Aunt B

They get right to work !

there is a saying in bengali, what crazy people say and what a goat wouldn't eat lol

I live on NC/SC line. Kudzu was brought into US for erosion control. You live in a beautiful area. Thanks for sharing!

Goats are incredible animals. They eat virtually any plant matter (no, they don't eat tin cans). Have a patch of blackberry brambles? 10 goats can take down an acre in 2-3 days. They produce milk just as good as a cow. From which you can make cheese and many other dairy products. They are also very kind, gentle animals. They are entertaining to watch, and are very funny in their behavior. They are also provide good meat. Sorry if that upsets you. But there is a reason why so many cultures across the globe, are goat herders.

You can distill Kudzu for bio fuel. The bare vines are goof for kindling and crafts. You too can eat the boiled leaves.

One of the ways to use goats for weed control is to train the goats. You might have to walk your goats into the yard to show them the forage. Once they have figured it out and know how to take down the forage, they will move through it like a tank. But they need to arrive hungry, and usual is what the goats want.

About 40 years back my dad bought 3 nannies and one billy to clear out a mess of privit and kuduz. They were the "nervous type" just clap your hands and they would freeze up and fall over. They would be murdered however if you did not keep them under electric fence due to dogs and coyotes. Kuduz can be controlled with most grazing animals however, it cannot tolerate over grazing, you must put enough animals on the plot to keep it grazed to the ground for about 2-3 seasons, it stores much food in it roots and if the roots are allowed to put out growth for a short time they will remain viable. The most money I made farming for the effort was with hogs (sows with piglets) on kuduz. They consumed little grain and required no protein supplements. That lasted about 2 summers until the hogs killed it out. The pigs brought top price at the feeder pig sales.

Awesome! The vineyards in my area are using sheep for weed control and ducks for pest control.

Man you have a good-looking heard and that's the way to raise them

Thats goat power

Great business, wonderfull looking goats. How many lines of electric fencing are needed to control the herd, please. Blessings from Colombia

We lived on Banner Farm Rd in the 1980s. Loved the Dairy Farms that used to be there...Love your goats

In Germany they have vegetable packs for making soups for less than one Euro (around 50 cents) this includes roots such as Kudzu root, carrots, leeks, onions then one can add other ingredients such as chicken - but is not necessary. And the grocery stores give out recipes.

But isn't it better to spray the whole place with herbicides, pesticides and insecticides? Signed, Your friendly Monsanto sales guy

The irony in this story is kudzu was introduced by the government as a forage crop!

Despite my experience with them, I think goats are the solution for a lot of potential wildfires! Re: my experience? For some reason, they like to come up behind me and try to eat my shorts off me! If I am somewhere where there are goats, I hold onto my shorts. But sometimes they are strong and pull me to the ground! 😹😹😹

she could have said "are you KIDding me"! that would have been more appropriate.

It works! Brother-in-law's place was covered BUT the Goatees took it down to the ground and kept it there.

THIS WAZ A VERY KOOL LiL VIDEO HERE. CONTINUED MUCH MORE SUCCESS 🐐🐐🐐 ( KNUCKLE👊🏽BUMP ) My Home NC .....

Who! clicked on the did not like button! Seriously what is not to like, nice old couple find good clean living and loads of goats!!

I hope they make goat cheese. But on the other hand, that's when I first began getting fat. That delicious spreadable, garlic flavored goat cheese on fresh hot bread.

I live in that area. I think I need your goats on my land.

I’m a goat lover ❤️ Love your videos watching from Bangladesh Please stay connected

Kudzu grows a foot a day in the summer😣

Good man.. don't know what Kudzu is but in Australia we are run over by Black Berry bush and stinging Nettles which are all foreign introduced (hopefully by mistake) and the Goats annihilate them and never touch the native vegetation. We also have farmers that 'rent' them out. they get fenced off and eat until even the seeds in the ground are gone.. it's a new industry but absolutely amazing results.. they can handle steep hillsides, rocks,, you name it.. and they only attack the weeds... it's an amazing natural solution to mans worst enemy..WEEDS!

Kudzu is about 19% protein. I used to have some Nubians and they loved it...

You can come along after and plow or Rototiller the soil and keep those plants away.

Beautiful land and animal!

Theyre so sweet! I love them! 🥺the couple AND the goats ! Awwww

This has also proved a good solution for poison ivy in Massachusetts.

Goats are terrific 'cept when you find 'em on your car.

A lot of Kudzu in Alabama even in the 70's. Understand beneficial constituents in herbs is dependent on soil, climate, strain of plant, even altitude, etc. But Kudzu root is said to help people who drink too much, or addicted to alcohol reduce cravings for alcohol. I had plans like this fellow is living. Using goats for land clearing. Plenty more, but this was one of my plans. Very natural.

That's what NC calls Kudzu? Go to Mississippi and you'll see what Kudzu out of control looks like!

They work great against red cedar, elm, poison ivy, wild rose. They will keep a pasture clean.

Too bad the kudzu flower makes the best honey

Amazing Beast I want One

Thank you for sharing this information.

Now that is a great idea! I thought there would be a way to keep it in check!

you live n you learn

Would like to have seen some before and after shots

yes they love the kudzu they rather eat that than grass

I am curious about the water requirements for the goats. Can the just be dropped of and forgotten about or do they need water brought to them regularly?