Knox says what followed was an “experiment that was wildly successful” — one that would eventually take over his summers as a full-time business, and according to Knox, the popularity of these businesses is on the rise.
Knox says he has consulted goat owners from all over the country, including Indiana, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, to aid farmers in their efforts to establish similar businesses.
Goats eat up to 20 percent of their body weight each day, and the length of each project depends on the size of the property and the amount of vegetation — both of which also help dictate how many goats Bowen will allot to the job.
Bowen runs the business with her two children, Jacqueline, 14, and Jacob, 12, who assist with caring for the goats and setting up each job — which is fairly simple, as Bowen only needs to fence in the goats, provide water, and leave the animals to take care of the rest.
In the past, the goats have worked on a variety of projects ranging anywhere from historic sites to golf courses.
In October, nearing the end of last year’s work season, the Green Goats made news after uncovering what were thought to be eight lost gravesites at St. Ignatius Cemetery in Port Tobacco, Md.
With publicity surrounding goats on the rise, both Bowen and Knox are anticipating a busy summer.
“I certainly am seeing a lot of inquires this year from all over the place,” Knox says. “I usually get some, but right now it seems that there is way more interest than past years.”
“To most people, goats are pretty cool!”
Distributed by MCT Information Services
