This video documents an experiment to clear an extremely overgrown suburban backyard using a herd of 34 goats and sheep from "Central Coast Goats." The yard, characterized by its thick, dense, and horizontally growing grass, was deemed too inaccessible and challenging for traditional lawn care equipment. The animals were deployed for nearly three days to graze the dense vegetation. While they effectively removed the bulk of the green growth and certain weeds, they were less effective at clearing the matted, horizontal "dead kuyu" grass closer to the ground, especially overnight when their activity decreased. The project highlights the environmental benefits and initial clearing capabilities of using grazing animals for heavily overgrown or inaccessible areas, but demonstrates that human intervention with traditional tools is still necessary for a complete, manicured lawn, particularly where dense, established ground cover persists. Practical considerations like animal management (secure fencing, health checks) and the benign nature of their manure are also discussed.
Using Goats to Clear an Overgrown Backyard: A Case Study
0:06 The Challenge: An extremely overgrown suburban backyard, too thick and inaccessible for traditional lawn care tools, requires an alternative solution.
0:45 The Solution: The decision is made to use a herd of live animals, specifically 34 goats and sheep, for the massive cleanup job.
0:54 Yard Characteristics: The grass is noted as exceptionally thick and dense, forming a spongy, trampoline-like layer on the ground rather than growing tall, making it difficult to clear conventionally.
1:16 Access Issues: Tight access points into the backyard further complicate the use of machinery and manual waste removal.
1:56 The Goat Expert: The host introduces Denny from Central Coast Goats, who specializes in using goats and sheep for land clearing, stating it's his full-time job.
2:30 Animal Introduction: The herd, including a large Togenberg goat named Buddy (nicknamed "New Greg"), is released into the yard and immediately begins grazing, with sheep complementing the goats' eating habits.
3:45 Animal Management: The animals are kept hydrated with available water and contained by existing fences, supplemented with temporary fence panels to block gateways. Electric mobile fencing is also offered for selective clearing.
5:01 Goat Benefits & Downsides: Denny explains goats can clear land down to "bare dirt sticks" and are great for weeds like "morning glory." Downsides include vet bills (regular de-worming is crucial) and the need for insurance against potential damage or escape.
7:16 Selective Grazing: Goats learn from older herd members to avoid toxic plants like lilies.
9:16 Manure as Fertilizer: Goat manure consists of small pellets that are beneficial for soil health and can be easily hosed into the ground.
11:04 Initial Progress (1 hour): After an hour, noticeable progress is made, particularly along the fence line, indicating the goats are actively clearing.
11:21 Mid-Day Progress (3 hours): After three hours, the grass appears shorter and thinner, with some goats seen casually grazing while resting.
13:06 Overnight Progress (20 hours): Following an overnight stay, after a total of 20 hours, the progress is less dramatic than anticipated, with many goats found resting rather than actively eating, suggesting they slept through the night.
16:41 Final Assessment (1.5 days / 3 days total for pickup): After 1.5 days of active grazing (with animals to be picked up after 3 days), the goats have removed the green top layer, but a significant amount of "dead kuyu" (thick, brown, horizontal growth) remains, which they do not consume.
18:38 Conclusion & Next Steps: While the goats effectively reduced the bulk, making the yard more manageable, human intervention with push mowers will still be required for a complete cleanup, highlighting their role as a preliminary clearing solution rather than a full landscaping service. A follow-up video for the yard's completion is planned.