Headlines I read in the New York Times often get this old editing teacher’s goat. Most recently, the Times headlined that goats would soon be turned loose to eat the rubbish in a city park.
Nothing new about that story. Nor the video I saw of a herd of goats turned loose in a forest near San Francisco. The goats ate the weeds and underbrush that often furnish fuel for a forest fire.
During the Depression years, New Dealers organized the Civilian Conservation Corp and encamped unemployed young people who removed forest undergrowth. Maybe we need to bring back the CCC to help reduce forest-fire tender.
Red Elam, my Dad, went to the animal market and bought a goat and solved the weed problem in his pipe yard. He had to spend a little more for high mesh fencing, but he didn’t have to feed the goat. Or provide shelter because the goat slept under the pipe racks, which provided shade from the West Texas sun.
Rain was a rare climate problem.
Truck Drivers and Swampers who loaded pipe needed to take care because the goat sometimes butted in. But Billy, his name of worker’s choice, was also a good night watchman.
When oilfield customers cleared the pipe yard, Dad sold the fatted goat for more than he paid, of course.
Image by MabelAmber from Pixabay
