Fund Manager Sets Goats Grazing in Blighted Detroit

[Evergrey]

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/06/...ghted-detroit/

Fund Manager Sets Goats Grazing in Blighted Detroit



To most of the world, the solution to debt-ridden Detroit is money. But for one hedge fund manager, it’s goats.

Mark Spitznagel, the founder of the $6 billion hedge fund Universa Investments, on Thursday brought 20 goats to graze among abandoned homes and general detritus in Brightmoor, one of Detroit’s most blighted neighborhoods.

Not to be outdone by JPMorgan Chase, the country’s biggest bank, which recently pledged to invest $100 million to help Detroit over the next five years, Mr. Spitznagel says he is contributing directly to the community.

“It’s an urban farming experiment,” he said of his plan to leave his goats to roam and munch on overgrown grass. “Goats are an effective way to do landscaping,” he added.



The goats, which will number as many as 60 this summer, have come from Mr. Spitznagel’s farmstead, Idyll Farms, in Northport, Mich. When Mr. Spitznagel is not busy managing investments for his 15 or so clients, which include institutions and sovereign wealth funds, he tends to a business rearing goats and making cheese.

Mr. Spitznagel will enlist the help of the community — paying previously unemployed adults and enlisting the help of local youths to herd the baby goats — and he plans to build portable housing for the goats in addition to pens and electric fencing. At the end of the summer, Mr. Spitznagel said, he will sell the goats to Detroit butchers and give the proceeds back to the community.


Fabrizio Costantini for The New York Times
The hedge fund manager Mark Spitznagel watched as some goats got to work in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit.

...

[flar]

Great idea, a friend of mine who was too lazy to cut the grass used to do this. I'm planning to visit Detroit in July, maybe I'll see some of these urban goats.

[10023]

Makes total sense. Goats eat anything so they're good for litter as well.

Reminds me of family in England who got sheep to graze their property because the grass was out of control... that's the English version of getting a riding mower.

[Evergrey]

Pittsburgh is now using goats to restore the city's lush hillsides.

http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/...-hillsi/ngbYC/

Organization brings in goats to clear Polish Hill hillside



POLISH HILL, Pa. — If you’re driving through Polish Hill Tuesday, your eyes are not deceiving you.

Goats have been strategically placed on a hillside in Polish Hill as part of a restoration project organized by Tree Pittsburgh.

The animals, known for eating anything and everything, are on the hillside adjacent to West Pen Park. Their snacking will prepare the hillside for planting of 110 restoration trees.

According to Tree Pittsburgh Tree Care and Restoration Coordinator Jake Milofsky, goats are regularly used to control invasive species in major cities across the country.

Unlike human volunteers, goats can navigate the steep hillside terrain without issue or safety concern. They also eat many invasive species, including some that may be dangerous to humans. Goats are light on their feet, so the trampling from their hooves will prepare the soil for planting later in the year.

"The City is excited to partner with Tree Pittsburgh on this innovative restoration project," said Lisa Ceoffe, City Forester for the City of Pittsburgh.

"Given Pittsburgh's steep topography, goats could be the solution to controlling many of our overgrown hillsides."

The goats will be secured in the specified work area by an electric fence and managed by Brian Knox, supervising forester of Eco-Goats, based in Annapolis, MD. The goats will be visible from West Penn Park and Brereton Street.

[mhays]

Examples in my area seem to involve areas that are already fenced, or have temporary fencing.

[bobdreamz]

I couldn't help but laugh seeing the title of this thread but it is a novel idea.

[Innsertnamehere]

I remember visiting France a few years ago and going to a WW1 memorial (Vimy Ridge), and them having goats grazing the grass in the old minefields. The grass was nice and short, and no-one had to risk their lives to keep it that way.

[Leo the Dog]

What about all the shit they're gonna produce? Where is that gonna go?

[hauntedheadnc]

Originally Posted by Leo the Dog

What about all the shit they're gonna produce? Where is that gonna go?

You can buy it in bags labelled "organic fertilizer" at your local fru-fru yuppie home store for only $29.99 a bag.

In other words, into the dirt.

[Leo the Dog]

Originally Posted by hauntedheadnc

You can buy it in bags labelled "organic fertilizer" at your local fru-fru yuppie home store for only $29.99 a bag.

In other words, into the dirt.

And the run-off ends up in the storm drains which lead to the water ways and lakes.

Be sure to pick-up after your dog though.

[brickell]

Originally Posted by hauntedheadnc

You can buy it in bags labelled "organic fertilizer" at your local fru-fru yuppie home store for only $29.99 a bag.

In other words, into the dirt.

Just in case anyone thinks you're joking.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/261175300406?lpid=82

[MolsonExport]

Maybe Prime Minister Stephen Harper ought to consider doing this to economically-blighted Ontario.

[hauntedheadnc]

Originally Posted by Leo the Dog

And the run-off ends up in the storm drains which lead to the water ways and lakes.

Be sure to pick-up after your dog though.

Yes, do be sure to pick up after your dog, because chances are good you're walking her on a sidewalk, or in a park where other people play and walk too. Plus, there are hundreds, if not thousands of other people walking dog in the same general area every day.

As for goats, though... were you not aware that animal manure is used as fertilizer? Also, where's the harm in letting these animals do what nature designed them to do, in a place where it would be too dangerous and too much of a hassle (not to mention a waste of money) to make a person do the job?

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Leo the Dog

And the run-off ends up in the storm drains which lead to the water ways and lakes.

Be sure to pick-up after your dog though.

I swear some people will bitch about anything.

So the goats shit in the fields they are eating? It just goes back into the fields. What "run-off" are you talking about? Unless the goats are crapping in on the sidewalks or the street, it's unlikely to be a problem.

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by Leo the Dog

What about all the shit they're gonna produce? Where is that gonna go?

probably the same place that cattle shit goes in a pasture.

it's an urban pasture in detroit, not the treelawn in lincoln park, chicago.

[TWAK]

we use cows out here in east bay. they help clean the hills in between all the development

[Leo the Dog]

Originally Posted by hauntedheadnc

Yes, do be sure to pick up after your dog, because chances are good you're walking her on a sidewalk, or in a park where other people play and walk too. Plus, there are hundreds, if not thousands of other people walking dog in the same general area every day.

As for goats, though... were you not aware that animal manure is used as fertilizer? Also, where's the harm in letting these animals do what nature designed them to do, in a place where it would be too dangerous and too much of a hassle (not to mention a waste of money) to make a person do the job?

Oh I'm aware of the benefits of manure. I spent about 10 years of my life in the landscaping business. CA has a new regulation where they are trying to prevent zero runoff of pollutants into the waterways and this includes dog shit in peoples back yards. It's going to cost $4B in SD alone in infrastructure improvements.

So goats eat the grass, then fertilize the soil to make the grass grow thicker, taller and greener?

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov...water-20121109

[Leo the Dog]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

I swear some people will bitch about anything.

So the goats shit in the fields they are eating? It just goes back into the fields. What "run-off" are you talking about? Unless the goats are crapping in on the sidewalks or the street, it's unlikely to be a problem.

Detroit isn't rural last time I checked. Water will run-off and find it's way into storm drains which lead to waterways and ultimately into the lake. This would be a big No-No nowadays in most cities.

Just a little hypocrisy I'm pointing out, that's all.

[Austinlee]

When will the world get Robo Goat Cop?

[hudkina]

Originally Posted by Leo the Dog

Detroit isn't rural last time I checked. Water will run-off and find it's way into storm drains which lead to waterways and ultimately into the lake. This would be a big No-No nowadays in most cities.

Just a little hypocrisy I'm pointing out, that's all.

What do you think happens to the waste of all the wild animals in the area? Squirrels, birds, etc.

BTW, Brightmoor is on the far western edge of the city about 12 miles from downtown.