The members of the Dorchester Park Association have taken the initiative to bring goats into the Park to help control the invasive weed species that are threatening to take over this historic landscape. Designed in the late 1800’s by Frederick Law Olmsted, the Park provides the people of Dorchester with exactly what Olmsted intended. A beautiful wooded forest area to retreat to in the midst of a busy urban area. Dorchester Park is well loved and well used by its neighbors .The parks 26 acres of beech and oak forest are are home to walking trails and playgrounds, ball fields and tennis courts. People and their dogs, parents and children, runners and ball teams all enjoy the benefits of this beautiful place. Invasive species such as knotweed, bittersweet, catbriar, and poison ivy are taking over the landscape. Boston Parks and Recreation does their part in caring for and mowing, plowing, maintains athletic fields etc… but there are lots of other properties for them to care for too.The Dorchester Park Association picks up where Parks leave off by planning fun community events and helping to initiate cleanups and planting , Easter Egg Hunts and Car Shows…. The Park Association members , regular people like you and I (and we invite you to join!) , see a need to control the invasive species in a safe and natural, low impact manner. Goats love to eat weeds!!! Goats don’t suffer from poison ivy! Goats work at eating weeds all day without complaining! We would like to get the goats into the park on a regular basis for 6-8 weeks at a time on a regular yearly schedule. Returning season after season can eliminate some of the under growth that’s taken decades to accumulate. Renting goats is somewhat affordable and cost effective but we need your help to keep them coming back to be really effective. $ 400 pays for one herd for one week. $100 pays for one goat for one week. $15 pays for one goat for a day. Any amount is appreciated!! Any monies collected above our goal of $10,000 will be put towards our water restoration and tree planting initiatives. We thank you in advance for your support! Let’s make a difference together and keep this special place beautiful and growing! A quote from Lisa “Please spread the word about the go fund me campaign and let’s make us a model for other community based city park projects” Here is a link to the go fund me page, any amount no matter how small is appreciated
UPDATE as of 10/7/2018 The following article from The Dorchester Reporter
KIDS MENU: What if the Dot Park goats could stay for a while longer?
Have you taken your families to Dot Park to meet the Goats-In-Residence yet? If not, you should! These hungry beasts are busy munching on excess vegetation like poison ivy and other invasive plant species. They’re cute, too.
In an effort to make these cloven-hooved guests a more permanent presence (they are supposed to end their residency on Oct. 15) the Dorchester Park Association is accepting donations to assist with costs. Go to gofundme.com/5yOmz08. Any little bit will help, though if everyone donated just $10 that would guarantee the goats would have a home with us for a few years.
The association has also commissioned beloved artist Janet Harrold (of trolley-painting fame) to create goat-themed Christmas ornaments that will go on sale at Cedar Grove Gardens this month. Ornaments will retail for $9.95 each and proceeds will go directly to the goats! Stop by Dot Park or Cedar Grove Gardens (911 Adams St.) for more info.
