Waynesville Woman Uses Goats to Gobble Up Underbrush, Reduce Wildfire Risk

credit:

When Lisa Miller noticed some of the brush growing around her home in Waynesville, NC, she knew she had to do something about it.

"I saw the fuel that's going to make a wildfire worse, and I figured I needed to do something about it," she tells WNCN.

So she enlisted the help of Tommy Rutledge, who runs Mount Carmel Goats, which specializes in ecological land management.

Miller's seven goats will be out in the open for two weeks, munching away on invasive species such as English ivy and little shrubs in a fenced-in area.

"I think they're up to the challenge," Rutledge says.

"This is very natural, and the goats do all the work."

The goats are named after candy and sweets, including Hershey, Heath, Uno, Reese, and Oreo.

Miller says they're more cost-effective than a crew with heavy machinery or pesticides, and she might get a discount on her insurance.

"Perhaps after this experiment is done and it's successful, I'll talk with my insurance company about seeing perhaps a discount on my homeowner's insurance," she says.

Read the Entire Article

A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.

How's Your Community Doing?
Check Out it's
Community Vital Signs

Ameriprise Financial Donates More Than $3.5 Million to Nonprofits and Key ...
Foundation: Ameriprise Financial

Ameriprise Financial announced nearly $2 million in donations to over 85 nonprofits across the U.S. as part of its first round of 2025 grants, along with $1.58 million in matching gifts from...more

We Started A Co-Op to Empower Workers

Sustainergy is a worker cooperatives based in Cincinnati, Ohio.The co-op was founded in 2013 by two first generation immigrants.It provides free energy assessments for over 5,000 Cincinnati...more

Four Native-Led Funders to Know
Foundation: Headwaters Foundation for Justice, MacArthur Foundation, Marguerite Casey Foundation, Marguerite Casey Foundation

This imbalance is all the more jarring given that Native communities are reeling from the Trump administration's draconian spending cuts.Funders with a track record of supporting Native American...more

Sphinx Works to Diversify the World of Classical Music As Funding Contracts

Sphinx Works to Diversify the World of Classical Music as Funding Contracts.Sphinx has launched six successful classical ensembles, commissioned nearly 100 works by composers of color, and grown an...more

Judge Un-Freezes Environmental Justice Funds For Northwest
Foundation: Minneapolis Foundation

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to release $180 million in federal funding for environmental justice projects, including $60 million in the Pacific Northwest.The Environmental...more

Morgan Stanley Climate Fund Invests $30 Million in Methane Emissions Management ...

Morgan Stanley Climate Fund Invests $30 million in Methane Emissions Management Platform Insight M.Insight M is an energy sector-focused methane management solutions provider.The investment was made...more

The Rising Influence of Hailey Bieber in Fashion and Philanthropy

Justin Bieber's wife is a prominent figure in social media and the fashion industry.Her influence in the fashion world has surged in recent months, especially with the release of her new...more

How Nest Turned A $24000 Idea Into A Global Movement Supporting Women Artisans

Nest Inc.empowers women artisans globally by providing training, funding, and market access.Nest helps artisans tap into this market by connecting them to brands like GAP, Ralph Lauren, Target, and...more

Nwa Women in Business: Emily English

English has spent her career working at the intersection of farming and public health.Before joining the Walton Personal Philanthropy Group as a senior program officer, she was director of the...more

How Nest Turned A $24,000 Idea Into A Global Movement Supporting Women Artisans

Nest Inc.empowers women artisans globally by providing training, funding, and market access.Nest helps artisans tap into this market by connecting them to brands like GAP, Ralph Lauren, Target, and...more