Hungry goats mow down poison ivy at CGS

A herd of 15 goats helped take the itch out of the beautiful and well-used fields at Comprehensive Grammar School, just as the new school year got under way.

For four days during the first week of September, the all-natural “mowers” from Goats to Go chomped away at a sea of poison ivy and invasive plants along a pathway that lines the open fields behind the school. “Goat-scaping” was a new effort put forth by the School Committee’s Facilities Task Force and the result was nothing short of remarkable.

“This is the first time I’ve been down here and it’s insane!” noted 22-year Methuen Public Schools’ employee Erwin Williams, one of two maintenance men at CGS, on the final day of the feeding frenzy. “I can’t believe the change. … You know how it goes. The ball rolls in there and a couple days later the kids are saying, ‘Mom, I’m itchy!’ I love (the goats). They don’t complain and they’re cute!”

CGS Supervising Principal Katie Proietti noted that that the goats’ visit also served as a teaching moment.

“Although our goat friends had a short stay, teachers were able to get outside with classes and used the opportunity to talk about ecosystems. Some of our students had not seen a goat before and were eager to just observe them. They were pleased to find that goats are very docile and friendly,” she said. “The poison ivy that formerly lined the walkway disappeared in a matter of days. The goats cleared the ravine so you actually see the beauty of the land behind the school with all its dips and turns. … We are so grateful as it is an organic, safe way to solve our invasive poison ivy issues.”

This large, open-space area is used not only by CGS students and staff, but is a Methuen Youth Soccer location as well. With only two maintenance men overseeing the interior and exterior of the 500-student K-8 school, Department of Public Works staffers have been helping with some exterior work.

“The issue is there’s a lot of poison ivy along the path, and it’ll grow over the path which is oftentimes used as a walking path for third- and fourth-graders for parent pickup,” Mayor DJ Beauregard explained. “It’s pretty remarkable what (the goats) do. There was no use of chemicals and no need for our DPW workers to risk poison-ivy exposure.”

He added of the DPW, “The more we can check off the list and get done, the more we can focus on other critical issues.”

Goats to Go is located at Great Rock Farm in Georgetown. The cost to Methuen was $4,000, which included transportation of goats via their overnight trailer, installation of fencing along the to-be-munched area as well as the thorough work done by the 15-goat “staff.”

Data shows that utilizing goats to cut down poison ivy, combined with root removal, can eradicate the pesky plant from an area. The Facilities Task Force, of which Mayor Beauregard is a member, will review this year’s results and consider having the goats return next summer.

While the mayor never thought “hiring goats” would be part of running the city, he’s eager to think outside the box when it comes to tackling issues.

“We cannot be afraid of new ideas in Methuen,” he said.