Always thank you for your insightful articles. Have written about the pros and cons of catios placed outdoors but connected to the main house? Do you have a couple resource links you recommend that I can research?
Thank you for the kind words, Elyse! Regarding catios, I'm a big fan with some caveats... Be aware of raptors and other wildlife - and inclement weather. Make sure the catios are secure and the cats can always get indoors. I've overseen the construction of some large units for shelters and smaller units for homes. Make sure they are easy to clean throughout the units.
I think I’ve “herd” of one group, “ladies who lunch “, or maybe it was “ladies who munch.” Also brings to mind foraging Indian Runner Ducks in vineyards.
I would call myself mostly vegan because I’m unsure of the ethics of these practices, like Deb mentioned above, but I like to see these animals well kept and this can be a mutually advantageous coexistence.
Lisa, thank you for your engaging and thoughtful comment. Your reference to "ladies who munch" and the foraging Indian Runner Ducks in vineyards brought a smile to my face. It's fascinating to see how different animals are being utilized in innovative ways to manage ecological challenges.
Regarding the ethical concerns you and Deb mentioned, it's important to note that the goats used in Toronto's Prescribed Goat Grazing Pilot Project are not bred specifically for this purpose. They are managed by Goats in the City Inc., a company that ensures their well-being and proper care. The goal is to create a mutually beneficial coexistence, where the goats' natural grazing habits help manage invasive plants in a sustainable manner.
As you pointed out, practices like these can be mutually advantageous when animals are well-kept and their welfare is prioritized. The concept of coexistence emphasizes the importance of living harmoniously with and finding solutions that benefit both humans and animals.
Thank you again for your thoughtful input and for contributing to this important conversation.
Hi Deb, thank you for your thoughtful comment and for raising important concerns about the use of goats in our project.
The goats used in Toronto's Prescribed Goat Grazing Pilot Project are provided by Goats in the City Inc., a targeted grazing company. These goats are specifically managed for ecological purposes and are not bred solely for this project. The initiative aims to utilize their natural grazing habits to manage invasive plants in a sustainable manner.
I understand and respect your perspective on the ethical implications of using animals to address human-caused problems; and I do acknowledge that similar programs have been successfully implemented in other communities, such as Michigan, Wisconsin and New York, highlighting the broader trend of using grazing animals for ecological management.
Thank you again for your valuable input. It helps us ensure that we consider all aspects of sustainability and animal welfare in our discussions.
The City of Montreal has been using grazing animals like sheep for almost 10 years. It is also common in Europe. There is truly nothing new or innovative about it, Ed. Toronto is just 10 years behind the curve. I know; I live here.
Perry, thank you for sharing the information about Montreal's long-standing use of grazing animals. You're right that this practice has been successfully implemented in various communities, including Montreal and many parts of Europe. In fact, my article cites similar programs in Michigan, Wisconsin, and New York highlighting the broader trend of using grazing animals for ecological management.
This article discusses Toronto's pilot project, being launched today, emphasizing that this is the first time such a method is being employed in Toronto specifically, never claiming it as a global first.
As always, I appreciate your engagement and the opportunity to clarify this point. It's wonderful to see how different cities are embracing sustainable practices to manage their green spaces.
I know you did not mean to imply that, Ed, yet the use of the word innovative when it comes to the City of Toronto is not something I would ever say. Otherwise I enjoyed the article. Have a nice day.
parsing words are we ? We know the ‘field of grazing opportunity well.. nestled against the western Don River Valley just past the Bloor Viaduct. The Don is soon to enter Lake Ontario - perhaps 30 minutes south by canoe. ‘The Beaches docu I’ve posted here - is where the Don Estuary was originally entered through wetlands etc.. now knows as Ashbridges Bay eh ! Year round Farmers Market, easy trails & pathways to ponds with snapping turtle, blue heron, froggies, even deer - just bursting with side hills, bluffs, woodland, Exhibits, Theatre, Kids Programs, Extensive self parking, Public Transit, exceptional Wheelchair Access, Don Valley Bike Path junctions, minutes from historic Cabbagetown, Riverdale Zoo.. & excellent Radar Traps on the Bayview Extension Access Turnoff. Seeing as ‘Premier Doug Ford just shuttered & fenced the Ontario Science Center & its woodlands to The Public for purported ‘housing - our citizens will at least have The Brickworks just downstream ..
Thomas, thank you for your detailed and evocative comment. Your vivid description of the Don Valley Brick Works Park and its surrounding areas truly brings to life the rich ecological and community resources that Toronto has to offer. It's clear that you have a deep appreciation for this unique urban space.
I understand the concerns raised about the ethical implications of using grazing animals, and I appreciate the ongoing dialogue this has sparked. The goal of the Prescribed Goat Grazing Pilot Project is to find a sustainable and mutually beneficial way to manage invasive plants while ensuring the well-being of the goats involved.
Your mention of the recent changes at the Ontario Science Centre and the importance of preserving accessible green spaces like the Brick Works underscores the value of such initiatives. I hope that by highlighting these efforts, we can contribute to a broader conversation about sustainable urban management and the importance of maintaining our natural environments.
Thank you for sharing your insights and for being part of this important discussion.
Got it, Perry, although if Toronto is as backwards as you claim, and I have no reason not to believe you, then I would think that the introduction of any innovative program would be reason to celebrate all the more, no?
"Complicated" is Toronto's secret name. ;) Thank you for writing about the pilot project though, it's a first for Toronto and I'm hoping it opens up other cities in the GTA to use goats instead of pesticides. I don't know where we thought that toxic chemicals were better for us than animals we share the planet with that can do a much better job!
Always thank you for your insightful articles. Have written about the pros and cons of catios placed outdoors but connected to the main house? Do you have a couple resource links you recommend that I can research?
Thank you for the kind words, Elyse! Regarding catios, I'm a big fan with some caveats... Be aware of raptors and other wildlife - and inclement weather. Make sure the catios are secure and the cats can always get indoors. I've overseen the construction of some large units for shelters and smaller units for homes. Make sure they are easy to clean throughout the units.
Awesome suggestions, Ed! Thank you. I’ll read reviews of some local companies and contractors as well as my usual sleuthing.
I think I’ve “herd” of one group, “ladies who lunch “, or maybe it was “ladies who munch.” Also brings to mind foraging Indian Runner Ducks in vineyards.
I would call myself mostly vegan because I’m unsure of the ethics of these practices, like Deb mentioned above, but I like to see these animals well kept and this can be a mutually advantageous coexistence.
Lisa, thank you for your engaging and thoughtful comment. Your reference to "ladies who munch" and the foraging Indian Runner Ducks in vineyards brought a smile to my face. It's fascinating to see how different animals are being utilized in innovative ways to manage ecological challenges.
Regarding the ethical concerns you and Deb mentioned, it's important to note that the goats used in Toronto's Prescribed Goat Grazing Pilot Project are not bred specifically for this purpose. They are managed by Goats in the City Inc., a company that ensures their well-being and proper care. The goal is to create a mutually beneficial coexistence, where the goats' natural grazing habits help manage invasive plants in a sustainable manner.
As you pointed out, practices like these can be mutually advantageous when animals are well-kept and their welfare is prioritized. The concept of coexistence emphasizes the importance of living harmoniously with and finding solutions that benefit both humans and animals.
Thank you again for your thoughtful input and for contributing to this important conversation.
Are they breeding these goats( bringing more living beings into an already overcrowded world)or are they" rescued " goats?
Using/exploiting animals to solve human-caused problems is not a " sustainable" solution; nor is it one that animal advocates should support.
Hi Deb, thank you for your thoughtful comment and for raising important concerns about the use of goats in our project.
The goats used in Toronto's Prescribed Goat Grazing Pilot Project are provided by Goats in the City Inc., a targeted grazing company. These goats are specifically managed for ecological purposes and are not bred solely for this project. The initiative aims to utilize their natural grazing habits to manage invasive plants in a sustainable manner.
I understand and respect your perspective on the ethical implications of using animals to address human-caused problems; and I do acknowledge that similar programs have been successfully implemented in other communities, such as Michigan, Wisconsin and New York, highlighting the broader trend of using grazing animals for ecological management.
Thank you again for your valuable input. It helps us ensure that we consider all aspects of sustainability and animal welfare in our discussions.
The City of Montreal has been using grazing animals like sheep for almost 10 years. It is also common in Europe. There is truly nothing new or innovative about it, Ed. Toronto is just 10 years behind the curve. I know; I live here.
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/07/09/news/flock-sheep-take-over-landscaping-duties-montreal-park-summer
Perry, thank you for sharing the information about Montreal's long-standing use of grazing animals. You're right that this practice has been successfully implemented in various communities, including Montreal and many parts of Europe. In fact, my article cites similar programs in Michigan, Wisconsin, and New York highlighting the broader trend of using grazing animals for ecological management.
This article discusses Toronto's pilot project, being launched today, emphasizing that this is the first time such a method is being employed in Toronto specifically, never claiming it as a global first.
As always, I appreciate your engagement and the opportunity to clarify this point. It's wonderful to see how different cities are embracing sustainable practices to manage their green spaces.
I know you did not mean to imply that, Ed, yet the use of the word innovative when it comes to the City of Toronto is not something I would ever say. Otherwise I enjoyed the article. Have a nice day.
parsing words are we ? We know the ‘field of grazing opportunity well.. nestled against the western Don River Valley just past the Bloor Viaduct. The Don is soon to enter Lake Ontario - perhaps 30 minutes south by canoe. ‘The Beaches docu I’ve posted here - is where the Don Estuary was originally entered through wetlands etc.. now knows as Ashbridges Bay eh ! Year round Farmers Market, easy trails & pathways to ponds with snapping turtle, blue heron, froggies, even deer - just bursting with side hills, bluffs, woodland, Exhibits, Theatre, Kids Programs, Extensive self parking, Public Transit, exceptional Wheelchair Access, Don Valley Bike Path junctions, minutes from historic Cabbagetown, Riverdale Zoo.. & excellent Radar Traps on the Bayview Extension Access Turnoff. Seeing as ‘Premier Doug Ford just shuttered & fenced the Ontario Science Center & its woodlands to The Public for purported ‘housing - our citizens will at least have The Brickworks just downstream ..
https://tod.aminus3.com/image/2009-05-23.html
Thomas, thank you for your detailed and evocative comment. Your vivid description of the Don Valley Brick Works Park and its surrounding areas truly brings to life the rich ecological and community resources that Toronto has to offer. It's clear that you have a deep appreciation for this unique urban space.
I understand the concerns raised about the ethical implications of using grazing animals, and I appreciate the ongoing dialogue this has sparked. The goal of the Prescribed Goat Grazing Pilot Project is to find a sustainable and mutually beneficial way to manage invasive plants while ensuring the well-being of the goats involved.
Your mention of the recent changes at the Ontario Science Centre and the importance of preserving accessible green spaces like the Brick Works underscores the value of such initiatives. I hope that by highlighting these efforts, we can contribute to a broader conversation about sustainable urban management and the importance of maintaining our natural environments.
Thank you for sharing your insights and for being part of this important discussion.
Got it, Perry, although if Toronto is as backwards as you claim, and I have no reason not to believe you, then I would think that the introduction of any innovative program would be reason to celebrate all the more, no?
Like they say, Ed, it’s complicated when it comes to Toronto.
"Complicated" is Toronto's secret name. ;) Thank you for writing about the pilot project though, it's a first for Toronto and I'm hoping it opens up other cities in the GTA to use goats instead of pesticides. I don't know where we thought that toxic chemicals were better for us than animals we share the planet with that can do a much better job!
Goats are also used for helping to prevent wildfires in California, by also eating lots of brush. (https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/firefighting-goatscalifornia1.6978953#:~:text=%22I%20like%20to%20say%20that,a%20wildfire%20needs%20to%20spread.)
Thank you, Squizz, for bringing the Toronto goat story to my attention!