A greener way to get rid of weeds

The Victoria Homeowners Association is using sheep for natural weed abatement

Terry Hankins/Argus-Courier Staff Shepherd Roony Tacza Rojas moves an electrical fence as sheep graze in the background in the western hills above Petaluma. Zoom Photo

One Petaluma community has had enough of noisy mowers, land erosion and unsightly gashes in the earth from disking the ground to remove weeds. They decided to turn to an old practice aided by new technology — sheep.

The Victoria Homeowners Association was the first in Petaluma to hire a company that uses a flock of sheep to meet a weed abatement ordinance for fire season safety.

“They were so cute!” Pam Granger, a resident of the Victoria neighborhood, said. “I live by Helen Putnam Park almost on level looking at them on the hill. You wouldn’t even believe how neat and clean it was.”

The sheep came from Living Systems Land Management, which is partnered with Gardeners’ Guild. They use animals, mainly sheep and goats, to manage land.

“This is the first year we’ve been exposed to a greener method for weed and brush control,” said Petaluma Fire Marshal Michael Ginn.

The Fire Department inspects 600 parcels each year to make sure all dry brush and grass is maintained through fire season. The Victoria Homeowners Association approached the fire department and asked if it could use animals to graze four acres of land on the fringe of Helen Putnam Park. Ginn agreed.

“They were more greatly effective than mechanical methods,” he said. “It takes longer than a tractor, up to weeks depending on the size. They graze down to the ground and start to pull the roots out. As far as eliminating a fire hazard goes, they’re pretty darn good.”

More benefits of using sheep are that they don’t disturb the soil and give weeds the ability to take over, there is no noise, and there are no carbon emissions from the use of fossil fuels.

Daniel Levy, senior account manager of Living Systems, said the aesthetic of sheep grazing on a hillside is another benefit to this weed control method.

“Everyone I’ve run into after viewing the process comments on how beautiful the animals on a hillside are and they have a calming affect,” Levy said. “It is exceedingly rare to have similar comments made of the tractor and operator, or the crew of workers brandishing buzzing weed whips for hours (and days) at a time in proximity to one’s home.”

Living Systems assesses the vegetation and terrain of a site to determine how many and what kind of animals they will employ. They have used as few as 300 and as many as 1,500 animals. While on the job, the animals are contained in a low-voltage, solar-powered electric fence that protects them from predators. A shepherd is on-site 24 hours a day.

The Victoria Homeowners Association is under contract to use sheep for two years; however, just as the sheep were on their “last munching,” a resident came in contact with the electric fence and received a shock, according to Trevor Pitts, president of the homeowners association.

This brought to light a city regulation that does not allow electric fences within city limits. Now, the future of the program in Petaluma may be in jeopardy.

The Gardeners Guild and homeowners association are working with the city to make an exception to the rule. Pitts said Victoria residents hope to continue using sheep for weed abatement in the future.

“Next year we’ll try to get a waiver,” Ginn said. “It’s so temporary, I’m sure it will be fine. The fence is so low-voltage; it isn’t going to kill you.”

(Contact Elisabeth Higgins at argus@arguscourier.com)