After Christmas is over many people don’t know what to do with the big pine tree in their living room! Most throw it away in the dump, but what they don’t know is that there are some animals who would love to eat the trees…goats! Allegheny Goatscaping hosted a Christmas tree donation on January seventeenth where people could bring in their pine trees for the goats to eat! It was huge success with many people arriving and forming a big pile with their Christmas trees. Some trees were already in with the goats who gleefully took bites of the trees. Hot chocolate and donuts were also served for free for everyone who came. The present herds at the Bleat & Greet were Team Hobo and Team Sunshine.

While goats grow their own fluffy and shiny winter coats, some older goats needs an extra layer - that’s where goat coats come in! Pumpkin, the Nubian goat, was seen sporting a fashionable plaid coat during the event while she ate some Christmas tree. The goats love the trees and they collectively eat 4-5 a day. According to goatscaping staff member Maggie, the donated trees should last the herds until Easter. Sometimes the goatscaping staff move the Christmas trees to other places to make them more interesting to the goats. When the goats see the trees in new spots they become more intrigued and eat them more.

The goats especially enjoy white pine trees and eat them very quickly. When eating on the job the goats often surprise the staff with how smart they are. They will work collaboratively to achieve a shared goal, which is mostly to get snacks. If there is a large wall of plant like Knotweed and one goat can’t get to it, another goat will come and flop on top of the plants to make it easier for their friend. They also pull branches down for their herd. Like other herd animals goats are very social and love being together. This shows their emotional intelligence and empathy for how they understand when other goats want something and need help.

Sometimes when people go to see the herd the goats are sitting and not eating. They say “Hey, you’re not working!” to the goats and it hurts the goats’ feelings. In reality the goats have to digest their food during the day which can take a little while. Staff member Merle explained how the herds normally eat in the early morning and in the evening when its cooler. If you go to see the goats and they aren’t eating, that doesn’t mean they aren’t doing an important job. All 4 herds work hard to eat all the plants and be good goats.

Each herd is named after the miniature donkeys who protect the goats. There is Team Sunshine, Team Hobo, Team Diamond and the Golden Goats. Staff Gavin explained how the Golden Goats is the ‘retired’ herd for older goats. Their donkey is named Pete. Allegheny Goatscaping receives most of the goats that make up the herds from Goat Rodeo. When the goats there can’t produce dairy anymore Allegheny Goatscaping adopts them so they have a nice home. They then get to spend their days in new places where they clear out the weeds by eating them. The goats look forward to winter time when they get to eat Christmas trees! This Bleat & Greet was a grand success for the people and the goats!

Pizzelles are a wintery cookie. They are like thin Waffle. To make this recipe you will need a pizzelle maker. The ingredients you need are below:

¾ cup sugar

3 eggs

1 and 3/4 all purpose flour

2 teaspoons of baking powder

1 and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon anise extract 

8 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Directions:

Mix eggs, sugar, vanilla and anise and whisk. Then add flour, salt, and baking powder until smooth. Add melted butter. Preheat your pizzelle maker. Add a tablespoon of the mixture to the middle of the pizzelle maker and let it sit for 30 to 45 seconds until it is golden colored. Place on rack to cool.

Keeping It Simple - Infomation

Maggie Rose - Allegheny Goatscaping Staff

Gavin Deming - Allegheny Goatscaping Staff

Merle Rogers - Allegheny Goatscaping Staff

Down:

2.Emu

3.Chicken

Across:

1.Geese

4.Quail

5.Turkey