After gaining ground in Columbia, ‘goatscaping’ poised to expand to Forest Acres
Pumpkin is about to be a grandmother.
The working goat, owned by military veteran Jacob Porter, is one of more than 100 Porter rents out across the Midlands to clear overgrown yards, jungle-like vacant lots and even large commercial property.
Pumpkin has been hard at work for several years, and now her daughter, Pumpkin Seed, is expecting.
Porter’s herd, along with demand for the “goatscaping” work the goats perform, continues to grow. His Green Goat Land Management promises to be an alternative to traditional landscaping. Hire goats to clear your weeds naturally, rather than using pesticides and heavy equipment, the sales pitch goes.
The city of Columbia wrote new rules in late 2023 to allow the goats to operate in the city, and now Porter is poised to expand again, this time into Forest Acres.
Forest Acres Mayor Thomas Andrews said the city first considered goatscaping about three years ago, when Columbia was having the same conversation.
“We were a little cautious about it,” Andrews said. Leaders wanted to see how it worked in Columbia before passing rules for Forest Acres.
Porter first began lobbying Columbia leaders in 2023 to make clear rules about the goats. A lack of clarity in city code meant operating in Columbia was a gamble for Porter. Goats weren’t technically allowed. He had been given permission to operate by city officials, he said, unless someone complained. A few times, somebody did. He had to pick up the goats, refund the customer and lose a day of business.
So, in late 2023, Columbia OKed rules that allowed the goats to work in the city under a handful of conditions. Those rules include requiring a special permit. They also put limits on the number of goats and how long they can stay in a person’s yard.
Now, Forest Acres is looking to pass similar rules. The move is driven by citizen demand, Andrews said.
“It’s environmentally safe, and also fun,” Andrews said. “We hope people think they’re cute.”
Porter said the change in Columbia has made his day-to-day operations smoother, and he hasn’t had any complaints.
More goats and bigger jobs
As the herd has grown, Porter said his work has changed.
In peak season, roughly April through November, Porter said he typically has three to five jobs per week, and lately he’s been taking on bigger projects -- like helping clear land for the Michelin tire plant in Lexington.
He still does residential jobs, but he’s gained the ability to be more selective as business has grown. He now only works within 100 miles of his Barnwell home base. And he’s able to turn down smaller gigs when they don’t make sense for his schedule.
He’ll make exceptions for elderly customers or people on limited incomes, he said. But he has increasingly taken on larger commercial and government work.
The city of Columbia has hired the goats a number of times, including to clear Kudzu and other weeds from Finlay Park and the city’s Canal and Riverfront Park.
What the Forest Acres rules would allow
Forest Acres is close to approving a change that would permit the goats to clear backyards within the growing city immediately northeast of Columbia.
Forest Acres City Council gave first approval to the rules earlier this month, and Andrews said he expects the rules will be given final approval in April.
Under the rules, residents wanting to hire the goats will need to acquire a $25 permit. The goats will be limited to no more than five per quarter-acre, and they must be fenced in and limited to backyards. Porter always secures his goats behind a low-voltage electric fence. The goats will be allowed in a yard for up to a week, with the ability to add another week if needed.
Forest Acres residents could be able to hire the goats as soon as the end of April, Andrews said.
