The Goats of Christmas Past
The Goats of Christmas Past
Wondering what to do with your Christmas tree? Gift it to a goat.
Wondering what to do with your Christmas tree this year? Yes, you could chop it up and put it in your compost bin — or haul it over to the city’s Christmas tree drop-off site at 425 Morris St., Sebastopol. But what a lot of work and, oy, the needles go everywhere!
Instead, contact the local 4H Club, which will pick up your Christmas tree in Sebastopol, Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, or Cotati and feed it to goats at local farms, who (as their flyer delicately puts it) “will enjoy it as a treat and return it to the soil.”
Tree pick-up costs a $15-$20 donation to 4H, which uses the money to fund basic operations, project grants, leadership and skills development, and community service projects throughout the year.
4H parent Chelle Cardenas McDonell says it’s the second year that their club, Independence 4H, has offered this service.
“Last year a goat farmer in the club came up with this as an on-the-fly solution to the loss of other fundraising opportunities during COVID. It’s a great combo — of benefit to the environment, animals, and people,” she said.
The trees go to small goat farms and a goat sanctuary.
What do the goats think of this idea?
“Goats love the trees,” McDonell said. “They are considered a treat.”
And if you’re concerned that your next roll of chevre might taste a bit piney, don’t worry — McDonell said that since the trees are used as treats — rather than their main diet — it doesn’t affect the taste of the milk.
“I know an excellent cook and cheesemaker who feeds them to her goats,” McDonell said.
For the safety of the goats, there are a couple of rules:
No flocked trees allowed. (You can’t compost those either.)
Make sure all the ornaments are off the tree.
Be especially careful to get all the ornament hooks off.
Trees that are too dry aren’t good for goats, but McDonell says that 4H volunteers will be happy to pick those up too and compost them the conventional way.
How do you sign up?
Go to https://www.independence4h.com/goat-tree-recycling, and choose a date; on that day, put your tree out on the street by 9 am. It will be picked up by 3 pm. (Donation instructions are on the website.)
Right now, McDonell said they have four pick-up dates scheduled: Dec. 31, and Jan. 2, 7, and 8.
“We’re willing to add one more if there is an interest,” she said.
Independence 4H was established in 1976 and is based in Sebastopol. They have 47 youth members (and 31 families), who participate in a wide variety of projects, 4H events and activities, and community service efforts. They meet on the second Wednesday of the month in Sebastopol. Find out more at https://www.independence4h.com/.