Clarke Welcomes Goats to Campus As Part of Ongoing Sustainability Efforts
Clarke University is proud to partner with Goats on the Go® Dubuque and Cox Springs Farm of Peosta to bring a herd of goats to campus as part of our commitment to sustainable land management.
Over the course of several weeks in June and July, the goats will rotate through areas of campus and eat invasive plants and overgrowth, thereby caring for the grounds without the use of harmful chemicals or machinery.
“While the goats are super fun and cute, they are also workers and what they do is a real solution,” said Peg Harbaugh, who owns Cox Springs Farm with her husband Tim and their family. “When managed properly, goats can control noxious weeds like poison ivy, wild parsnip, honeysuckle, thistle, and multiflora rose. They are browsers, not grazers, which makes them the perfect choice when conservation is the key.”
As part of this project, members of the community are invited to the front lawn of the Wahlert Atrium on the Clarke University campus from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29 for a goat petting zoo and to learn more about this environmentally-friendly approach to land management. The Crepe Iron food truck will also be on site, with seating and other entertainment available.
Responsible stewardship of the earth and its resources is an integral part of our Catholic identity and the Core Values at Clarke University,” said Steve Kirschbaum, Executive Director of Facilities and Security at Clarke. “By partnering with a local business and hosting this event, we are better able to share that commitment with our community in a fun and engaging way.
Land management is just one component of an overall sustainability plan at Clarke, including initiatives such as a tray-free Dining Hall that emphasizes composting, installing appliances and features that conserve water and energy throughout our buildings, and even the way we choose investments for our endowment. These efforts and many more are guided by our Sustainability Committee in collaboration with partners throughout the region, such as the Dubuque Colleges Sustainability Coalition and Sustainable Dubuque.
To learn more about sustainability at Clarke, visit clarke.edu/sustainability.
About Goats on the Go Dubuque® and Cox Springs Farm
Goats On The Go® Dubuque is a targeted grazing business. Our service aims to manage invasive plants and overgrowth in a conservation-minded way with goats doing the work they love; eating. Beyond goats, Cox Springs Farm in Peosta, Iowa, is home to donkeys, Labrador puppies, chickens, and more. Learn more at www.GoatsOnTheGo.com and www.CoxSpringsFarm.com.
In the News:
KCRG-TV9: Goats tasked with lawn care at Dubuque college