Sheep may safely graze–and goats, too

Have you ever lived around sheep? We have, when we farmed in central Illinois, but not with about 2,000 at a time. Who woulda thunk we'd be here, looking out on a sea of suburban roofs in northern California where suddenly, sheep and goats rate as Conversational Topic #1.

A friend shot these scenes across the road. The flock spent the past week or so happily chomping away on this year's early crop of grass and weeds that cover the city-owned open space surrounding our community.

The number of animals in the flock keep changing because, well, it's spring, you know, and baby lambs and goats keep appearing.

These past few years several communities around us have contracted with owners of flocks like this to bring in their sheep and goats to graze what otherwise would have to be mowed. Shepherds then put up temporary fencing before bringing in their animals, along with a few well-trained dogs who keep the flock in line. Someone stays on-site all the time, moving the fencing when the sheep and goats have the vegetation eaten down in an area.

Early tomorrow morning the police are shutting down the main street that divides our community. Then we'll have the Great Sheep Drive, with probably most of our community there to watch. Picture crowds of fascinated city-dwellers standing there entranced as the flock moves down the city street and comes over to our side. No cowboys on horseback. Just the shepherds, their whistles and their dogs, now as in Bible times.

Then we'll be looking out at a scene somewhat like this. Probably some residents have never been so close to a sheep or a goat.

Back on our Midwestern farm we didn't have wild turkeys parading out back several times a day, or deer, or hawks nesting in our trees and soaring overhead. Never heard a coyote, either, or owls hooting in the night.

Perhaps it's the novelty, perhaps it's the charm of it, but nobody's complaining about being invaded by these itinerant shepherds and their flock.

And imagine, these peaceful creatures captured our community without firing a shot.

Well, that's the peaceful news from the city.

Blessings,

Lenore