Carlisle Area School District's mowing chores outsourced to sheep
Sheep are taking over some of Carlisle Area School District groundskeeping chores.They are saving the district up to $15,000 a year and cutting local air pollution.
Not baaaad.
Instead of workers spending six hours a week mowing and trimming near solar panels, sheep have moved in for the summer. They nibble grass and weeds each morning and laze under panels during hot afternoons.
“Right now, we’re testing how many sheep the solar area can maintain. ... It looks like the grass is still growing, so I’m going to have to bring in more,” said Eric Sands, the animals’ owner.
Carlisle wasn’t aware of other districts putting grazing animals to work. But it might catch on.
Dan Ludwig is a grazing specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service based in Lebanon County. He said leasing animals for grazing on swaths of government and private land is a growing business.
“It’s gaining popularity, especially in orchards,” he said.
The grazing area must be fenced — Carlisle had fenced in its solar fields — but the payoffs usually outweigh that expense.
Carlisle’s only cost is keeping the sheep supplied with fresh water.
And the district didn’t have to recruit the animals.
Sands is the assistant principal at Wilson Middle School in the district. He’s also the owner, with wife Tracy, of the Wooly Wonders Sheep and Fiber farm in Dickinson Twp. The couple have a mixed herd of 30 to 35 registered, natural-color, long-wool and black Romney sheep.
Goats provide the same kind of services and can be used to mow weedy areas. I believe they will eat thistles and broadleaf weeds. I am not sure if sheep will eat these plants. Mechanicsburg School District may want to explore hiring goats for their areas. A couple of years ago there was an article in the newspapers (I don't remember which) about a woman who manages goats and hires them out for mowing steep banks along roads, etc.
Carlisle Area School District - News
Sheep are taking over some of Carlisle Area School District groundskeeping chores. They are saving the district up to $15000 a year and cutting local air pollution. Instead of workers spending six hours a week mowing and trimming near solar panels,
By Beth Anne Heesen, The How else could they accommodate more than 75 Carlisle Area School District residents and employees who came to the normally quiet meeting on June 16 to voice opinions on the 3.5 percent tax increase the board was
By The CARLISLE — Residents of the Carlisle Area School District will see a 3.5 percent real estate tax increase as part of the district's $64.6 million budget for 2011-12. The budget was approved by a 7 to 2 vote before a crowd of more
The area is already pressed financially, he said. “Why do they need a new school?” he asked. “To keep up with the Joneses?” Hook said there is no right time to ask voters to approve a levy, but thinks the district should act while OSFC funds are still
Nearly 20 Carlisle Area School District residents attended Thursday night's school board committee meeting, and nearly half of them expressed concerns over the tentative 3.5 percent tax increase included in the school district's tentative 2011-12
Carlisle Area School District's mowing chores outsourced to sheep ...
Sheep are taking over some of Carlisle Area School District groundskeeping chores.
They are saving the district up to $15,000 a year and cutting local air pollution.
Not baaaad.
Instead of workers spending six hours a week mowing and trimming near solar panels, sheep have moved in for the summer. They nibble grass and weeds each morning and laze under panels during hot afternoons.
“Right now, we’re testing how many sheep the solar area can maintain. ... It looks like the grass is still growing, so I’m going to have to bring in more,” said Eric Sands, the animals’ owner.
Carlisle wasn’t aware of other districts putting grazing animals to work. But it might catch on.
Dan Ludwig is a grazing specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service based in Lebanon County. He said leasing animals for grazing on swaths of government and private land is a growing business.
“It’s gaining popularity, especially in orchards,” he said.
The grazing area must be fenced — Carlisle had fenced in its solar fields — but the payoffs usually outweigh that expense.
Carlisle’s only cost is keeping the sheep supplied with fresh water.
And the district didn’t have to recruit the animals.
Sands is the assistant principal at Wilson Middle School in the district. He’s also the owner, with wife Tracy, of the Wooly Wonders Sheep and Fiber farm in Dickinson Twp. The couple have a mixed herd of 30 to 35 registered, natural-color, long-wool and black Romney sheep.
Goats provide the same kind of services and can be used to mow weedy areas. I believe they will eat thistles and broadleaf weeds. I am not sure if sheep will eat these plants. Mechanicsburg School District may want to explore hiring goats for their areas. A couple of years ago there was an article in the newspapers (I don't remember which) about a woman who manages goats and hires them out for mowing steep banks along roads, etc.
Carlisle Area School District - Bookshelf
Comprehensive development plan for the Borough of Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, part I : planning studies and analysis
The Carl isle Area School District encompasses four municipalities - Carlisle Borough, Mount Holly Springs, Dickinson Township, and North Middleton. ...Encyclopedia of Education Law
Central Regional School District, 1996). Grounds for Rejection As is the case with tuition reimbursement, ... Carlisle Area School District v. ...Superintendents' perceptions of clinical supervision practices in a district-wide implementation program
Public School Superintende Big Springs School District Camp Hill School District Carlisle Area School District Central Dauphine School District Cumberland ...CIC's school directory
DISTRICT/CCX/MTY CALLOWAY CO SCHOOL DISTRICT/GV\U0lV4V Calloway County High ... CO SCHOOL DISTRICT/CARLISLE Carlisle County High School Bardweii Carlisle ...West's Federal practice digest 4th
Carlisle Area School v. Scott P. By and Through Bess P., 62 F.3d 520, amended, ... that school district provide appropriate individual education plan (IEP), ...Day-by-day Note Directory
Carlisle Area School District
The Carlisle Area School District in Carlisle, PA.
Carlisle Area School District
Carlisle Area School District. 623 W. Penn St. Carlisle, PA 17013. Phone: 717-240-6800 ... Mooreland Elementary School. 329 Wilson St. Carlisle, PA 17013. Mail To: ...
Carlisle Area School District - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carlisle Area School District encompasses approximately 75 square miles. ... The Carlisle Area School District received more than $18.3 million in state funding in ...
Carlisle Community School District - Homepage
Serves students in the communities of Carlisle and Hartford. Includes general information, mission, value and belief statements, calendars, events, school board ...
Carlisle Area School District - Carlisle PA
See a listing of schools in Carlisle Area School District. Find your district's PA ranking, see district map boundaries, and more.