"Sue Bilstein" wrote in message
oups.com...
meeee wrote:
Mum rang me with a gardening problem regarding goats.....her soil is dry,
sandy, slightly acid and under gum trees. She also suffers from marauding
goats....her own, but still.....so she's put in a request to all you
gardening gurus for plants that will handle dry conditions that goats
will
not eat...she will be very very grateful!! It's sort of dappled shade in
some parts and full sun in others; she likes cottage gardens and already
has
lavendar and rosemary growing. Thanks

They'd rather not eat gorse and blackberry, if there's anything else
around!

Years ago I lived in Wellington (NZ) on a hillside section. The
landlord said I should borrow the neighbour's goat and tether it in the
garden above the house to graze down the gorse & blackberry. I can
attest that the goat didn't eat gorse and blackberry, though there
wasn't much else on offer.


Lol I'd have to agree. I am thinking of amending that wikipedia entry for
the last writer; 'Goats will eat anything, but only if they are not supposed
to eat it. If they are supposed to eat it, they will develop a sudden and
inexplicable allergic reaction to the food.' You should have tried chaining
the goat within sight, but not actual reach of the blackberry, and scolded
it severely everal times daily about NOt eating the blackberry, and
definitely NEVER going near the gorse. Then the little bugger would have
busted his appendix breaking the chain to get to it. Regular failed attempts
to catch the animal or chase it away from the blackberry/gorse after it had
broken the chain would have ensured the complete destruction of the weeds.
Especially if there are two or three goats, as they egg each other on.