Friday, January 11, 2013

Christmas Trees Everywhere

Gold Mine! I hit the jackpot. No, not the lottery. Although that would be very nice. I hit the Christmas tree goldmine.  Christmas is done and gone for another year, New Years followed closely behind.  Now is Christmas Tree drop off time.  There are reports of a mad woman out there with a truck who stops by and robs these drop off sites.  Truthfully I get some really strange looks.  I stop at this same subdivision in Bangor every year.  Look at all of these wonderful abandoned trees!
Trees and more trees.
Loading up the truck.
Now off to Walmart. I don't think I got any strange stares. After all it is Walmart.
The boys were excited to get the greenery.  Not much around green at this time of year. 
Yum!
The sheep weren't as excited but pleased to have something new to head butt.
Ted hooked up the snowmobile trailer and went back the next day for more. Why should they go to the landfill? We have a goatfill.
This huge tree on the top of the pile will make the animals very happy for a few days. They eat all of the needles, strip and eat all of the bark and then chew the smaller stems. Nothing goes to waste.
Evergreen also serves as a natural dewormer for sheep and goats.  They still get grain and hay everyday needs.  The trees get recycled, the animals are happy. It's a winter win for all.
Much Love from Mainely Ewes Farm.

11 comments:

Unknown said...

That is SO funny, we go around getting tress too! Only we use them for fire wood. People give us a strange look when we load um up!

That's interesting though, I didn't know they could be ATE, learn something new every day. ;)

Rian said...

It's amazing to me what goats can eat and it not hurt them...

I know my cats sometimes chew on the Christmas tree and upchuck needles.

Marigold said...

I am envisioning the mad woman hunkered down behind the wheel, covertly glancing right and left, foot poised over the gas pedal, laughing maniacally ... :)

jaz@octoberfarm said...

the coolest recycling of all!!!

Ellen in Oregon said...

Sounds like a win win situation for everyone. Loved your comment about not getting the strange looks at Walmart. It seems like Walmart is a magnet for the weird in life, so I don't think your activity would even make it onto the Walmart Scale of the Bizzare. Last year I came across a blog that was dedicated to all the strange people & things happening at Walmart. It was a little mean spirited, but I will admit to teeheeing a couple of times. I am surprised the goats eat pine needles. It sounds as bad as having to drink Lysol to me - UGH!
Your picture of the goats under the caption "Yum" looks like an old European painting. In fact, I had to look at it several times to see that it was actually a photo. The color & shadow added to the beautiful composition. Oh - your skill with the camera might have something to do with it too.

Dog Trot Farm said...

We do see some strange sights at Walmart don't we? I think you and the critters are doing a wonderful service by recycling these Christmas trees. I never realized goats ate the bark too. I place our tree next to a backyard bird feeder and hang suet. Have a lovely day, Julie.

Eggs In My Pocket said...

Oh it sure looks cold where you are! I did not know that sheep eat evergreens! Very interesting reading about the trees. Stay warm!

Lili said...

Goodness you are very resourceful and I had no idea about how useful the trees are for goats! I would have donated mine too, except it is fiber optic....ha! xo

Thistle Cove Farm said...

People used to laugh at me for doing this; now, I've huge competition! A friend will go to the mountain and cut down waste pine trees for my sheep. This time of year, green is hard to come by and they love the treat.

doglady said...

My son gave me a pair of Nigerian wethers for Christmas. They were a total surprise and of course I let them in for a while. One immediately recognized the Christmas tree as edible. It is now in their enclosure getting nibbled daily.

Susan said...

I scored my parents' and my neighbor's trees - perked the sheep/goats right up! I will have to remember to raid the 'leftovers' next year - great post!