The Prospect Park Goats Are Coming Back

PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN — Prospect Park is bringing back its famous weed-eating goats — and giving park-goers a chance to hang out with them and learn about making wool.

The goats were first brought in last summer to help clear some invasive plants that have sprouted in the park since Hurricane Sandy. They loved to munch on just about everything that needed to be removed, including poison ivy.

Last year, the goat gardeners were way ahead of schedule, clearing a 1.5-acre plot in about six weeks. They came back in August to finish the seasonal job.

And this year, they're back for more.

Like last year, Brooklyn's favorite lawn-care crew will work in the Vale of Cashmere area, in the northern section of the park, Prospect Park Alliance spokeswoman Lucy Gardner told Patch. Later in the summer, they'll move south, to Lookout Hill, Gardner said.

The park will work with the U.S. Forest Service to monitor the goats' progress and move them between those two locations as necessary.

It's unclear, though, if it will be the same batch of eight munchers from last year — Diego, Raptor, Max, Charlie Brown, Skittles, Zoya, Olivia and Reese. They will, though, come from the same farm in Rhinebeck, New York.

Last year, the goats lived in a fenced-off section of the park while they worked, and park visitors were able to watch them on the job.

To celebrate the return of the goats, the Prospect Park Alliance is holding several events at the Lefferts Historic House on Sunday, May 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. The festivities are free, but the Park is asking for a $3 suggested donation.

Here's what's on the day's agenda, according to the park:

• Wool Carding and Drop Spindle, 1– 4 pm: Learn how to card wool using special tools and how to spin with a drop spindle.
• Spinning Demonstrations, 1–4 pm: Come and meet our resident Spinner, Catherine Conrad and see how she spins wool fibers into thread.
• Parade from the Zoo, 1:30 pm: Join Lefferts staff on a parade from the Zoo
• Felt Balls, 2–4 pm: After the wool is washed and carded, you can try your hand at making a felt ball. Use the wood fibers to shape a ball and see if you can make it bounce!
• Wool Washing, 2–4 pm: After the fleece is shorn from the sheep, the next step is washing it! Help staff clean the fleece and get it ready for felt balls and spinning!

Image: Paul Martinka, courtesy Prospect Park Alliance