Goat Fest: Erie Benedictine Sisters bringing back goats to help remove invasive plants

Goats will be back at Glinodo this month.

The Benedictine Sisters of Erie will welcome a herd from Buffalo to help clear invasive plant species from the sister's Glinodo property in Harborcreek Township for a third year. The public will be able to meet the animals at the second annual Goat Fest.

Why goats

Multiflora rose and other invasive species, which kill off native plants and trees, have overrun trails at Glinodo, 6270 East Lake Road, a former summer camp now providing open green space where people can walk and fish in Seven Mile Creek as well as attend retreats and spirituality programs.

Instead of using pesticides, Sister Jacqueline Sanchez-Small had the idea to bring Let's Goat Buffalo to Glinodo to have the animals eat away at the invasive plants.

From 2023: Goats return to Erie Benedictines' Glinodo property to help remove invasive plants

"We are passionate about our commitment to care for the Earth," Sanchez-Small said in a news release. "By removing the invasive species, we restore the natural habitats, and by doing so without pesticides, we do it in a way that also protects our waterways that we are directly connected to. The goats have made significant progress over the last two years, and many human volunteers have helped to remove roots and re-chip the trails to make them accessible once again.”

Goat Fest

While the goats will be working for a couple weeks, the public is invited to see them Aug. 24 during the Glinodo Goat Fest.

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The free family-friendly event from 1 to 4 p.m. will include a storybook trail, nature art, snacks, games, activities and education, organizers said. Presentations about the goats and invasive species will take place at 1:30 and 3 p.m.

Dana Massing can be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Benedictines use goats to remove invasive plants from Glinodo