SPONSORED CONTENT
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
SPONSORED CONTENT
The Cutest
( and Greenest )
Landscaping Option
If you have a half-acre or more of yard that ’ s overgrown and hard to maintain , you may want to look into Have U Herd , a suburban goat rental business owned by Rainy Laux . Based out of her Collier Township farm right off the Kirwan Heights exit of I-79 . Rainy ’ s 30 goats offer customers a lot more value and an experience that can ’ t be matched , all for a lower price than a landscaper .
“ My goats are ideal for properties with invasive poison ivy , unsightly overcrowding underbrush , and creeping vines ,” she said . “ The goats eat these undesired broad-leaved plants , not lawn grass , bypassing the need for toxic weed killers .”
The process is a simple one : The property owner meets with Rainy to go over the job , how much land needs to be cleared and how safe the yard is for goats . Then , a perimeter of lightweight , solarpowered electric fencing is set up around the area . The electric fence has a similar voltage to a pet perimeter training collar . It keeps the goats safely in and predators and neighborhood dogs out . All property owners need to do is turn the fence off once a day to go change out the water
and spread a few wafers of hay provided by Rainy to supplement the goats ’ diet . They are encouraged to pet the goats if they like before exiting the area and turning the fence back on . The goats take care of the rest . And , with each of her goats only weighing around 100 pounds on average , you don ’ t need to worry about the rest of your yard being damaged by their hooves .
“ A lot of property owners will reseed their yards before we arrive . Goats don ’ t eat seeds . They actually will trample the seed in and fertilize it ,” Rainy said . “ Believe it or not , the droppings are part of the benefit . It ’ s not pungent like cow or horse droppings and we ’ re not there long enough for it to build up .”
She noted that in addition to yard trimming , she ’ s entertained all kinds of jobs for her goats — ranging from photo shoots and film work to bridal showers and Painting with a Twist-style parties , except with goats .
“ Goats are hot right now , and Goat Yoga is on fire . This is why I partnered with Jen Stratakis of Jen ’ s Yoga Zen to create NamastHay Goat Yoga of Pittsburgh ,” Rainy added . “ We are the first to bring goat yoga to Pittsburgh . We host public
spring and fall events filling with 150-175 participants , raising money for humane organizations .”
With green goat grazing becoming popular now in the Midwest , and Pittsburgh beginning to employ them , Rainy is expanding her rentals to private residential land , schools , cemeteries , office parks , retirement homes , and golf courses .
Rainy has a master ’ s degree in elementary education and interned with the number-one goat landscaper in Plymouth , Massachusetts , prior to buying her herd . She said her clients are surprised to discover that her goats are quiet , gentle , and amusing .
“ Goats are efficient natural landscapers as they eat , rest , eat , play , eat , and sleep then eat , leaving a good , not-too-fragrant fertilizer where they work ,” she said .
For more information , or to schedule a free consultation , call Rainy Laux at 412.414.1001 , or email haveuherdgoats @ gmail . com . Visit online at HaveUHerd . com or on Facebook .
UPPER ST . CLAIR ❘ SUMMER 2018 33