Google gets goats in search for new lawn mowers

[Arjun]

Seeking a greener alternative to fossil-fueled lawn mowers, Google is renting a herd of goats to cut the grass.


Here's the announcement on the official Google blog:

At our Mountain View headquarters, we have some fields that we need to mow occasionally to clear weeds and brush to reduce fire hazard. This spring we decided to take a low-carbon approach: Instead of using noisy mowers that run on gasoline and pollute the air, we've rented some goats from California Grazing to do the job for us (we're not "kidding"). A herder brings about 200 goats and they spend roughly a week with us at Google, eating the grass and fertilizing at the same time. The goats are herded with the help of Jen, a border collie. It costs us about the same as mowing, and goats are a lot cuter to watch than lawn mowers.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had this to say:

PETA has no problem with letting goats do what goats want to do (e.g., look cute and eat weeds), but we do have concerns about how the goats may be transported, whether they are provided with access to shelter during storms and shade as well as water during hot weather, where they are housed when they aren’t “working,” what kind of veterinary care they receive, and what becomes of old and/or excess goats. PETA has found over and over that whenever animals are used by a business to make money, corners are cut and animals often suffer as a result. And that really gets our goat, if you’ll pardon the pun.

TechCrunch followed up with Google's reply to PETA:

Google takes the wellness of our employees very seriously and we pride ourselves on having a responsive and adaptable culture. The lawn-mowing goats are not, of course, full-time Google employees -- but we would certainly respond directly to any concerns about their treatment. I can confirm that during their time in Mountain View, like other Google employees, each goat is entitled to a free organic lunch.

Source: USATODAY

Although an outlandish idea, it seems to be effective. This is a good example of using common sense to efficiently and profitably going green.






^^ pic os the goats at the mountain view Google office.

[Georgy Zhukov]

PETA WAS PWNED

[eddy_purpus]

I can confirm that during their time in Mountain View, like other Google employees, each goat is entitled to a free organic lunch.

lolololololol
That means that Googles employes used to "mow" the lawn ?
xD
ahhahaha
Of course CPTN Bob !
They iz GreenPeez xD

[Arjun]

lolololololol
That means that Googles employes used to "mow" the lawn ?

good one.lol
btw, google is known for providing free gourmet food for its employees, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[Hippolord]

Lmao sounds like great news to me.

And i support the pwnage of PETA, and i am a heavy Google user like many of you.

GO GOOGLE!!!

Edit: Maybe they should milk them, theres some money there. I mean if the milk aint going to there kids (Litterally! Baby goat=Kid) then we shouldnt let it go to waste!

Then again whos to say it's not? Is it? (Going to the kids that is.)

[Norge]

The guy who used to mow the lawn at Google is now unemployed and homeless, all for a ridiculous publicity stunt. I bet 200 goats produce more CO2 than a lawnmover anyways.

[LSJ]

They could have bought an electric mower.

[Georgy Zhukov]

The guy who used to mow the lawn at Google is now unemployed and homeless, all for a ridiculous publicity stunt. I bet 200 goats produce more CO2 than a lawnmover anyways.

Free market pal, if you cant supply the demand, then kiss your paycheck goodbye.

[Pious Agnost]

I want to get a job as 'Official Responder to PETA' now

[Arjun]

The guy who used to mow the lawn at Google is now unemployed and homeless, all for a ridiculous publicity stunt. I bet 200 goats produce more CO2 than a lawnmower anyways.

While i feel sorry for his loss; he is most probably part of a professional mowing firm/company that services a lot of such high-tech companies in that area. its highly unlikely that he would be fired if that's the case

but having said that; one guy did get employed; the goat herder. so the bright side being that a person got a job for sure while another "might" have lost one.

I am sure they already took care of that one. all methane gas from the goats will be collected and sourced to a google facility as heating gas.

[CtrlAltDe1337]

Watch out, those goat farts will cause global warming!

[Panzerbear]

I am sure they already took care of that one. all methane gas from the goats will be collected and sourced to a google facility as heating gas.

[Justinian]

Google is quite possibly the most awesome thing to ever happen, ever.

I welcome them as our new overlords.

[Hunter Makoy]

Although an outlandish idea, it seems to be effective. This is a good example of using common sense to efficiently and profitably going green.






^^ pic os the goats at the mountain view Google office.

Yeah I know people who have used this, and even promoted it in urban areas. And did you just really just use the phrase "common sense" while talking about using a herd of goats to mow your lawn?

This reminds me of the "smug" episode from South Park.

Free market pal, if you cant supply the demand, then kiss your paycheck goodbye.

Out sourcing a job to a person in India = Super not cool
Ah, but Being replaced by a ing GOAT = free market duuuuude.

[John I Tzimisces]

Out sourcing a job to a person in India = Super not cool
Ah, but Being replaced by a ing GOAT = free market duuuuude.

You can eat a goat, not the lawn-mowing guy.

(both are a little gamey though)

[Sidmen]

Yeah I know people who have used this, and even promoted it in urban areas. And did you just really just use the phrase "common sense" while talking about using a herd of goats to mow your lawn?

Its common sense.

I hate mowing my yard + Goats mow yards without much supervision and no spending hours on a deathmachine = fun times me not mowing the yard while goats do it for me.

[Hunter Makoy]

Its common sense.

I hate mowing my yard + Goats mow yards without much supervision and no spending hours on a deathmachine = fun times me not mowing the yard while goats do it for me.

ok. . . . lawnmower =/= deathmachine

what kinda lawnmower do you use? And I'm anyone who has signed any deed restrictions would have nooo trouble explaining the damn goats in their yard.

[Sidmen]

what kinda lawnmower do you use?

Some POS 32 incher that has no suspension of any kind, and a yard thats way too big for it and has way too many minute holes to count. All in all, after you finish the yard you won't stop shaking for hours.

And I'm anyone who has signed any deed restrictions would have nooo trouble explaining the damn goats in their yard.

Smart people buy property where there aren't deed restrictions. I couldn't stand being told what I can and can't do on my property.

[Hunter Makoy]

You can eat a goat, not the lawn-mowing guy.

(both are a little gamey though)

What does that have to do with free market though?
You could eat the Indian guy too, althought it might be a too spicy for some tastes.

Some POS 32 incher that has no suspension of any kind, and a yard thats way too big for it and has way too many minute holes to count. All in all, after you finish the yard you won't stop shaking for hours.

well I don't know what to tell you other then a lawnmower certainly shouldn't be something you consider a deathmachine.

Smart people buy property where there aren't deed restrictions. I couldn't stand being told what I can and can't do on my property.

Some people live in cities. . .

[JP226]

I tried this once, and they don't do the job worth a crap. Then of course all the round pebble they leave everywhere made walking difficult.