No Kidding: Google Hires Goats to Mow Lawn
When news is slow, you have to hunt out stories that someone, somewhere might actually find interesting. This story found us. Google is hiring goats.
Given all the employee perks at Google, tons of people endeavor to work for the Mountain View company. In a move that could goad aspiring Googlers, the search company today announced that it’s hiring goats.
“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.”
The company employs a herder which brings about 200 goats to the Google campus. The goats spend roughly a week at Google, eating the grass and “fertilizing” at the same time. The goats are herded with the help of Jen, a border collie. All in all, the cost works out about the same as mowing and as Dan Hoffman, Director Real Estate and Workplace Services points out, goats are a lot cuter to watch than lawn mowers.
Alright, this is a great idea but a couple of things are worth mentioning here. First of all, how much poop can 200 goats on an all-you-can-eat diet produce inside a week? This could just be a forward thinking on our part, but Google may be gearing up to enter the fertilizer market. Don't say we didn't warn you.
Also, whatever about goats being cute, has anyone spared a thought for the lad who used to cut the grass at Google? We hope he didn’t have a wife and kid to feed. At least with him at home, they won’t need the nanny anymore. I wonder if I can ram another pun in somewhere. Wouldn't that get your goat?
Check out the Google blog post here. Post your goat puns below.
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Thats a nice escape goat for Google to claim it's being Green
Come on, a once over to proof read, please!!!!
"All in all, the cost works out about the as mowing."
I think you're missing a word in there.
a herd of goats pooping on your lawn cost the same as a herd of illegals doing the same? I'm with Google. I would go with the goats.
I wonder if I can ram another pun in somewhere.
Jane, I don't want you ramming anything in anywhere...
...
...or do I?
Jane, I don't want you ramming anything in anywhere.........or do I?
Dude, that's pretty scary.
This is Al Gore's fault.
OK, so with the new "job math" is that +201 jobs then subtract the mower guys who are now unemployed? What is the net job creation and/or "saved" with this move. Can we get the goats to pay payroll taxes? Is Jen up to speed on HR compliance? Just kidding of course.
businesses do it all the time here in Wyoming T_T
Dude, that's pretty scary.
Lol!!! Wonder if Jane read that yet. Man her reaction has to be hilarious!
Lol!!! Wonder if Jane read that yet. Man her reaction has to be hilarious!
...You just quoted me! My reaction was, "dude, that's pretty scary."
Lol!!! Wonder if Jane read that yet. Man her reaction has to be hilarious!
I thought JMcEntegart was Jane....
Oh my Jane, and just when I was starting to believe that you were improving, you came with this totally useless crap.In fact, when I read the title of the news I said to myself "I bet it was written by Jane." Yep, I was right, but rest assured that I didn't bothered myself reading it, I just came here to confirm my suspicions and to comment on its uselessness.I guess you will remain as a crappy blogger forever.Later.
Jeez, just because you weren't hugged enough as a child, doesn't mean you need to waste your time commenting on stuff you obviously hate.
It's not a ba-a-a-a-a-ad idea if you forget about the the individual that used to mow the grass.
Did Google factor in the methane released into the atmosphere by the grazing goats.
It's the new outsourcing...
Whats next..Dogs running wall street...
...You just quoted me! My reaction was, "dude, that's pretty scary."
Ahh, I've gotta read the fine print more often XD
lol, best lawncare idea ever lol xD.
This is Al Gore's fault.
Why did that bastard have to invent Global Warming? I say we kill him and the internet he created.
A few things that are apparently lost on this. Goats produce methane. Methane is a way more powerful greenhouse gas than Carbon Dioxide. Goats also produce carbon dioxide from the grass, which would have otherwise have been converted to organic matter for dirt. So, the value of this is dubious.
Also, the Earth is actually very cold by normal standards. Everyone keeps talking about global warming, but even with it the Earth is relatively cool. I also haven't seen a study indicating the effects on plant life. Unless we keep knocking down forests and such, plants should benefit from the extra carbon, and can grow faster with it, providing a negative feedback mechanism. However, if we keep destroying their habitats, that complicates things. Methane, of course, is not used by plants though, so likely doesn't have a negative feedback loop. It's also responsible for about 25% of the global warming, despite being much less concentrated. It's just a much more effective greehouse gas.
Wouldn’t the cost (financial + pollution) of transporting the goats to and from Google be similar to running a lawn mower?
Also, concerning being green, how many trucks / trips did it take to get the goats there for a week? Seems like that would also offset the savings on not mowing.
Google might look "green" by doing this, but that grass doesn't look green at all. Besides, how much carbon monoxide is produced from the flatulance of all these goats eating, pooping and farting.
A few things that are apparently lost on this. Goats produce methane .... It's just a much more effective greehouse gas.
Everyone +1 this man now.
Google might look "green" by doing this, but that grass doesn't look green at all. Besides, how much carbon monoxide is produced from the flatulance of all these goats eating, pooping and farting.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous odorless gas. Flatulence is methane, not carbon monoxide.
Each company should have a mascot that represents their users. Google can have tenacious goats and Microsoft can have a herd of sheep.
Each company should have a mascot that represents their users. Google can have tenacious goats and Apple can have a herd of "creative" sheep.
Fixed.
ummm... to all you guys who are given crap about methane being far more efficient as a green house gas and saying this is just as bad or even worse than lawnmowers... lets not forget that these are RENTED goats. its not like they bred these animals for this purpose. their gonna fart and crap no matter where they are
RE:
Whats next..Dogs running wall street...
Nope, they leave that up to the pigs at the trough...
Yup goats aren't green, they are just old-school. Also goats can be nasty, I guess the smell from this heard of goats keeps media away from the building.
I heard Obama is investigating Google - apparently these are non-union goats and they are not getting the appropriate health care coverage and are not getting adequate work breaks. As a result the gov't will be taking a stake in Google and putting several folks on the board. The EU is also investigating as apparently the herder was given a 'rebate' and some EU goats which could have been flown over were unfairly competed against. Expect a large Google fine to be announced for this clearly anti-competitive behavior.
Seriously though - this is the insanity of the green movement. It is questionable whether this is actually a benefit to the environment (given transport as folks mentioned). I find it difficult to believe this is a net zero cost (especially when you consider lost job/wages and inevitable taxes on that wage)... so in the end there is a chance you have ended up with a more costly solution and a net zero (or worse) environmental impact, all in the name of "being green" and some PR that undoubtedly will lead CNN and NBC as they continue to pull the green wool over people's eyes.