Mount Pleasant Group (MPG) is welcoming some unexpected new helpers to our natural burial grounds this year: goats.
As part of MPG’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental care, goats will be introduced at the natural burial sections at Meadowvale Cemetery and Duffin Meadows Cemetery this spring and fall. The initiative reflects our broader efforts to care for these landscapes using environmentally responsible practices.
“The goats help control invasive plant material and promote the healthy growth of wildflowers without the use of pesticides or fuel-powered equipment,” said Jason Cabral, Property Manager at Duffin Meadows. “It’s a green initiative.”
The goats will visit each site twice during the season, staying for approximately two days at a time. About 50 goats will graze within a fenced area surrounding the natural burial grounds, under the supervision of an eco-shepherd throughout the day.
According to John Perrotta, Director, Property Services, the program offers multiple environmental benefits.
“Grazing helps control invasive plants and prevent overgrowth, and the goats naturally fertilize the land,” said John.
Goat manure is rich in nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, making it an effective natural fertilizer that supports long‑term soil health and biodiversity.
MPG is partnering with Goats in the City, a Canadian company specializing in urban conservation through goat‑powered vegetation management. Targeted grazing helps reduce invasive plant species, improve habitat for pollinators and wildlife, and lower reliance on chemical herbicides, contributing to healthier, more resilient landscapes.
The goats’ arrival reflects MPG’s broader approach to land stewardship: working with nature, rather than against it, to care for cemetery spaces that are both places of remembrance and thriving natural environments.
