Your real Christmas tree may no longer be lighting up your home, but it can still be a holiday treat - at least for local animals.
Goat Dispatch, a Minnesota company that specializes in land management using goats, is once again looking for donations of real Christmas trees and wreaths. It's the fifth year the organization is collecting them and the second year they've worked with the city of Faribault.
"It's been a good way for people not just to throw their trees away and throw them into the landfills," said Paul Peanasky, Fairbault Parks and Recreation director.
The trees and wreaths are a good winter snack for the goats during plant-free months, and the animals help recycle the trees through their natural digestive processes, according to Goat Dispatch.
"It's just kind of amazing how we give them free access to alfalfa hay, one of the top quality hays... they have all this land to eat from yet they still love to eat the Christmas trees, as well. So we give them a choice," said Jake Langeslag, owner of Goat Dispatch.
If you want to recycle your tree and help feed some hungry goats, you can bring it to White Sands Dog Park at 900 Lyndale Avenue North in Faribault. There is an area marked for tree donations in the northwest area of the parking lot.
Trees cannot have ornaments, metal, or stands. They also can't be flocked.
Goat Dispatch allows customers to rent goats to graze on invasive plants and brush, helping to maintain land in an eco-friendly way. To learn more about the company, click here.
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