AMHERST — An Amherst farm is inviting area residents to drop off their Christmas trees after the holidays to provide a source of sustenance for goats.
For the fourth year in a row, Michelle Chandler, of 326 West Pomeroy Lane, said she is accepting trees that will feed seven adult goats and five babies.
“My hungry goats will gladly devour Christmas trees,” Chandler said.
The free drop-off is on the west side of the driveway, in the larger part of the front yard facing toward Hadley.
Trees should be free of ornaments and tinsel.
The goats will be able to eat all of the needles and most of the bark. Evergreens that become Christmas trees provide the animals vitamin C and other nutrients and supplement the usual diet of grain and hay.
This disposal option comes as the State Fire Marshal’s office is reminding people about making sure people remove Christmas trees from their homes before becoming fire hazards.
Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey said in a statement that dried-out trees will ignite quickly and spread a fire fast.
“Whether your tradition is to put up your Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving or just before Christmas, trees should be taken down promptly, and disposed of properly,” Ostroskey said. “Even a well-watered tree quickly dries out and becomes a danger.”
The state’s Department of Environmental Protection has information about Christmas tree recycling at: https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2018/02/05/xmastree-recycling.pdf.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
