In 2009, Google took an unusual but decidedly eco-friendly step to maintain the grounds at its headquarters in Mountain View, California. Instead of relying on noisy, gas-powered lawnmowers, the company “hired” a herd of 200 goats to graze on the grass. The goats were brought in via California Grazing and spent roughly a week trimming lawns and clearing overgrowth — all while naturally fertilizing the soil as they fed. 

According to Google’s own blog, the idea was part of a broader sustainability push: by using goats rather than gasoline-fueled mowers, the company cut down on carbon emissions, noise pollution, and potential fire hazards caused by dry brush.  The goats were managed by a herder and a border collie named Jen who helped guide the herd around the property. 

Beyond simply keeping the lawns tidy, the goats provided environmental benefits that a traditional mower cannot: their grazing removed flammable weeds and scrub that might otherwise pose wildfire risks, particularly during California’s dry season, while their droppings acted as natural fertilizer, enriching the soil without synthetic chemicals. 

Google noted that the cost of renting and managing the goats was “about the same as mowing,” making it not only an environmentally-conscious choice but also a financially viable one.  Moreover, the company found the sight of grazing goats far more pleasant — and more charming — than the rumble of lawnmowers. 

The experiment proved more than a one-off novelty. In fact, the company repeated the practice in subsequent years, occasionally rehiring goats to manage overgrown vegetation on campus slopes or fire-prone areas — particularly in spring when grasses and weeds grow quickly. 

Google’s goat-mowing initiative has since become one of the more memorable examples of low-tech, sustainable landscaping — and a reminder that even tech giants can turn to natural, low-carbon solutions when it makes sense. Some fire-management experts have pointed out that grazing can dramatically reduce ground litter and lower fire spread potential by reducing vegetation height and density. 

In a broader context, the “goat mowing” effort at Google reflects an awareness that sustainability doesn’t always require cutting-edge technology — sometimes, older, simpler approaches are just as effective. As many landowners and municipal agencies have discovered, goats and other grazing animals can offer a cost-effective, chemical-free, and ecologically sound way to manage vegetation at scale.