Goat power property management unleashed at Pickering cemetery

A new goat‑powered vegetation management system will be helping the property management crew at Duffin Meadows Cemetery in Pickering this month, part of the Mount Pleasant Group’s commitment to sustainability and environmental care.

The goats will be introduced at the natural burial sections at Duffin Meadows, as well as Meadowvale Cemetery in Brampton, this spring and fall. The initiative reflects the company’s 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 Property Services Director John Perotta, the program offers multiple environmental benefits.

“Grazing helps control invasive plants and prevent overgrowth, and the goats naturally fertilize the land.”

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, he added.

Mount Pleasant Group is partnering with Goats in the City, a Canadian company specializing in urban conservation with goats, with targeted grazing helping 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 also reflects Mount Pleasant’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.