Recycle your Christmas tree — feed it to a goat

Last year, feeding Christmas trees to goats became a fun family event, and one much appreciated by the goats who enjoyed the feeding frenzy.

While it’s still a seasonal tradition, says Melina Morsch of Fox Den Yoga, like everything else, this year has to be different.

Last year, there were coffee and doughnuts at what became a community event, with families gathering to watch their Christmas trees fed to Morsch’s goats, who are boarded at Benchview Equestrian Centre.

The trees are good for the goats’ digestive systems, and are a natural de-wormer, says Morsch. They also love the treat. 

Pine trees are the sweetest-tasting and their favourite, she says, but her goats are not fussy — they’ll chow down on whatever variety they’re given. They go for the needles first, but will work away at the bark as well. And it’s fun to watch how quickly and greedily they can devour the trees that are tossed into their pen.

Most of the Fox Den goats are young. Morsch has only Nigerian Dwarf or Pygmy goats, perfect for goat yoga, which has been put on hold during COVID.

To avoid contact, a hay wagon has been put out on the Benchview property, with an entrance off Concession 6 near Queenston Road. Trees can be left on the hay wagon.

Morsch is asking for a donation of $5 or more, and a donation box is attached to the wagon. The money will go to the Niagara Community Foundation’s Darte Family Youth Mental Health Fund.