Goats Chow Down On Old Christmas Trees, Farm Accepts Donations

NORTH FORK, NY — If the Christmas tree is beginning to shed needles all over the floor and droop, it may be time to rewrap the decorations for next year and say good-bye to the twinkling beauty.

But there's an alternative to dragging the tree outside or carting it to the transfer station: This year, Goodale Farms, Inc., located at 260 Main Road in Riverhead, has pitched an environmentally friendly way to recycle and dispose of Christmas trees while feeding some happy and hungry goats at the same time.

"Please drop off your undecorated Christmas trees," a post from Goodale Farms Inc. said. "There will a wooden crate next to the stand to place your tree into."

A representative from Goodale Farms added, "Goats love to eat Christmas trees because they need roughage in their diet and the needles from the trees are perfect and taste good."

The practice has gathered steam around the country, with many donating their trees to goats in areas including San Francisco.

According to USAToday.com, the pine needles are a "natural dewormer" with Vitamin C, healthy for the goats.

Photo courtesy Goodale Farms, Inc.

Video of goats in another part of the country enjoying Christmas trees, courtesy YouTube.