NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Along the banks of the Cumberland River, just north of downtown Nashville, an unexpected sight is captivating tourists: hundreds of sheep grazing peacefully while party pontoons float by, showcasing the city’s iconic skyline.
Zach Richardson, the urban sheepherder responsible for this flock, noted that many boats alter their course just to give passengers a closer look at the Nashville Chew Crew, aptly named for their unique landscaping work. The sight of sheep at work in an urban landscape is leading to a growing trend in sustainable land management.
“People enjoy watching the sheep much more than they would with conventional landscaping equipment like mowers or leaf blowers,” Richardson remarked.
Using sheep for grazing is gaining popularity among urban communities, which are increasingly choosing this method for effective land management. This approach addresses concerns related to invasive species, wildfire risks, and maintaining native vegetation and wildlife habitats.
The Nashville Parks Department engaged the Chew Crew in 2017 to care for the historic Fort Negley, a Civil War-era site, where traditional mowing methods were damaging the infrastructure. The sheep now graze across approximately 150 acres of city property yearly, including at the historic Nashville City Cemetery.
“It’s a more environmentally friendly and often more cost-effective method of managing green spaces,” stated Jim Hester, assistant director of Metro Nashville Parks.
Accompanying the sheep are Anatolian shepherds, the Chew Crew’s livestock guardian dogs, who protect the flock from potential threats. The sheep, known as hair sheep, naturally shed their fibers and are often raised for meat.
Additionally, Duggie, a trained border collie, plays a crucial role in managing the flock, responding to Richardson’s commands to move or separate the sheep as necessary.
Cities across the nation are adopting similar practices. For instance, Santa Barbara, California, has been utilizing sheep for about seven years to create land buffers that help mitigate wildfire spread.
“The community loves the grazers, and it promotes community engagement in a fresh way,” said Monique O’Conner, an open space planner for the city’s parks and recreation.
The grazing sheep significantly alter how fire behaves in natural landscapes, providing critical advantages for firefighters during emergencies.
Universities are also exploring the benefits of grazing animals. The University of Georgia once faced a privet infestation and turned to a herd of goats to address the issue, opting for this chemical-free method to preserve the environment and native plant life.
Richardson, who was inspired to start his grazing business during his studies in landscape architecture, transitioned to Nashville and prefers sheep over goats due to their flock-oriented behavior.
While sheep are a beneficial tool for urban land management, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution, emphasizing the importance of careful site selection to educate the public about the benefits of grazing.
Challenges exist as well; incidents involving predatory attacks on grazing animals, though infrequent, can occur and necessitate regular relocation of the flock for safety and sustainability.
The impact of grazing can also vary, and communities like Santa Barbara conduct environmental surveys before implementing grazing practices to protect local wildlife.
In Nashville, the contrast between manicured lawns mowed by machines and the dynamic ecosystem fostered by the Chew Crew is stark. “The diversity of life is greater where the sheep graze,” Richardson explained, highlighting the flourishing wildlife, including rabbits, butterflies, and nesting birds.
Available for public engagement, the Chew Crew offers a unique opportunity for connection with nature. “If the sheep can inspire a greater appreciation for the natural world or ignite a child’s curiosity, that’s a positive outcome,” Richardson concluded.
