Chewing up
Grazing businesses are shepherding in an ancient form of land management
By Janet Perry
B ucolic scenes of rolling hills with sheep lazily grazing is more than an iconic wine country vision. It’s a way of protecting that beautiful landscape from wildfires, while also making the land healthier and more drought tolerant. As the threat of wildfire has increased—stirring anxiety among North Bay residents even before the devastating fires of 2017—grazing operations began popping up to help deal with the overgrown brush that serve as fuel to raging flames. Some residents with smaller properties have found that joining forces with their neighbors is a great way to keep the cost of grazing down.
38 NorthBaybiz
July 2024
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