In October 2017, Jane Marx, a landscape architect in Northern California, experienced the Nuns Fire, which destroyed 1,355 buildings, including most of her neighborhood, Bennett Ridge. Although her home survived, the fire left her land scorched, prompting local residents to form a community fire-safety organization. Between 2017 and 2020, six significant wildfires affected California's wine country, highlighting the need for fire risk reduction strategies. Communities can lower fire risks by clearing overgrown vegetation, but Marx sought alternative methods, considering grazing animals as a solution.
Three years ago, neighbor Bill Hill attended a webinar about community grazing cooperatives and learned from Sarah Keiser about the benefits of using sheep and goats to manage vegetation. With Keiser's assistance, Hill, Marx, and another neighbor organized a grazing cooperative to utilize livestock for land maintenance. Historically, livestock have played a role in shaping landscapes, and recent studies suggest that grazing can help mitigate fire risks by controlling vegetation.
California's wildfire-resilience plan is increasingly incorporating prescribed grazing as a strategy. The University of California Cooperative Extension has established a website, Match.Graze, to connect landowners with ranchers who have livestock for hire. In 2024, Marx, Hill, and neighbors hired a grazier to bring goats and sheep to their properties, with varying success due to weather conditions.
In March, a grazier brought 340 cashmere goats to consume invasive weeds and grasses. Later, in June, 600 sheep were introduced to further manage vegetation. The grazing process involved shepherds guiding the animals to different areas, ensuring they remained on designated paths. The cooperative's efforts demonstrate a growing recognition of the role of livestock in fire prevention and land management, as communities adapt to the challenges posed by climate change and wildfire risks.