Leveraging campus sheep to create multi-functional public green spaces.
What is sheepmowing?
Grazing lawnscape management uses plant-munching livestock, most popularly goats and sheep, to manage areas ranging from wild grasslands to urban lawnscapes. The focus of the sheepmowing research is to study the potential of utilizing sheep in urban spaces, and how incorporating sheep into these unconventional spaces has the potential to offer environmental, operational, and social benefits.
Using sheep as lawn-care multi-tools can provide a more sustainable alternative to traditional management methods that require fossil-fuel based equipment, synthetic fertilizers, and chemical pesticides. Additionally, the introduction of animals and elements of pastoral beauty into an urban environment creates opportunities for increased social and mental well-being.
Upcoming events
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Sheep vs. Robot Mow-Off
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Sheep Shift Climate Poetry
04.24-26 9:30AM-3:00PM
Big Shift Building, UC Davis Campus
Create a climate poem using stenciled sheep.
Sheep vs. Robot Mow-Off!
Watch a recap of the event here!
Calling all Earth lovers! Do you love sheep? Do you love technology? Do you love food, art, and learning about the environment? Well, you’re in luck. This Sunday, April 21st, come out to Atherton’s Holbrook Palmer Park from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM for a fun-filled Earth Day celebration! Located at 150 Watkins Avenue, Atherton, you won’t want to miss the lovely art exhibit, food, trucks, engaging kids’ zone, and our personal favorite, a Mow-Off between robotic lawn mowers and SHEEP!
You read that right; the UC Davis SheepMowers sheep and The Husqvarna/TurfStar Robotic Mower Team robots will be battling head to head to see which competitors do a better job mowing. This event is in support of UC Davis’ Sheepmowers Project, which focuses on studying the potential of using sheep as a sustainable landscaping alternative to traditional landscaping methods that often require fossil-fuels, synthetic fertilizers, and chemical pesticides.
Sheep Shift Climate Poetry
From April 24th to April 26th, the UC Davis Sheepmowers will continue their fight against climate change through their event “Climate Poetry with Sheep”. Students will be encouraged to submit responses to the question, “What words come to mind when you think about climate change?”. These words will then be spray-painted on the sheep (don’t worry the sheep won’t be hurt) to spark conversations on the topic of climate change and inspire students to become involved through poetry.
This event is a part of the Big Shift on campus towards a reduction in our energy, water, and fossil fuel use. To further highlight the dedication of UC Davis towards sustainability, these creations will be used for a mural in which the sheep and the creativity of students will serve as a tribute to a more sustainable future.
Join us as we celebrate the beauty of nature, the power of innovation, and the magic of poetry. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable campus celebration of Earth Day!
Where We Mow
Wickson Hall
350 N Quad
Davis, CA 95616
Before you head out, check our Instagram to see if our mowers are scheduled to work. Their contract stipulates a 3-4 week break between every mowing period – sheepmowing is hard work.
Also, the grass needs time to grow!
Sheepmowers! x
Green Care Lab Collaboration
We're fundraising to construct a pastoral sheep pen for the Sheepmowers at the Green Care Lab to support hands-on learning in mental health and environmental care. Shepherding Wellness with Therapeutic Pastures combines eco-friendly sheep grazing with nature's healing effects to foster healthier landscapes and minds and pioneer research-backed nature therapy and sustainable management strategies.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Health Promotion in the Educational World: An Integrative Vision in Times of Pandemic
“Leveraging Campus Landscapes for Public Health: A Pilot Study to Understand the Psychological Effects of Urban Sheep Grazing on College Campuses"
By Haven Kiers, Kelly Nishimura, and Carolyn Dewa
8 November 2022
EXPLORE OUR INSTAGRAM
Winner in Land8: Landscape Architecture
Top 10 Social Media Accounts – ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS
7. University of California, Davis Sheepmowers – Instagram
The Sheepscapes Project utilizes grazing landscape management practices to redefine urban landscapes as multifunctional spaces that not only improve health and ecological sustainability, but also contribute to site identity, encourage engagement, and provide opportunities to pilot innovative maintenance operations. The project addresses the question: how can science, design, and practice converge to inform the creation of accessible green spaces that maximize cultural and environmental values?