Ecological Lawn Mowers - The Goose

Do you dream of a lawn mower that would work by itself, run on free fuel and provide you with free fertilizer as it goes? What if I added that this lawn mower would cost you between six and eleven euros? How about a lawn mower that is ecologically sound - totally green?

I expect you would think you were dreaming if I said that the lawn mower would start off yellow, fluffy, cute as can be and, within a year your green lawn mowers will be providing you with fresh eggs for breakfast? And, if I added that at a pinch, you could roast this lawn mower for Thanks giving or Christmas dinner you would think I was stark staring mad, but take a look at our gorgeous grass cutters and think again. Sound like a good way to manage your grass?

Here, at Les Trois Chenes Chambres d'Hotes in Limousin, France, we have a large ornamental lawn, a grassy drive, a play area and orchard covered in grass, and a large lawn set with peach trees behind our gite. This is a lot of grass cutting, and not easy to do with a sit-on lawn mower because of the trees. In spring and throughout the summer, it was a case of the constant gardener - by the time I reached the end, it was time to start cutting grass again at the begining. I was wearing myself out pushing around a heavy, petrol-driven machine and so decided to call in some help.

Geese are also famous for being fabulous watch dogs. We have a lovely English Pointer called Molly who can be an excellent watch dog. When a stranger comes to the door she will immediately warn us with a loud, deep bark and when a pan caught fire it was Molly who raised the alarm.

The problem is that dogs also have an agenda all to themselves so that for every time she alerts us to callers, she will bark fifty times at nothing at all. Geese, on the other hand, know a visitor when they see one, rarely raise a false alarm, and can even distinguish between friend and stranger.

Goose eggs make superb cakes and omelettes. They can be used in all sorts of ways for cooking, and don't let anyone tell you they taste strong. Goose eggs are delicious. You only need one to make a quiche for six people. All the goodness of the summer grass stored up in the eggs.

Having said this, I have never tried a boiled goose egg - no egg cups big enough for them.

There is a long tradition of egg decoration going right back to the iron age. The eggs are first 'blown'; the contents are removed, and then they are dried and decorated in a variety of ways. This image shows a mixture of modern and traditional Ukrainian 'pysanky' a wax batik method of decorating eggs. Goose eggs are also carved into intricate patterns, (see the video below), or cut into two halves hinged together to make jewellery boxes. The eggs in the image show new designs by Luba Petrusha and designs from tradtional patterns.

Contrary to popular belief geese are not generally aggressive, although the odd one can be a bit ornery! We did have a goose that bit my son and we called her 'Christmas Dinner'; but more often they are chatty little souls and enjoy human company. They can make good pets, especially if you hatch them out yourself so that they 'imprint' on you. That is to say, upon hatching, you are the first thing they see, so they assume you are their mum. You may have seen this in the film 'Fly Away Home', directed by Carroll Ballard, about a girl and her father who lead a flock of Canada geese from Canada to a wildlife refuge in the US.

It is relatively easy to look after your geese. They need a nice, dry and fox-proof shelter at night, enough grass and/or grain to eat, and enough water to immerse their heads, although it's much better if you can provide them with a lake, just look at these pictures. They are flock birds and do need company, so don't be tempted to keep one goose alone. Unlike hens, geese are a bit on the delicate side health-wise, so if you have a goose that is looking a bit peaky, don't hesitate to take it to the vet straight away.

That said, the geese will be happy outside in all weathers. They bask in the sunshine, love a good storm and don't mind the cold one bit.

Everything you need to know about looking after geese: How to care for geese - natures natural ecological lawn mowers

Geese must be put onto short grass, not more than, say, 10cms, so you may have to do a bit of strimming or cything to prepare the ground. Also they don't eat many weeds, dandelion and bindweed being two exceptions, so don't put away your mower entirely as you'll have to keep cutting back those weeds, and digging them out or spraying with herbicide until you have eliminated them.

Warning If you use chemical sprays, do check the instructions about animals carefully and keep your geese off treated grass until any danger of contamination is past.

So, there you are, basking in the June sun with a cold glass of wine and a good book. Keeping you company are your cheeky grass clippers all snipping and chuntering away around you. From time to time your little green lawn mowers will come and give you a little nibble, or pull on your clothers. They will entertain you as they wander around, eating together, sleeping together, resting together and sitting around you, under your chair, on your feet making contented little murmering sounds. Summer will never be the same without them.

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Traditionally it was goose that was eaten in England for Christmas dinner and turkey is relatively new. Geese mature early, need only grass and so it makes absolute sense to have a few geese for meat. It is true that killing and preparing geese for the table is much harder than hens, but we 'chickened out' and took our geese to the slaughter house.

For me the big downside is that geese are just so lovely. I hated putting them into the cage to take them away. Unlike the hens, this is an easy job because they are so trusting. Needless to say we don't cook our geese anymore.