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Two years ago, I started a grazing business with my herd of Boer and Nubian goats. I had seen for myself what goats could do on my own property to improve the utility of the land and was eager to spread the word!
Now, from April to September, using my portable, solar-powered electric netting, I take them around to different local sites to help manage unwanted vegetation. The goats happily devour poison ivy, autumn olive, brambles, black raspberries, sassafras, and wild rose while fertilizing and aerating the soil. The experience and transformation that can be seen in the land is extremely rewarding to be a part of.
I love this job, but like any small business, it can be a lot of work! In this article, I want to share some of the tools that I currently use on each brush removal project to make my work more manageable.
The nomadic nature of targeted grazing means that you will be on the move a lot, so you may find yourself working from your smart phone. Here are the 5 free apps that I use to maintain records and ensure my herd’s safety while away from the farm.
1. Livestocked Herd Management App
I use the Livestocked app to keep track of the animals I bring on jobs. I can make notes about the herd as a whole, or about the behavior or condition of a single animal. You can document how long the animals are on a certain pasture, make notes about the pasture, log events, make a contacts list, and store basic financial information for your operation.
2. PlantNet Plant Identification App
I complete a free consultation before booking any brush removal project with a customer. I need to see the property with my own eyes to know if it is a good fit for goats. One thing I do when I am on these site visits is look for toxic plants. I have become comfortable recognizing milkweed, cherry, boxwood, and rhododendron, but there some plants I am not familiar with. For those that I don’t recognize, or want to double check, I use the PlantNet app. You can take a photo of a leaf, berry, bark, or flower and it will give you the common and scientific plant name in seconds. Not only is this app informative, but I find it fun to use too!
3. GPS Area Measurement App
The free version of this app has some ads and pop-ups that you have to deal with, but it does work. I use the GPS Area Measurement app to determine the acreage or square footage of a proposed brush removal project. Area is a factor that I use in determining the cost for my customer, so it is important to me that I don’t guess, and have a more objective calculation. You can walk the perimeter and have the app track you to determine area, or set boundaries and have it calculated manually.
4. Square Point of Sale App
I use the Square app for taking a credit card as a form of payment for a brush removal job. While the app itself is free, it is important to note that there is a per transaction fee as well as a percentage that gets taken out when you use it. The fees are small enough, in my opinion, that it is still worth using. I don’t have a card reader, so I manually input the customer’s information. There is an option for them to get a text or email receipt after the transaction as well. The app can also be used to create an estimate and organize a customer list.
5. PhotoGrid Collage Making App
The last free app that I recommend every targeted grazing business use is a simple collage making program, PhotoGrid, or something similar. A picture is worth a thousand words, and a few side-by-side before and after photos can really showcase your work and attract potential customers. You can use these images to promote your business and document your growth as a company too!
Other Recommendations for Targeted Grazing Professionals
In addition to smart phone apps, I can also recommend a few non-tech items for your grazing business. For fencing and the solar energizer, I choose Premier 1 Supplies. Their equipment is top-of-line, the cost is off-set by the performance of their products.
For providing minerals to goats while on a job, I use a portable, tie-on mineral block. For watering, I use buckets and a toilet brush for scrubbing them clean. I also use these warning signs that I purchased on Amazon to make sure by-standers and observers are aware that the fence is electrified.
If there are other apps and products that you use for your grazing or brush removal business I would love to hear about them in the comments below!
Mother, farmer, author, and teacher by trade… She loves tending to things and watching them grow!