by Sarah Fazio
WHAT’S HAPPENING
- Baa, baa, Italian sheep, have you any appetite? Municipal gardeners in Turin, Italy, have been replaced by sheep for the summer. The flocks graze in fenced-off areas that rotate throughout city parks until the grass is trim and sheep are fat.
- City officials predict that the two-month stint with 700 sheep will save more than €30,000 (about $47,000) in landscaping costs (Guardian.co.uk 4.7.08).
- The baaaad news? Drivers complained of sheep in the streets, and the fences restrict parkgoers. ”There are some minor inconveniences for the public, but the initiative has a naturalistic value and is even educational,” said a park official (ItalyMag.co.uk 4.4.08).
WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS
- A simple, natural, carbon- and money-saving solution is the ultimate in sustainable innovation. Throw in the bonus of local cooperation, and it’s a green dream (no counting sheep required).
