Michael Leicht - Ventura Brush Goats

What lengths would you go to to help prevent future devastation if your city in California suffered from the worst wildfire in its history? Would you buy hundreds of goats and start your own goat grazing company? Would you become a certified type one fire fighter to gain the proper knowledge to best help your customers?

In this episode of The Goat Grazing Podcast, listen and learn why Michael Leicht with Ventura Brush Goats decided to get into goat grazing, why he wants to keep adding more goats to his operation, and what he has learned so that he can best help his customers protect their homes from future fires.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Goat Grazing and Fire Mitigation

02:21 The Birth of Ventura Brush Goats

06:15 Impact of Recent Fires on Grazing Practices

08:49 Home Hardening and Defensible Space

11:49 Integrating Goats into Fire Prevention Strategies

18:06 Community Response During Wildfires

20:24 The Current State of Goat Grazing in California

23:59 Clientele and Market Dynamics

25:44 The Evolution of Targeted Grazing Awareness

29:29 The Future of Fire Mitigation and Grazing Practices

32:45 Operational Logistics of Ventura Brush Goats

42:02 Balancing Sheep and Goats in Grazing Operations

44:24 Managing Herds: Logistics and Challenges

45:58 Labor and the H2A Program: A Lifeline for Agriculture

49:51 Navigating Political and Economic Challenges in Grazing

52:16 The Role of Shepherds and Their Dogs

56:03 Innovative Grazing Techniques and Community Initiatives

01:03:04 Vineyard Grazing: A Sustainable Solution

01:07:12 Creating a Fire-Resilient Community in Ojai

01:10:37 Lessons from the Field: A Shepherd's Story

01:13:28 Advice for Aspiring Grazers

01:16:35 Podcast Intro Video.mp4