Tech History: Google Replaced Lawnmowers with Goats

In 2009, Google made headlines for one of its quirkiest sustainability efforts: instead of using noisy, gas-powered lawnmowers around its Mountain View campus, the company hired 200 goats to graze the grass.

The goats, rented from a local herding company, spent a week munching weeds, fertilizing the soil, and trimming the grounds — all while producing zero emissions. Google even joked that the goats were “a lot cuter to watch than lawnmowers.”

While unconventional, the experiment showed Google’s commitment to eco-friendly practices and its willingness to think outside the box (or pasture). It’s a perfect example of how innovation doesn’t always come from new technology — sometimes it comes from borrowing an old idea from nature.