The Farmers Guardian podcast: Taking the heat out of California wildfires using sheep and goats

Shepherdess Brittany Cole Bush talks to Farmers Guardian US Correspondent John Wilkes. California is experiencing some of the worst ever wildfires. By August 16, a total of 5,210 wildfires burned 332,606 ha (821,887 acres).  

California is experiencing some of the worst ever wildfires. By August 16th, a total of 5,210 wildfires burned 332,606 ha (821,887 acres). 

The Park Fire is the fourth largest in Californian history – approximately 14 times the size of San Francisco. Since late July it has destroyed 173,000 ha in Northern California.

This podcast was recorded August 4.

On the podcast this week John is joined by the entrepreneurial sheep and goat grazer Brittany Cole Bush from the Ojai Valley, Ventura County in Southern California.

Farmers Guardian podcast

Cole's personal journey to set up her company called "Shepherdess Livestock and Land" draws global media coverage from The Guardian, French Elle and others.

Her "flerd" of sheep and goats is in demand to remove dense highly flammable vegetation for an array of governmental agencies and other property owner clients.

Cole also established 'The Grazing School of the West' where she operates bootcamps. 

The school's goal is to encourage a new generation into this burgeoning sector within the American sheep industry. Like Cole, the majority of applicants are from non-agricultural backgrounds.

In the context of the American sheep industry Cole sees herself, 'as a black sheep'.

"A black Navajo-Churro sheep, a Heritage breed that has to be wily, very resilient, small framed and wooly," she said.

I represent a very unique population; a single woman owned sheep business from Southern California. The first in my family to do something like this."