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Blog IoT Farm: Blog 6 - Gastro Ocular Agro Terminators! G.O.A.Ts!
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  • Author Author: jkutzsch
  • Date Created: 31 Jul 2016 5:07 AM Date Created
  • Views 551 views
  • Likes 3 likes
  • Comments 5 comments
  • pi iot
  • farm_technology
  • pi iot design challenge
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IoT Farm: Blog 6 - Gastro Ocular Agro Terminators! G.O.A.Ts!

jkutzsch
jkutzsch
31 Jul 2016

Today while the family was celebrating my 47th successful trip around the Sun on our fine planet Earth we saw a sign advertising an interesting addition to our Farm.  Not only does this have great potential to maintain the Farm but it's ability to recycle trash materials and create bio-usable materials is a great plus as we expand our gardening!

 

An issue we have been running into with going from a 1/4 acre to 5.5 acres is the fact that the little push lawnmower just doesn't do an adequate job.  As such we have been keeping our eye out for a good replacement.  Now a decent tractor with a mower option would be awesome the Farm budget currently does not allow for that. 

 

Instead we were intrigued by Gastro Ocular Agro Terminators.  These stomachs with builtin ocular guidance can quickly turn our agriculture waste (weeds/brush) into viable growing material!  And their appeal even broke through to our most hard core technical child, causing him to turn off his tablet and exit the vehicle to get some hands on with these G.O.A.Ts. 

 

  This child believes every problem has a solution, usually a technical one that will involve legos or robotics but he quickly decided G.O.A.Ts would be appropriate additions to our Farm.image

 

After much discussion between the Mrs and I, mainly revolving on how now I have more enclosure/animal areas that I have to incorporate into the IoT Farm, we eventually left the area with one full sized G.O.A.T. and 2 mini G.O.A.Ts working on upgrades.  To be fair these are Pygmy G.O.A.Ts so even compared to Dwarf size they are pretty small and we were able to purchase a carrier and load them into the family transport to head back out to the homestead!

 

The Chevy Traverse model we use advertises an 8 person capacity, luckily by dropping the rear 2 person bench we able to add 3 G.O.A.T. capacity as well, leaving enough space for the 5 human passengers to ride back in comfort.  Minus all of the neck pain incited by everyone trying to see the babies in the back.  image

 

Of course our new G.O.A.Ts were kind enough to show us how quickly they can recycle feed material into tiny bio-pellets as they exited their transport.  It seems that motorized transport causes them to switch into pellet creation at a respectful pace!  Happily the pellets are much easier to clean up/move compared to the product that the Chicken's create...

 

image

 

Having successfully traveled to the Homestead the 3 were quickly placed into what previously had been a dog enclosure.  Since canines generally don't eat weeds/shrubs/bushes or other like material the G.O.A.Ts were quite impressed with the buffet choices offered just in this one area.

 

  After some fun time of exploring and realizing that the Mini G.O.A.Ts were able to slip through the fencing, they decided to take a rest in the shade and overwhelm all of the humans in the area with a self defense shield of cuteness.  image

 

image

This seemed to be such a good idea that even the full size G.O.A.T. joined in and our new Farm additions decided to take a nap.

 

This addition has greatly increased my desire to add picture/video setup for the IoT Farm. 

 

Anyone have any other suggestions to incorporate IoT with these guys?  Please leave suggestions in the comments!  Thank you!

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Top Comments

  • DAB
    DAB over 9 years ago +2
    I had a friend who purchased GOATs to reduce the Kudzu growing on her property. I chimed in telling her how tasty baby goat barbeque was when she turned to me all doey eyed and said quietly, "They all…
  • pettitda
    pettitda over 9 years ago +2
    Maybe a GPS enabled collar would be in order in case they roam too far from their compound.
  • jkutzsch
    jkutzsch over 9 years ago in reply to clem57 +1
    I like that idea clem57 ! In fact I just ordered another RPi 3 and a float sensor for water supply monitoring!
  • pettitda
    pettitda over 9 years ago

    Maybe a GPS enabled collar would be in order in case they roam too far from their compound. 

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  • jkutzsch
    jkutzsch over 9 years ago in reply to DAB

    Yeah, this model of G.O.A.T. is still more for Dairy production and kudzu reduction.  The full size model though can produce a good amount of meat I have heard.  I may look into the Dwarf model since they say that can produce like a gallon and a half of milk a day.  But right now the Pygmy model is fine as we learn the ropes.  :-)

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  • jkutzsch
    jkutzsch over 9 years ago in reply to clem57

    I like that idea clem57!  In fact I just ordered another RPi 3 and a float sensor for water supply monitoring!

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  • DAB
    DAB over 9 years ago

    I had a friend who purchased GOATs to reduce the Kudzu growing on her property.

     

    I chimed in telling her how tasty baby goat barbeque was when she turned to me all doey eyed and said quietly, "They all have names!"

     

    At which point I abandoned the discussion on GOAT recipe's in favor of a more neutral topic.

     

    DAB

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  • clem57
    clem57 over 9 years ago

    I am sure G.O.A.T. need a fair amount of aqua reserves. Maybe a water level indicator that can automatically turn on when replenishment is warranted. A green solution to save a valuable resource.

    Clem

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