Goats Graze at Willow's Rest to Support Green Burial Sustainability

NIAGARA FALLS, ON - A herd of goats has been put to work at Willow’s Rest, Niagara’s first green burial section at Fairview Cemetery, as part of an innovative and eco-friendly approach to land management.

In partnership with local farmers Dave Harris and Kathy Warner of Kay-Dee Farms and Tee Creek Dog Training, the goats were brought in to naturally clear weeds and brush. This method reduces the need for chemicals or mechanical equipment and aligns with the sustainable values of green burial.

Traditionally, prescribed burns are used to manage naturalized spaces. Goat grazing provides a safe, effective alternative—consuming invasive plants, including thorny weeds, while their digestion reduces the viability of weed seeds, limiting regrowth.

About Willow's Rest

Unveiled in 2017, Willow’s Rest is Niagara’s first green burial section. Located within Fairview Cemetery, the two-acre naturalized area features nearly 200 native trees, a wildflower meadow, and seven Monarch Butterfly Pollinator Gardens. Green burial offers an environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional burials or cremation, with individuals laid to rest without embalming, in biodegradable shrouds or caskets, returning naturally to the earth.

The Environmental Action Committee and community partners, including CN’s EcoConnexion grant, Land Care Niagara, Tree Canada, Sassafrass Farms, Yardmasters, the Green Burial Society, and Queenston Quarry, supported the creation of Willow's Rest.

A living example of sustainability

Through initiatives like goat grazing, Willow’s Rest remains a model for innovative, sustainable practices in cemetery care. The naturalized space not only honours loved ones but also helps restore habitat, enhance biodiversity, and promote ecological renewal.

For more information, contact: 
Jean-Paul Narbonne
Manager of Cemeteries
905-356-7521 x 5300
jpnarbonne@niagarafalls.ca