Forget the lawn mower, some Louisville homeowners are hiring sheep instead

Some Louisville homeowners are trading the roar of a lawn mower for the sound of grazing sheep.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Some Louisville homeowners are trading the roar of a lawn mower for the sound of grazing sheep, thanks to a new business called Lamb Mowers of Kentucky.

Donny Greene and his wife, Camila Jasis-Greene, started the work about a month ago after seeing a similar operation in Virginia.

The flock consists of sheep and lamb — Olde English Babydoll South Downs — including three lambs saved from slaughter in western Kentucky.

'Quietest lawn service on the East Coast'

"We are the quietest lawn service on the East Coast," Greene said.

Homeowner Honi Goldman hired the flock to work her yard in the Highlands neighborhood.

"They've cleared out some of the crab grass, they've cleared out some of the weeds," Goldman said.

Goldman's granddaughter, Lily McClain, said the experience exceeded expectations.

"This was unexpected — this raised the expectations a little bit," McClain said.

What the sheep will — and won't — eat

Greene said the sheep will eat a wide variety of vegetation, including poison ivy, kudzu and poison oak.

"They will love it, as a matter of fact," Greene said.

However, the sheep cannot eat winter creeper or English ivy. But the shepherds will fence the sheep off from what they cannot have. Greene also said lawns must not have been sprayed with chemicals within the last six months for the sheep to work safely.

Pricing and service area

Visits run approximately $195 Monday through Thursday and $295 on weekends. Lamb Mowers of Kentucky operates in Louisville, Lexington, southern Indiana and the Red River Gorge.

Greene said the environmental benefits are central to the business model.

"We're not creating noise pollution, we're not creating air pollution, and we're not using any gas," Greene said. "The point here is creating something that's sustainable and it's a great way to connect with community."

Jasis-Greene said this is an example of interspecies mutual aid, where different species work together for mutual benefit, helping both survive.

The couple said business is going well. The flock has worked on about 10 yards and has 10 more on the books.

Goldman said the experience has been unlike anything else.

"This is what the world's really about — you can't get this on your iPhone," Goldman said.