There is a small non perennial creek that runs through the property and it is full of cat tails and assorted slough grasses which appear to be invading up the bank into what was probably better grazing/farming land before.  It is my desire to do some combination of reseeding it to prairie/wet land/native plants and grass for goats.  I understand that getting the cat tails out is mostly just hard work to get the roots out but does anyone know if goats will eat them?  And does anyone know if I should do a control burn of the thick grasses and such (It has been untouched for at least 5 years.) I am way out in the country and I don't think I need permits to do that at all. Thanks for any input you can give me.  Mary Ann

Regarding the controlled burn. Please, if you do it, recruit plenty of help because it's incredibly easy to lose control of a burn. Check the weather forecast and make certain the wind isn't predicted to rise after you begin and burn only small areas at a time.

You might also consider clearing small areas with a flamer. Here is a short online article about using one: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/killweedswithheat

I hope this helps!

If you have alot of catails you might want to check with nearby artists.  There are quite a few weavers in ND specially around Fargo.  They are always looking for material to weave.  And you might want to think about natural food stores as well since catails are edible food source for people that eat natural foods and such.  I Eat them all the time when I go camping and are great with fish and in soups.

Hopt that helps.  If you have alot of different types of grasses and you don't live to far from fargo I would love to get several plants for my landscaping business. I deal alot with native ND plants.