AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — Residents of the Amherst area have a new option this year to get rid of their Christmas trees — give them to goats.

Hope Crolius owns a business that offers her seven goats to eat cleared brush.

Now she’s inviting residents to drop off their Christmas trees at her farm to feed the animals.

Crolius tells The Daily Hampshire Gazette (http://bit.ly/RWiW1S ) the goats enjoy pine, balsam fir, hemlock, spruce and other evergreens, which contain vitamin C and other nutrients that help them get through the winter. The needles on the trees can act as dewormers.

She says it’s also a way to keep the trees out of a landfill.

Of course, residents can still bring their discarded Christmas trees to the transfer station at no charge.

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