Goats on the Roof
In 1973, Kristian Graaten opened a roadside fruit stand on the Alberni Highway near the Eastern edge of Vancouver Island. Today, the 鈥榮tand鈥 is known as the Old Country Market. While the charming shop is filled with everything from groceries and gelato to pottery and libre masks 鈥 it鈥檚 best known for the goats on its roof.
Each spring, a trip of goats is relocated to the market鈥檚 roof. The hungry creatures are given free range of the grassy canopy for a few months while they help keep the elevated field in check.
The sod-roof was inspired by Kristian鈥檚 roots. He was originally from the small community of Lillehammer in Norway. Structures there were routinely built into the hillside. This 鈥榞reen roof鈥 practice provides insulation during the winter and promotes evaporation to cools a space during the summer.
The use of sod was an exciting design for this BC market, but what Kristian didn鈥檛 initially plan for was the roof鈥檚 eventual need for a haircut. As the tale goes, after a few glasses of wine, it was suggested that the market 鈥榖orrow鈥 some goats to help with the conundrum. The visiting tenants were such a hit they鈥檝e been welcomed back spring after spring to 鈥榤ow鈥 the roof. In fact, more than a million visitors arrive each year to catch sight of the goats overhead who are happily munching away.
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