{"id":2042256,"date":"2023-09-23T05:15:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-23T09:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/richmond-conservationists-employ-goats-to-clear-historic-black-cemetery\/"},"modified":"2023-09-23T05:18:31","modified_gmt":"2023-09-23T09:18:31","slug":"richmond-conservationists-employ-goats-to-clear-historic-black-cemetery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/richmond-conservationists-employ-goats-to-clear-historic-black-cemetery\/","title":{"rendered":"Richmond conservationists enlist goats to clear historic black cemetery."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frichmond-conservationists-employ-goats-to-clear-historic-black-cemetery%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2042256&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>A Centuries-Old Cemetery for Enslaved Black People Uncovered with the Help of Goats<\/h2>\n<p>A remarkable discovery has been made in \u200dRichmond, Virginia, \u2063as a woman \u200cand her\u200c neighbors, along with a herd of goats, \u200dcleared away a grove of birch\u2064 trees to reveal a long-forgotten cemetery. Forest\u2062 View \u200cCemetery, \u2062a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/richmond-conservationists-employ-goats-to-clear-historic-black-cemetery\/\" title=\"Richmond conservationists enlist goats to clear historic black cemetery.\">historic\u200c black burial \u200cground dating back<\/a>\u200b to the \u200d19th century, had been\u2062 hidden beneath layers of poison ivy \u2062and debris. Thanks to the efforts of RVA Goats and Honey, the cemetery was transformed \u200din\u2063 just a few days, with headstones now visible and the area free from dangerous plants.<\/p>\n<h3>Preserving\u2064 a Forgotten\u200c Legacy<\/h3>\n<p>Melissa Linkous, a resident of Forest\u200b View, initially took it upon herself to clear\u200b the \u2062cemetery\u200d but\u2064 soon realized\u2062 she needed \u2062more assistance. She explained, &#8220;The cemetery had been\u2062 protected for so many years by the poison ivy, which kept\u2062 people out. But it also prevented volunteers from entering. So the goats came in, devoured the poison \u200bivy, and then the human volunteers joined in to continue \u2062the work.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Leading the\u2062 goat-clearing operation is Kristi Orcutt, the owner of RVA Goats and Honey. For the past five years, Orcutt and her herd of \u2064over a hundred\u2063 goats,\u2062 many of them rescues, have been dedicated \u200bto clearing Forest View Cemetery. Orcutt sees this effort as a step towards justice for black lives, black bodies, and black ancestry.\u2062 She \u2064stated, \u2063&#8221;It&#8217;s long\u200c overdue, \u2063and I want to contribute \u200cin any way I can.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>A Rich History Unearthed<\/h3>\n<p>Forest View Cemetery, located on the border of Richmond and\u2062 Henrico County, has \u200da history that can be traced back to 1873 when\u2062 it served as the\u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/grave-and-statue-of-economist-adam-smith-flagged-for-slavery-and-colonialism-in-scotland\/\" title=\"Grave And Statue Of Economist Adam Smith Flagged For \u2018Slavery And Colonialism\u2019 In Scotland\">final resting place<\/a> for those formerly enslaved at B.W. \u2064Green&#8217;s plantation. The cemetery&#8217;s legacy continued through generations, representing the freed black people\u2063 of Bandy Field. However, in 1955, the city of Richmond purchased the area, displacing the descendants of those buried there to\u2063 make way\u200b for a school.<\/p>\n<p>Archaeologist Tim\u200d Roberts believes that \u2062the cemetery holds \u200bstories that connect\u2062 to significant \u2063periods in history, \u200bsuch as the\u2062 Civil War, \u2064Reconstruction, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wisconsin-parents-on-new-social-studies-curriculum-our-children-cannot-escape-leftist-messaging\/\" title=\"Wisconsin Parents On New Social Studies Curriculum: \u2018Our Children Cannot Escape Leftist Messaging\u2019\">civil rights era<\/a>, and urban renewal. While there is still much work to be\u200c done in restoring the cemetery, Roberts emphasizes its \u2063importance, stating, &#8220;This is not just some\u200d forgotten piece \u2063of \u200cland. It was built by people who owned the plots\u200c and had a clear \u200bstake in it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>Preservation Efforts and Future Hopes<\/h3>\n<p>The Friends \u2062of Forest View Cemetery have\u2063 urged residents to keep animals away from the fenced area to allow\u2062 the goats to work undisturbed. They\u200b have also requested that people refrain from feeding the goats. Additionally, signage will \u200cbe placed \u2064around the cemetery to inform visitors of its historical significance.<\/p>\n<p>Melissa \u200cLinkous expressed\u200c her hope that the cemetery will be preserved \u2063and \u2064protected with the help of the descendant community and the decisions being made today. She believes\u2062 that\u2063 the stories\u200c of Forest View Cemetery will continue to be \u2063told for generations to \u200dcome, ensuring that\u200b its\u2062 importance is recognized long after our lifetimes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Click here to read more from\u2062 The \u200bWashington Examiner.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What is the historical significance of Forest View Cemetery for the\u2062 black community in Richmond and the surrounding areas?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ed to clearing overgrown vegetation in various areas around Richmond. The partnership between \u2063Orcutt and the Forest\u2061 View community has proven to be a success, not only for uncovering the cemetery but also for raising awareness about the history \u2064and significance of black cemeteries in the area.<\/p>\n<p>Forest\u2063 View\u2062 Cemetery holds\u200b great historical importance as\u200d a final resting place for enslaved black \u200dpeople during a\u2062 time when they\u200c were denied burial in white cemeteries. It serves as a\u2063 reminder of \u200cthe struggles and \u2062contributions of the\u200b black community in Richmond and the surrounding areas. By uncovering this neglected cemetery, the community is taking an important step in preserving and honoring the memory of \u2063those \u2062buried there.<\/p>\n<p>The \u200dwork done by Orcutt and her goats is not only physically demanding but \u2063also emotionally significant. Orcutt and her team \u2062understand the importance\u2063 of gentler methods of vegetation clearing, especially in\u2062 areas with historical significance. Using goats instead of machinery minimizes damage to the land and ensures the preservation of the cemetery.<\/p>\n<p>The success \u2062of this endeavor showcases \u2063the power of community-driven initiatives. Residents of the Forest\u2061 View neighborhood came together, recognizing the importance of their shared history, and took action to preserve it. This grassroots \u2063effort demonstrates that everyone has a role to play\u200c in preserving \u2062and promoting historical legacies.<\/p>\n<p>The importance of preserving black cemeteries cannot be overstated. \u2062These burial grounds are sacred \u2064spaces that provide\u2063 a link to the past, offering insights into the lives and struggles \u2063of enslaved black people. Additionally, they\u2064 serve as a place of solace and reflection for the \u200ddescendants of those buried there. The resilience and determination of the black community \u200care evident in the existence of these \u2063cemeteries, which \u2062were created despite systemic oppression.<\/p>\n<p>The uncovering of \u2063Forest\u2063 View Cemetery\u200d serves as a call to action for the \u2063restoration and preservation of other forgotten or neglected \u2064black cemeteries across the \u2062country. The stories of these cemeteries deserve \u200cto be told, and\u200c the memory of those buried there \u200bdeserves to be honored.<\/p>\n<p>Moving forward, it is\u2062 crucial\u200b that efforts be made to\u2063 protect and maintain Forest\u2061 View Cemetery. This includes ongoing clearing of\u200d vegetation, thorough documentation of the headstones and burial sites,\u200b and the establishment of proper maintenance protocols.\u2062 The community&#8217;s dedication to preserving this historical site should serve as an \u2064inspiration for future\u2063 preservation efforts.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the discovery of Forest\u2060 View Cemetery in\u200c Richmond, \u200cVirginia, with \u2062the help of goats is a remarkable achievement. It highlights the\u2064 power of community-driven initiatives and the\u2063 importance \u200bof preserving black cemeteries. The work done by RVA Goats and Honey and the residents of \u2062Forest\u2062\u200c View serve as a \u2063testament to the resilience and determination of\u200c the black \u2063community. As efforts\u2064 continue to protect and maintain this historic burial ground, it is crucial that similar\u200b efforts be made across the country to restore and preserve other \u2062neglected black cemeteries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A historic black cemetery, dating back to the 19th century, was discovered in Richmond, Virginia. A local woman enlisted the help of neighbors and animals to clear a grove of birch trees, revealing Forest View Cemetery. The cemetery, with 100 plots, had been overgrown with poison ivy and contained remnants of the past, such as old car parts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2042257,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2042256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2042256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2042256"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2042256\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2042257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2042256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2042256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2042256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}