tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28861749.post367117720781527242..comments2023-12-25T05:27:28.393-08:00Comments on goddess of pomona: Pomona Weed LoversUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28861749.post-39063300919384049812009-09-02T15:13:53.841-07:002009-09-02T15:13:53.841-07:00The big hill between Westmont and Phillips Ranch w...The big hill between Westmont and Phillips Ranch was grazed by cattle until the 1970's. The hill was terraced with dozens of parallel paths beaten down by the big grazers, just like many of the hills in Chino Hills and Diamond Bar. They made me think of Asian rice paddies carved into mountains. Every evening around sunset all the cows would turn east and head back home to a farm not far from where Decker school is located. I could see them following each other single file way up on the sides of the hill. At the base of the hill was a large fenced pasture area where dozens of horses frolicked. They often came to our back fence and hung their heads over hoping for an apple or some lettuce. After rains came, wildflowers bloomed all over the pasture and the hill. <br /><br />Construction began on Phillips Ranch, and the cattle disappeared. Sheep took their place. Accompanying the sheep was a Basque herder and his sheep dogs. I sometimes saw him when I hiked through the hills, and he often had a dove or two hanging at his belt for his dinner. There used to be a large Basque community in Chino, even a locally famous Basque restaurant. The men would come to this country to herd sheep for a few years before returning home.<br /><br />So, I'm glad you saw some goats. It's just a little taste of old Pomona. Goats often find work these days in the field of brush clearance and fire prevention.Robinnoreply@blogger.com