We knew right off the bat that in order to have a garden, we would have to fence it quite securely to keep out the deer, rabbits and who knows what else. We have about 10′ of fencing around the garden. The top 8′ is plastic landscape fencing, which so far has been tall enough to keep the deer out, and the bottom 2′ is metal chicken wire to keep the rabbits out. They would chew through the plastic so the metal fencing was necessary for the lower part of the fencing.
When walking out to the garden, I’m always cautiously searching in all directions for snakes (one got away last night and Vince killed one this morning).
I noticed this guy:
He was happily munching away on the weeds outside the fence but I’ll bet he was trying to figure out how he could get on the other side of the fence to where the tender veggies and juicy cantaloupe are located. Sorry Bunny!
Then I got a little too close and he decided to forget about his snack and head back to the security of the woods but I’ll bet he comes back. The longer it goes without raining, the more the deer, rabbits, and other critters will come closer to homes to get the food and water they need. The deer are already drinking out o the tank we have for the cows. When I’m out at the sewing room and go back to the house after dark, they’re right there at the tank and they scare me to death when they take off running and I think I’m alone out there.
I have enough water to share for now so I’ll put some containers out so the short creatures can get themselves a drink. But, they had better stay out of my garden!! 🙂
Judy D in WA says
Waskly wittle wabbit!!! 😉
Your garden looks amazing! Your hard work really shows. I am quite envious right now.
Mary says
Don’t let Vince trim those weeds! A few years ago we had a similar set up, with metal fence down low to keep the smaller critters out of the garden. We used a 5 foot fence, laying 2 feet of it flat on the ground, to prevent digging. My husband decided to weed- wack along it on the outside, using a trimmer with a blade as opposed to a cord. He didn’t realize that he slit the fence in one spot. It didn’t take a woodchuck more than 48 hours to find that one slit and move into the garden, digging a burrow in the potato patch. I’ve always wondered how she found it so fast.
reenie says
we have to bury our fence a few inches because of the groundhogs. last year they ate all my cabbage and quite a few cucumbers. the thing that made me really angry is that they would get in there and only take a few bites out of things and then leave the half eaten produce. we eventually trapped them in hav-a-heart cages, but we don’t have hearts 🙂 . we did trap one this year, but before he managed to get into the garden.
your garden looks wonderful, I love all the things you have planted. next year i am going to expand and plant many more things. i have an amish friend and was visiting her the other day and asked if next spring i can come out and work along side her when she is planting and learn some things..
CindyM says
Your garden does look great! Perhaps when you have a granddaughter, Peter Rabbit will be allowed in the garden!
JanetB says
Our problem was chipmunks. Those little critters get under the fencing. The rabbits haven’t been too much of a problem since the next door neighbor has a yard full of clover.
HelenP says
Your garden is great and love the daily updates in regards to life on the farm.. We moved out of the ‘big’ city in 1996 and I mean we are in the boonies.. 30 miles from Wal-mart… Don’t know where my mind was at that time but it wasn’t on convenience .
We have deer that bed down in the front yard, don’t have to worry about the back yard as the dogs will not let anything in it. And the world would know something was trying with all the barking. But I discovered real early that I could not plant my roses in the front where everyone could see them.. deer love them. Snakes, scorpions, spiders,, well I keep an eye out for them and feel like a dead one is a good one.. My son brought us a family of cats out and they grew up here, Outside ones of course. I fed and watered them outside and they were very happy and so was I ,, the snake family has all but disappeared, They do not like cats and cats do not like them. So maybe Vince will bring you home a mama cat and kittens to grow up with everyone else. 🙂
Keep up the daily postings,, love them
Helen
Carolyn Thomas says
Here in Eastern Oregon, I live in the middle of a tiny town, called Weston at the base of the Blue Mountains. Our property is underground irrigated. Somewhere on the property there is a spring and my yard is a jungle, cause someone( DH) forgot to buy gas, then another someone (son) forgot to take the key out of the lawnmower and the battery died, then he went on vacation for a week. No fence around my garden, cause all the dogs in the neighborhood scare off most of the deer, although we see them once in awhile. Don’t seem to be any rabbits either. I know from years past that there are voles/moles/gophers, but haven’t seen much evidence of them this year. But then I have 5 fat and sassy cats and a huge dog. Sooner or later, the gophers will find my potato patch, that I do know. Love hearing about your garden, pets, quilting and other family members. I will be canning this year, also; the first year in about 20 years. As an aside to other wishful canners…. Just do it! I was never taught by anyone, I just read the Ball Canning Book and a couple of other canning books and jumped right in!