Bad back, love gardening and animals

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 1:14 pm

Well, deer or no, your garden sounds wonderful, especially the hostas.

(I've limped along for years with ONE!!) I don't live near deer but one

idea I have for you... a dog. Would have to be one already acclimated to

the area I guess. But if you like 'em, they'll keep all those critters away

from your plants!! 'Course, ya hafta worry about digging, but I have a

very well-trained one who never digs in any of my stuff!!

Spose you've heard all the usual about mountain lion urine and human

hair and stuff?

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 1:17 pm

P.S. Just as an aside... I just picked my last tomato! Not quite the flavor

of mid-summer, but still a cut above anything in the store!!

And my potatoes are coming up!!

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 9:57 pm

Believe it or not, I had heard of the tire trick! A good way, too, but I just

never have had access to tires like that, we are pretty firm on recycling here

in good ol' Californ-i-a! I grow my tates in whisky half-barrels, and no I didn't

empty those barrels of their original contents by meself!!

The yield is pretty darn good, I usually plant "yukon Gold" type. Try to show

any little neighbor kids "where potatoes come from". They usually enjoy

helping me dig them.

I don't have very much land, but I do my best. Maybe someday I will be able

to have a large parcel... and a horse, and a plow.

A Karenina · Post by **A Karenina** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 10:23 am

Switching to container gardening might be a good option. It can make your produce harder to reach for smaller animals and be easier on your back.

Another idea is to line your produce beds with tin foil, and weight the foil down with small rocks. Foil can be noisy and uncomfortable for small animals - a modern scarecrow, if you will. Windchimes also help by providing sudden startling noises - but use wood because the sound doesn't carry very far to drive you crazy.

We used to place wooden stakes at evenly spaced intervals around our garden, and throw light netting over it. Doesn't look great, but it helps prevent a complete loss.

Since you have room for it, you could set up an area that is easier for the animals to get produce from, and keep a larger section for your own consumption.

Just some thoughts.

persephone · Post by **persephone** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 5:13 pm

On the container gardening, I know this might be impractical but, I'll say it anyway.

Instead of using small ready made ones, could you not design something that was maybe table sized with drainage etc.

Raising everything seems to be the best idea for your back, although it wouldn't look so attractive (do vegetable plots look attractive

) and as you say a lot of your produce grows to a fair height.

A Karenina · Post by **A Karenina** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:43 pm

letha wrote: (do vegetable plots look attractive

)
Why yes, they do! They look all happy and vegetable-ish and colorful. :wah:

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Sun Nov 21, 2004 10:23 am

Jack Sprat wrote:

I have degenerative disk disease, with 11 bad disks. In 1989 I had a spinal fusion, limiting movement somewhat, but not stopping me from landscaping and gardening. At the moment I have two 15 x 25 foot vegetable gardens (surrounded by 8 foot fences) and around a half- acre of lawn/shrubs/flowers. I also have attack-chipmunks and the hungriest deer in the world. The crows and other birds eat my peas as soon as they germinate (planted 400 seeds, got 14 plants last year). I have not picked a strawberry in five years, the chipmunks love them.

Sorry to hear about your back! Ouch. It sounds like you and I live in similar climates and environments. I agree with Valerie - a dog does wonders - and so do cats!

We are surrounded by a forest as well - and the only real problem so far has been with gophers. Our two dogs keep the deer and moose on notice that the area around our house is occupied by them. Our cat (Nickie) is an unusually efficient Chipmunk and Gopher hunter. He'll spend most of the Summer just hanging out in the garden area waiting to "play" with any little critter that tries to scamper in. :p

We are going to move the garden this next year and begin using raised beds. (Gopher protection.) We are also going to do what you currently do and begin our plantings indoors to get a jump on the growing season.

Here's my big question: What is the best source for vegetable seeds?

Attached files

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 9:12 pm

The only problem with kitties is them digging in the nice, soft soil to poop!!

I sure hate to come across that!! If I did ever have an outside kitty I would

make sure it had a litter box somewhere to use. (Hopefully!!)

I have run the gamut on seed sources. I don't want to get in to an

argument pro and/or con about Wal-Mart, but they usually have great

inexpensive selection, and seed potatoes when nobody else in town

had them, not even Home Depot!

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:03 pm

valerie wrote: The only problem with kitties is them digging in the nice, soft soil to poop!!

I sure hate to come across that!! If I did ever have an outside kitty I would

make sure it had a litter box somewhere to use. (Hopefully!!)

I have run the gamut on seed sources. I don't want to get in to an

argument pro and/or con about Wal-Mart, but they usually have great

inexpensive selection, and seed potatoes when nobody else in town

had them, not even Home Depot!

I didn't even think of them. Thanks! I've always been a little disappointed with Home Depots selection - and pricing on seeds.

About the cats - they don't poop in the garden. I guess they feel that have so many other cool places to go.

A Karenina · Post by **A Karenina** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 11:22 am

I like Burpee Seed Catalog the best. http://www.burpee.com

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 6:44 am

Jack Sprat wrote: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I love seeing the clean garden after the snow melts and I weed and till. Then the tiny pea plants popping out of the ground in late April and the rows of tomatoes and peppers in early June. I stagger the plants so that from mid-April to the 1st week of June there is a new crop planted each week. The first red tomato, the caried color of chard, the flowers turning into fruit... all beautiful. As are the chipmonks who eat it all before I can harvest.

Im very late discovering this topic.... Though I might be able to help you.. Made my living Gardening for clients for 9 years. 2 In new York 7 in Virginia. Im a novice down here in southern Georgia because the zone, the soil, and the air are completly different. I dont feel like starting my education over at this age. Also had to give my business up because of a lower back injury. Horse accident in Virginia 6 years ago. got worse and worse.

Will keep wild creatures away.......

HUMAN HAIR

HUMAN URINE

PIN WHEELS.. THAT YOU STICK IN THE GROUND, AND MAKE THAT CLICKING SOUND

Just a few I discovered while working in Virginia.

Container gardening is great. you lose the thrill of seeing a huge vegetable garden growing... However you can control conditions more efficently

weeder.....Laura