Last night, something ate its way through my garden, and this time it wasn’t birds. In addition to this poor tomato, two pear tomatoes were half eaten, one squash plant was dug up and destroyed, and whatever it was then took a nap on one of my corn mounds. Not a bird and larger than a squirrel. I think the guilty party this time has to be one of the area possums.

Something must be done about this!

I’d planned on there being some losses to the local wildlife. We keep our yard excessively natural, and we do have wildlife. In general, I like that we have all manner of birds and furry critters meandering around the property, but they are eating their way through our food now, and I’m not liking that one bit.

Putting up netting has been the top suggestion for what to do, but I can’t very well put netting over the whole garden … or build an impenetrable fortress around it either. My budget isn’t exactly unlimited either. I am somewhat at a loss as to how to protect my veggies, so I can eat just one tomato that hasn’t been pecked, bitten, or chewed on.

I think I’ll replant some squash tomorrow and maybe plant some okra in the pile of dirt that is to be the next raised bed. They both mature in about 7 weeks, and since it rarely gets cold here until late October, I should still be able to get something from seeds planted now.

It’s bad enough I have been having problems with insects and diseases in the garden, now having birds and other critters stealing from me is almost too much. I’m really getting disgusted with the whole thing. I still really love my garden (and gardening), but it’s so disappointing to go out every morning and find some new problem to overcome. It doesn’t make the experience terribly relaxing or enjoyable.