Comments on: All that’s been picked is the fight http://www.eattheyard.com/2010/02/05/all-thats-been-picked-is-the-fight/ A novice's attempt to get 15 percent of his food from his suburban fifth acre Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:28:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Paul http://www.eattheyard.com/2010/02/05/all-thats-been-picked-is-the-fight/comment-page-1/#comment-380 Paul Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:55:31 +0000 http://www.eattheyard.com/?p=383#comment-380 A feral cat is an interesting suggestion. A feral cat is an interesting suggestion.

]]> By: Paul http://www.eattheyard.com/2010/02/05/all-thats-been-picked-is-the-fight/comment-page-1/#comment-379 Paul Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:54:15 +0000 http://www.eattheyard.com/?p=383#comment-379 The Bush Doctrine line made me smile. Make sure that you've got an exit strategy... The Bush Doctrine line made me smile. Make sure that you’ve got an exit strategy…

]]> By: Jason http://www.eattheyard.com/2010/02/05/all-thats-been-picked-is-the-fight/comment-page-1/#comment-360 Jason Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:32:15 +0000 http://www.eattheyard.com/?p=383#comment-360 I, too, want to employ a balanced, no-kill gardening strategy — one that adheres to principles of permaculture, where few inputs are needed and everything kind of works together: an ecosystem. But I have struggled to get that underway because, as I mentioned in the post, I feel there is such an imbalance here to begin with. Killing is definitely not my inclination in dealing with the pests. Nor is fencing everything off (we're after the aesthetic, too). I'm hoping for some good suggestions to help me navigate the problem this season. I feel with just a little room to get things growing I could create a balanced environment. Thanks for your response. :) I, too, want to employ a balanced, no-kill gardening strategy — one that adheres to principles of permaculture, where few inputs are needed and everything kind of works together: an ecosystem.

But I have struggled to get that underway because, as I mentioned in the post, I feel there is such an imbalance here to begin with.

Killing is definitely not my inclination in dealing with the pests. Nor is fencing everything off (we’re after the aesthetic, too). I’m hoping for some good suggestions to help me navigate the problem this season. I feel with just a little room to get things growing I could create a balanced environment.

Thanks for your response. :)

]]> By: Meredith http://www.eattheyard.com/2010/02/05/all-thats-been-picked-is-the-fight/comment-page-1/#comment-357 Meredith Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:50:12 +0000 http://www.eattheyard.com/?p=383#comment-357 By the way, beautiful header photo! By the way, beautiful header photo!

]]> By: Meredith http://www.eattheyard.com/2010/02/05/all-thats-been-picked-is-the-fight/comment-page-1/#comment-356 Meredith Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:48:51 +0000 http://www.eattheyard.com/?p=383#comment-356 Well, having attempted a total no-kill philosophy in the garden last year (not even via organic methods), I can say that not interfering for a few seasons may bring the insect populations into balance so that whatever's eating your strawberries gets eaten a bit, too. Also, plant more than you need. Early in the season, floating row covers can be a lifesaver, I've heard. (I don't use it because I like to see my plants... I'm also going for aesthetic pleasure.) My grandfather, a farmer for 50 years, told me to take old milk jugs, cut off the bottom and take off the lid, and put them over my cabbage seedlings until they get pretty big, to limit damage. If you're willing to do a little killing, you can invest in environmentally-friendly controls and/or purchase predator bugs. A good resource for this is Gardens Alive. At least, I've had good results with them in the past. As I said, tho, we went no-kill last year -- except for our cats. I was not getting rid of them. ;) If you get a cat who is not too domesticated or entice a local feral kitty to visit for food handouts, your issues with rabbits and rodents will be over, lickety-split. Well, having attempted a total no-kill philosophy in the garden last year (not even via organic methods), I can say that not interfering for a few seasons may bring the insect populations into balance so that whatever’s eating your strawberries gets eaten a bit, too. Also, plant more than you need. Early in the season, floating row covers can be a lifesaver, I’ve heard. (I don’t use it because I like to see my plants… I’m also going for aesthetic pleasure.) My grandfather, a farmer for 50 years, told me to take old milk jugs, cut off the bottom and take off the lid, and put them over my cabbage seedlings until they get pretty big, to limit damage.

If you’re willing to do a little killing, you can invest in environmentally-friendly controls and/or purchase predator bugs. A good resource for this is Gardens Alive. At least, I’ve had good results with them in the past. As I said, tho, we went no-kill last year — except for our cats. I was not getting rid of them. ;)

If you get a cat who is not too domesticated or entice a local feral kitty to visit for food handouts, your issues with rabbits and rodents will be over, lickety-split.

]]> By: villager http://www.eattheyard.com/2010/02/05/all-thats-been-picked-is-the-fight/comment-page-1/#comment-354 villager Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:38:15 +0000 http://www.eattheyard.com/?p=383#comment-354 If you figure out how to deal with the voles, please let me know! I fenced my garden to keep out deer. I use Havahart traps to relocate groundhogs, rabbits, possums, etc. Japanese beetles get hand-picked. It's a struggle, I admit. Have you read the $64 Tomato? Hopefully you won't ever have a Superchuck! If you figure out how to deal with the voles, please let me know! I fenced my garden to keep out deer. I use Havahart traps to relocate groundhogs, rabbits, possums, etc. Japanese beetles get hand-picked. It’s a struggle, I admit. Have you read the $64 Tomato? Hopefully you won’t ever have a Superchuck!

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