So Excited!

 

We used to have a backyard garden... about ten years ago.  But then the squash, melons, and zucchini had hollowed out vines and disgusting mush inside the fruit... apparently the work of squash beetles I was told. It was depressing. 😣

And although we had a 4 foot chicken wire fence, there are always families of rabbits around who dig right under. 

About 5 years ago we planted a fig tree... Which has never had leaves for very long, because the deer eat off every one before they can grow. Every year I think it must be dead, but a few new leaves sprout the next year. 

When the pandemic started everyone was getting into home gardening.  By this time our garden area was full of 4 foot tall weeds laced with poison ivy. *so embarrassing!* 

So we cleared a small area too late in spring, and I planted one tomato plant that was already big. A few days later there was only one stem left in the ground. I'm sure the deer got it. 

So how can I be so excited? 

In 2021 I decided to invest in a good tall fence, one that even goes down into the ground. Vance and I dreamed big, and wanted to fence in nearly the whole back yard, about 400 feet. Well, we soon found that is extremely expensive.

So with inspiration and advice from permaculture expert, Matthew Arnsberger of Piedmont Environmental Landscape and Design, we decided to make a much smaller fence by ourselves, using the old chicken wire, and extending the height with bamboo poles and deer netting. 

I hired a Montagnard refugee who is a farmer from Vietnam to help, and with me, Vance, and him all fencing, digging, and gathering materials, we got it done. 

I've been building beds with cardboard boxes, and actually planting vegetables!

The first ones I put in were two eggplants on May 21, 2021.