My sheep & goats are fine, except for Gomer the angora goat who insists on sticking his head through the fence to munch - and can't get it back out. We have left him there for hours, but he doesn't care. A rabbit keeps mowing down my tomato plants. I replanted yesterday for the third time, luckily only one cherry tomato plant gone this morning. But, I'm out of reserve cherry tomato plants! Oh, well. I do have fencing around the garden, used oyster shells for the cutworms, inter-planted marigolds, have cages around the plants, got desperate and poured used kitty litter around the perimeter of the garden...the dogs & cats don't bother the rabbits... any other ideas??? We saw a beautiful double rainbow last evening just before sunset, the brightest any of us have ever seen! Awesome! Wish we could have kept that arch in the garden (it was right over it!) Peace!

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), June 24, 2000

Answers

Cut the bottom out of a 5 gallon bucket (I "roll" it on a table saw). Place the bucket around the newly planted seedling, pushing it 3 or 4 inches into the ground. I do this because it is a wonderful way to water/fertilize the plants, but it should also offer some protection from critters. Best solution? Fried rabbit is quite tasty! GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), June 24, 2000.

Jean: We've been having pretty good luck with liberal applications of kelp meal sprinkled around the plants. It seems to keep most of the critters at bay.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), June 24, 2000.

The other thing you can do that should deter rabbits and most other rodents is to save some human urine in a bucket, dilute it with about the same amount of water if necessary, and pour it on the foilage and arouund the plants you want to protect. It works best if you reapply it after each rain. After awhile, they will lose their appetites and quit coming around. We had a real problem for a while where the voles would come and mow down all the squash seedlings, and this is how we fixed it!

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), June 24, 2000.

Jean- A few years ago we were having a problem with deer eating the bean plants. An avid organic gardening friend suggested blending a dozen fresh eggs with a gallon of water and spraying this on the plants with a garden sprayer. The deer buffet came to an immediate halt. We had to reapply after a few hard rains and didn't apply at all for two weeks prior to harvest for fear of salmonella. We continue to use this method with very little loss. Several folks have also suggested using blood meal around the plants as a defense against garder freeloaders. Don't know if keeps anything away but sure makes the tomatoe vines lush. Good luck. Terri

-- Terri Perry (tperry@stargate.com), June 28, 2000.

I gave up on fencing after I watched a deer take a running leap over a 15 foot fence of mine.

We use bird netting now, for the past few years. I buy a big roll at Wal-Mart of all places. My feed store has it but for much more $. I got a 7 x 100 foot roll for $10. I cut pieces and blanket them over the young plants. I cut them big enough to be able to raise it as they grow. At first I "anchor" it from wind using thin stakes (thats what all that %$#@^& bamboo is good for after all!). Then I just adjust it as needed. This top layer of black netting is not unsightly, you can't even see it. It allows easy access to harvest and re-drape it. It also discourages deer as well as small critters.

I use it on any planting I want protected, even new sunflower seed plantings to keep the birds from eating my future plants.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), June 28, 2000.

Hi Jean,

I put an eletric fence up and it stopped my goat from reaching through the fence. (Lost it in an eletric storm two weeks ago. Blew the cover clear across the barn and dented a metal cabinet. Lost my modem too. Just got back on. Anyway, until I get a new one, Amy is reaching again)

I dug 6 inches down and 1 foot out and put chicken wire around the outside of my garden. Rabbits can't dig under to get at garden. _/ I found it also keeps coyotes out of chicken coop.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), June 29, 2000.