Deer 4 - Steve 0

For the last 50 years I’ve had a summer vegetable garden.  When possible, I had a large garden with many varieties of vegetables, always including tomatoes.  We don’t have space for a real garden in our new home, but we added a mulch bed on the bank in the back yard, perfect for a few tomato plants - or so I thought.  I wasn’t able to plant until the mulch bed was complete in early July, but three small tomato plants thrived in the full sun.  

One evening in July, we saw a deer walking near the top of the bank.  We were amazed and delighted.  In early August, Aloma saw our deer, this time followed by two fawns.

My tomato plants grew to over three feet high and were beginning to bloom.  I could just taste a tomato sandwich.  Then one morning I looked out and my tomatoes were now only a foot high.  We have a big rabbit that hangs around, but since only the tops of the plants were eaten, we were certain it was our deer.

I decided to keep the deer away with a small LED light activated by motion.  I set it on a post near the tomatoes, tested it and announced the deer problem was solved.  And it was - until the tomatoes grew enough to be tasty again.  Back down to a foot tall.  My research uncovered a motion detection light that showed two red lights that looked like eyes of a big cat.  I made over my light by covering it with black paper and adding two holes for eyes covered by red paper.  It was fierce looking.

And it worked - until the tomatoes grew enough to be tasty again.

Finally, my neighbor brought over some Irish Spring soap.  She had heard deer don’t like the smell of it and won’t come near.  I cut the soap into small pieces and scattered them around the plants.  My deer loves Irish Spring soap.

We’re going to the Farmers Market tomorrow to buy tomatoes for my sandwich.  My two-month old, one-foot high tomato plants are going in the trash.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com