Saturday, April 9, 2011

Problem #2: Deer

Face it, if I put in yummy vegetation and water I'm going to get a serious number of these guys.

Deer
Not to mention the Wild Turkeys, Bear, Rabbits, Squirrels - and all the meat eaters going after them like Coyotes, Cougars, and Bob Cats.

The only solution is fencing - but what kind? At the beginning I will most likely just encircle the few plants out there with supported chicken wire - and take my losses. But I am really going to need a more permanent and secure fencing for the long term. Insert what the land gives me. I have rocks to build secure supports and one of the most amazing kinds of wood - Cedarwood - for in between.

For many Centuries Cedarwood was used as the primary wood in this location for fencing, telegraph poles, home building and much more. It's very resistant to bugs and can stand decades without rot (and that's with nothing put on it). This entire country side is littered with Cedarwood to the point of being able to pick and choose without hurting the forest in any way.

That leaves me with the final question. What to fence in? Honestly, on my own I don't think I could fence the property - and I don't want to. One of the joys of this area is seeing all these animals, followed closely by the feeling of freedom and wide open country. There is no way I want to put a fence around it and block myself in. And one more thing, I WANT the wildlife to visit and enjoy. I am building this for them too.

At this point my thought is simply to fence in the actual 'vegetable' garden area leaving plenty of room for paths and gardening FOR wildlife around it. The actual vegetable garden area is a circle and that part will be fenced in.

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