Coteau Valley Farms' first harvestable crop was the zucchini. There were a few other crops like some Swiss Chard as an example, sadly the deer also love Swiss Chard. They chowed down on it as promptly as they discovered the meal. I know some hunter this fall is not going to appreciate the added health benefits to the deer as Swiss Chard will lower the deer's blood pressure and make it a more ample athlete. The deer also now have a more balanced level of iron giving him energy and magnesium and potassium, to boot. Not to mention vitamins K, A, and C now balance his deer diet. Let's see there are thirteen individual antioxidants now fueling our hoofed friend, these ward off any cancer and control his blood sugar levels. I’ve prepared the deer for his life of crime, which consists of swiping health-packed crops. Oh, don’t fret, I realize it's a deer and I cannot blame him, they are opportunists and they used their opportunity. I could potentially identify the deer perpetrators in a deer lineup, who ate my humble crops. They were red and shiny and looked very beautiful in the morning sun. They walked peacefully and gracefully in the fields adding a glow of beauty to the Coteau scenery. I did wonder later on, after I saw the garden had been robbed, about some ways to make them leave the garden. I am also guilty of reading about some of these ideas that are supposed to drive the deer away. I read that I ought to build a tall fence that electrocutes them or this plan I also thought genius, I should not grow crops that deer like to eat, thanks! Another idea was to put in a mega sprinkler system, which I am sure would cost an arm and a leg, just to protect my two-dollar zucchini. I theoretically do not want to get rid of them, as they are part of the scenery. I do wish they did not have palates that so closely resembled my own. I also noticed in my garden they love to browse on the leaves of sunflowers and eat the flower before it has time to bloom. It seems deer see no value in giant lovely sunflowers growing in a field. Nor do they care that I wanted to try and dry those seeds and eat them for a snack, as sunflower seeds are also filled with nutrients. I would say deer are super impatient as dinner guests and prefer the meal immediately, rather than waiting for it to be prepared. I guess I can't complain as I still have a small number of sunflowers growing closer to the house. I kinda wonder if they did not try and eat those sunflowers because they remember the mad hunting skills of Mochi the cat; how he chased the doe and her two babies from the yard a few months ago. I finally have considered putting a scarecrow up or playing a radio nonstop in the field so they dont eat any more garden vegetables. It's not that unsportsmanlike, the deer can eat the grass in the fields or all the hay bales left in the field, the bales have not moved in a year, except by means of decomposition. I also have seen the hay bales are coated with pesticides so perhaps deer may have enough sense to avoid that kind of meal. Anyway, deer are supposed to like dried nuts and fruits and especially walnuts as I have mentioned in other posts. I guess, there is no sense crying over Swiss Chard. I now have learned that I have competition in the garden and I will try and figure something out that works, for the deer and my garden, a sort of compromise. I bet the hoppers would have devoured the Chard if they were here but they are not to be found, maybe they ate the hay bales. Please let me know what you do to ward off the deer, or is that literally a loaded question?
Coteau des Prairies
South Dakota Hobby Farm
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