We live in Connecticut, with about an acre and a half of land including a small waterfront to a gorgeous lake. The house is a ranch style, built into an incline so the front looks like a simple one story, but the rear of the structure is two stories. Our beautifully finished basement provides added outdoor space, covered by the first floor deck, as well as an extra bedroom and recreational space.
When Paul and I first moved here, about eight years ago, there was very little yard and lots of young, not so healthy oak trees. Our neighbor was building a new house and he provided us with fill, so we were able to landscape and add to the outdoor space. We use a small wood stove in the winter, so have been systematically removing the trees for firewood. It has been a long and slow process, with lots more to do, but last year we finally got to a point where we had the space and sun to start growing vegetables.
I carefully prepared the area, a square of about 20' by 20'. Paul got the deer fencing, two rolls at $60 each. He discovered that one roll enclosed nearly the entire space, so being thrifty, he decided to return the second roll, and just cut a corner off my nice square. Hmph.
I planted some seeds, and some plants; tomato, summer squash, lettuce, spinach, kale, marigolds for pest control, some other flowers and peppers. I thought that would be sufficient for the first year.
So did the groundhog, which I had never seen before. We got a live trap, and caught him before he could do too much damage. A day after relocating the cute little lettuce eater, I discovered another one in the garden. He too got relocated, but by the time we finally caught and exited the third one, the damage was irreversible.
I didn't know, but now do, that groundhogs don't like tomatoes. Nor the peppers. So I did actually get a pretty fair crop of those for the first year. I also paid attention to where/how and when the sun hits certain areas of the vegetable garden and will plat a little differently this coming spring. And I am demanding to get my corner back.
More to come,
Elfscooter
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