I can’t feel my arms
I had a big weekend in the garden…
First, I had a large load of soil that we hauled in that I shoveled and mixed with my compost for about 5 hours. Then built 3 new 4×4 beds for extra veggies this year… I am a little worried about whether or not 2 of them will get enough sun. There is a fence on the south side of my property and it casts a shadow over some of the backyard. I think it will be fine, but I plan to grow my lettuce and peas in those beds since they won’t mind a break from the hot sun that comes too early in the South! I am still sore from shoveling shoveling shoveling!
After the beds were built and in place with the soil in, it was time to have some fun. I made 2 bean teepees out of bamboo I swiped from down the street, transplanted a few strawberry plants from one bed to another and then sowed some carrots and mescalun.
Then it all went downhill. I transplanted about 12 lettuce seedlings and 6 broccoli seedlings into the bed and then, after giving them a drink, called break time and went inside for a cool drink. That is when the chicken interlopers invaded. My new fence blocks the garden on 3 sides, but the back side is unprotected by the compost bins. I blocked that portion off but forgot about the tiny area between the coop and the greenhouse. This also happens to be a favorite chicken runway.
You can guess what happened next. I came back outside, whistling and ready for more planting, when I saw…nothing. Absolutely nothing. The chickens had eaten every single shred of veggie in sight. There wasn’t a stem visible anywhere! They had acted fast as when I came back out they were out of the garden, giving themselves a dust bath in the yard. Chickens 1, Bethany 0.
Ah, the joys of gardening with Chickens…somehow they don’t have the same ideas about how large vegetables should be before they can be eaten. I’m sorry they were so efficient at mowing through the veggies. Hopefully you can plant more, and keep them safe.
Dear Bethany, What a tale of woe. I am so sorry for you. All of that time, effort and work for absolutely no reward. Thank you so much for leaving a comment on my latest posting where I have left a reply. I shall look forward to hearing of your progress!
Hi there, saw you are new to blotanical and just checked out a bunch of your entries. Very entertaining. Curious as to what you are going to do about this development.