Waging War

I haven't had the heart to post an update on Our Wee Garden because, well, I haven't even really had the heart to deal with it. In late June I began waging a war against slugs and this morning I finally waved a little white flag in their directions. The disgusting critters have all but destroyed the garden, despite my best efforts to cream them.

A couple weeks ago it looked like things were turning around in my favor. My questionable "organic" insect soap and the beer cups were definitely helping. (Note: using cups of beer to lure slugs off your plants to drink themselves to death sounds fun and organic, but it's not for the weak of stomach. It ruined my ability to eat any of the lettuce - not that there was much left.)

A check on the garden this morning proved the slugs had garnered more troops and stepped up their attack. The broccoli and brussel sprouts will likely not produce. The peas and beans are gone. The lettuce and chard are shredded. Cursing the slimy critters, I pulled up half of the garden and open fired on the rest with half of a bottle of spray.

This is not what I had hoped for our first garden. We carefully planted vegetables we knew we'd eat and be able to grow. We rabbit proofed the garden and then the entire yard. We poured love into those little plants.

But we didn't prep for slugs. And they're the ones enjoying the garden.

Maybe next year we'll try just tomatoes or we'll plant the whole garden with flowers. We'll sign up for a CSA or hit the farmer's markets hard.

Or maybe, just maybe, I'll just be ready to take on the slugs again. And this time, I'll win.