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Vandalism

Wild Boar in Garden
What is this we are looking at?  Well this WAS green beans.  Next to it was the rice trial and the kenaf, next to that WAS peppers and eggplant.


Although we tried very hard, Leo and I were only able to save about half of these plants.  At this point I don't know if it was a solitary male or a female sounder group.  I just know that I'm hopping mad.  As if human thieves and gophers were not bad enough.  Don't even mention this to Leo, he's ready to set up the tent and sleep out there.  I don't like sleeping with pigs.

Wild boar are crepuscular or nocturnal, foraging in early morning and late afternoon or at night, but resting for periods during both night and day, they are omnivorous scavengers, eating almost anything they come across,  including apparently part of our CSA.  They are not even paid members.  They hit the farm last Thursday, while I was making dinner.

Personally I prefer my pig as sausage, bacon or ham.  And this one better hope that I don't ever see him again.  If I do, I plan to pretend I'm in Missouri, where hunters are asked to shoot on sight any boars they come across.  The only predators of the boar are bears, wolves and cougars.  So far I haven't seen any of these on the farm.   I keep hoping Joe will come with her bow and arrow and deliver us from this beastie.

Squash, melons and French Filet Beans

Evidence points to the boar coming out of the hills, and down the creek, coming up near the chickens, trampling new corn and then rooting through random crops, returning to the creek via a different path. 

What does this mean to you?  Well, some of the heirloom Italian beans are wiped out.  I will only have enough to save the seed and replant next year.  We will have fewer peppers and eggplant.  Not much I can do about it.  Those seeds were planted in January.  If they don't return, the French Filets are coming on and I have a wee patch of peppers in another secret and hidden location.