Oh Deer!

While we grow the vegetables to bless the community with fresh produce and nurture blossoming friendships, sometimes it is not the people that receive the produce blessing. Once in a while, members of the wildlife community reap the benefits of the garden. Recently our Sommer Street location was targeted by some of Snow Whites forest friends - deer and squirrels (note the deer print in the picture). The deer helped themselves to some cherry tomatoes and a few other tasty treats during their visit. And the squirrels (and possibly deer) had their own corn on the cob picnic, leaving only corn standing alone (also seen in one of the pictures).

We do love our furry and feathered friends, however we try to minimize their unplanned harvesting of the vegetables we are tending to. We want to cause no harm to God’s creatures, so we do our best to use natural deterrent methods. We do a lot of companion planting to minimize both insect destruction, as well as deterring the larger variety of animals. Planting marigolds helps to keep bunnies out of the garden. We have also used Rosemary essential oil around the beds to convince some mud wasps to relocate their hives. We will be looking into other natural methods for next year (like chicken wire for the corn). We are grateful to know that the relocated harvest was not wasted - it was enjoyed and nourishing for our forest friends. As written in Psalms 147:9 - “He gives food to the wild animals . . .” We know the gardens will provide what is needed, so we are okay sharing (even unplanned) with the wildlife. Matthew 6:26 reminds us “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him then they are? “ - we are children of the most high, so we rest in the fact that the furry visits this week provided for the animals reminds us that because we are loved so much more, God will provide for us as well.