deer food

Almost two weeks ago I started my first garden. My husband correctly pondered where I would find the time for a garden and reminded me that the deer would probably eat it. Yet, he didn't say no. When he spent a Friday night and Saturday helping me look at tillers and deciding which one was the most economical and practical for my height and strength, I figured I really had his blessing. Now even though both of my grandfathers had gardens and my Dad did several summers when I was a teenager, the closest I ever came to planting was dropping seeds in the ground. I never had to prepare the soil or weed, though I sometimes had to help pick, and always had to help shell, shuck, cut, blanch, or can whatever came in. Figuring out how to use the tiller wasn't that hard, but identifying the plants as they come up is. I THINK the slightly curled plant growing in the front is a budding snow pea. (Can you tell I'm excited?!!) But I'm not really sure. I know the long green strand in the back of the picture is grass. But I'm not going to pull anything out until I know for sure that it is a weed. I have this horror that I'm going to pull up my carefully planted produce and leave the onion grass.

And unfortunately, for the second time I've found deer tracks in my garden...so my dear old farm boy husband may be right...again...but there's still hope, right?