Steve Sulli

Hi Virginia:

It was a pleasure seeing you yesterday, and giving you a tour of my garden. Also, I enjoyed showing you the Dunwoody Community Garden, as well, and I plan to visit it more frequently to watch their progress, and follow their experimentation.

This morning I will be outside pulling weeds, and transplanting and mulching herbs and perennials. Also, I plan to finish our little retaining wall this weekend, install the arbor I showed you, and flank it with two large ornamental cement containers. Where the arbor and containers are going doesn't receive full sun and has no fencing, so I'm still debating about what's best to plant there.

I'm glad you're on the lookout for farms and gardens for us to visit. We all seem to enjoy that, and personally, I learn a lot from observing what others do. Both Ev and I will find more places to visit in our respective areas of town, and you continue to do the same. Then, once a month we can all get together for a field trip.

I'm looking forward to seeing you soon.

Hi Virginia:

I'm glad Ev and I proved to be an inspiration. Ev's garden is phenomenal; mine, not so much, but I'm motivated, and working hard to get it the way I want it. For the last several weeks I've been involved with cleaning up my old garden and planning my new garden. Once I get the deer fence around my new garden I can then begin moving my existing raised beds to take advantage of a more sunny location closer to the house. Needless to say, it all takes time, and some days I'm more energetic than others. I'll be pleasantly surprised if I get it all done by mid summer.

I'm always interested in meeting other gardeners and people with an interested in permaculture.

Take care and keep me posted.

Hi Virginia:

Ev and I enjoyed our visit with you, as well. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to give us a tour of your place. It was a pleasure learning more about you and I was touched by your willingness to share so much about yourself with us.

I'm impressed by your "rabbit tractor" and the way you use rabbits in your garden to improve the soil and give your plants a boost. Your plans for the chickens and ducks gave me food for thought, as well. Ev's idea of using those sturdy ready-made wooden boxes for planters is an excellent idea, and since you have an unlimited supply of them, there's no end to the number of ideas you can come up with to make good use of them. I really like the way you're using galvanized pipes, metal grates and shelving as trellises. I will definitely be incorporating some of your ideas in my garden.

Please come visit us when you have the time.

Again, thank you so much for a wonderful day!

Laura:

It was a pleasure meeting you, as well. Thank you so much for your hospitality. Lunch was delicious -- you're a fine cook! The tour of your garden was enlightening and motivating. I'm inspired by your worm bin and the way you germinate seeds outdoors in late winter. The information you provided about bees was fascinating. Also, our trip to the poultry show will stand out in my mind for a long time to come. Thank you for taxiing Ev and I. I enjoyed meeting your friend Barbara, as well. Like you, she's a lady on a mission. It's so nice to exchange ideas about our gardening passions and learn more about permaculture with such inspiring people. Thank you again. I had a great time, and look forward to getting together soon!

Welcome Bremen. I look forward to hearing more from you, and meeting you in person someday.

Virginia, I'm sorry for your loss. I know how difficult it is to lose someone you love. I truly hope to meet you and your family someday. You seem like a woman of conviction, and I think I can learn a lot from you. I have many lovely friends, but like you, I'm reluctant to talk with most of them about things that truly interest me. They're polite enough, but its like I'm speaking a foreign language, and they quickly steer the conversation in other directions. It's funny how much we are creatures of habit, and how easily stuck in our ruts we become. I'm looking to branch out, meet new people, and put into practice the new things I learn about permaculture and sustainability. Although I'm a city boy and have a reluctant partner, I think I can implement some of the things I learn without rocking his world too much.

I have had the privilege of meeting Ev in person, and visiting her place. Let me tell you, she is a force to be reckoned with, to say the least. I believe we can all learn a lot from her. If you get an invitation to visit her place, by all means, take her up on it. You'll be very impressed with what one willful woman can do in a very short time!

Hi Ev:

I'm glad you invited more Georgia permies. I say, "The more, the merrier!" I look forward to meeting them all.

Hi R:

Welcome! It's a pleasure to meet you.

I like exchanging ideas, and I've got some cuttings and divisions I'm willing to share this spring.

Ev:

I like your idea of a central location to meet and exchange goods and ideas. Let's give that some serious thought.

Regards,

Steve

Hi John:

I appreciate your input. Augusta is a fine city, and I'm glad to hear the deer have not yet overrun the suburbs. I have friends in North Augusta that I visit from time to time. They live out in the country and have horses, dogs, chickens, and a beautiful garden. The deer there are still skittish and it doesn't take much to frighten them away. I recently acquired 83 acres in rural east Alabama and plan to start a hobby farm there someday. Until then, I will fence a small portion of my current garden to keep the tastiest veggies out of harms way.

Hi John:

I'm very happy you are able to grow and harvest bok choy. Where do you garden? Are you in the suburbs?

Consider yourself lucky that you only have squirrels to deal with. I used to think chipmunks, squirrels, and rabbits were the bane of my existence -- then several years ago the deer showed up! I've tried what you suggest as a deer repellent and many, many other things I've either read about or come up with on my own. Believe me when I tell you, suburban deer are fearless. They are used to the world of humans -- our presence, our voices, our scents, our children playing, our dogs barking, our cats meandering, our noisy power tools, our cars, traffic noise, sirens, etc. and it doesn't bother them in the least. I see them during the day and I see them at night, and I've never seen one get in a hurry. They sample every plant they walk past, and they devour what they like! I'm strongly convinced that fencing them out is the only reliable option.

Hi ev:

You're right, to serious gardeners, "Bambi" is a four-letter word. The names "Bunny" and "Alvin" are usually not spoken in mixed company either.

Not only do deer and rabbits exploit different levels in the garden (what they can reach standing on their hind legs), they seem to have different preferences when it comes to eating. Deer eat some things rabbits won't touch, and vice versa. They both have hearty appetites, however, and just like people, their individual tastes span the spectrum of cuisines. One year I decided about all I could grow was Pepperoncini peppers, onions and garlic because the previous 2 or 3 seasons I harvested more than the neighbors and I could eat. Not even the insects had a taste for them. So I planted enough for a Sicilian army. Then a rabbit (or family of rabbits) moved in with a taste for Italian, and that was that. Lessons learned: "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" and "Just when you think you've got it figured out..." That was the year I decided to fence the rabbits out. I guess it keeps things interesting, but if I had to depend on feeding my family with what I grow, we'd starve, or at least have very upset stomachs.

This time of year my garden looks abandoned. But, being a glutton for punishment, I will, in all likelihood, be at again before long. Among other things, "Alvin", "Bambi" and "Bunny" can teach us a lot about humility, and it's not in my nature to accept defeat. Especially by animals a rung or two down on the evolutionary ladder.

If you have a problem with deer getting to your prized vegetables, don't bother with bok choy. They'll just phone for house fried rice to eat along with it!