Cumba Siegler

I can imagine rabbits like a lot of greens... but my garden is fenced against deer and rabbits. I wonder if any birds? Or mice?

Hi, all,
Has anyone had the experience of having the fava flowers stripped off and eaten? It's hard to grow the beans if you don't have the flowers. Can't imagine which creature has done this.

Of course, I fantasize about using those stock watering tanks and then running solar-powered electric wire around the top...
But I also fantasize about special remote controls that make people mute or remove traffic from in front of me... it's good to have a good imagination
although I also have to let go of it or I go off down that wild, merry path!

SO I live on a sloped land near the ocean, with lots of seabreeze. And animals... we have 10 acres, mostly woods and poison oak, and the garden is on the side of the driveway.
I have everything in planters because of the gophers. The garden is about 18 by 50 feet, with 5 fruit trees and lots of containers. The mice just climb up anywhere they like... including the plum tree at the moment. And I am working on installing plastic stuff to keep the breeze off everything.
There are wood rats in the woods next to the garden, one of which, I think, ate one of the mice I caught; only found the fur and tail and some rat turds...
The old wild west...
I have no shortage of seeds, or desire to grow, or try new things. I am sparing with our well water, which will only last so long.  I can keep replanting even though I don't imagine anything will last very long.
What I do need is some kind of philosophical approach to all this. I can see that each year is different (I started during the lockdown, so this is year 3).
I see that many people have it way worse than me.
Still, I gnash my teeth in frustration!

Hi, Cumba here from Santa Cruz, Calif.
We're in another year of "exceptional drought" and the mice are eating whatever I plant. Garlic, potatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, favas, etc. Very frustrating. I have caught in a few in traps but I think they're getting wise... Any suggestions/commiserations, etc., would be most welcome.
I love growing food, just watching things burst out and shoot for the sky. I know Calif is a huge ag state but here on the ground, so to speak, I have to fence out deer, rabbits, squirrels, gophers, rats, mice, and birds.
I am grateful I am not trying to really grow all my food.