Latest remedy is deterring garden pests

So far the squirrels are winning the battle of the garden. I planted onions three times before the evil creatures finally left them alone. The kohlrabi leaves were nibbled to the ground within days of the young plants being tucked into the dirt.
I have tried many deterrents over the years. Sprinkling pepper on the plants doesn’t work. Fencing them in doesn’t work. Creating an obstacle course with sticks does nothing. Soap shavings, leftover pet hair and any number of other home remedies merely cause the squirrels to laugh at me before eating every tender young vegetable I plant. This year I am adding forks to my arsenal.
I read somewhere that shoving plastic forks in the ground at strategic intervals will keep the plants safe. I bought more kohlrabi and the kid behind the counter broke my heart when he assured me that they were not squirrel proof.
I had planted peppers a couple days earlier and surrounded them with upturned forks. The plants are unscathed so far. I planted the replacement kohlrabi and finished filling the bed with tomatoes. I used up all the forks I had. The garden now sparkles in the sun. It is unknown if the squirrels will back off or are simply waiting for the plants to get bigger before eating them.
I know that squirrels need to eat, too. So do rabbits. I realize that the wildlife in my back yard doesn’t understand the concept of sharing. Yesterday the black squirrel that moved her babies across the street stared at me from less than a foot away. I think she was thanking me for planting more vegetables for her and her young.
Why am I blaming the damage on the squirrels instead of the rabbits? Let’s just say that I have watched them watching me as they sat there calmly eating one plant after the other. The rabbits are more discrete. They wait until I’m not looking before dining.
Protecting produce from Mother Nature’s minions is a challenge. I usually lose, but can’t resist trying just one more time. The promise of pesticide-free fresh produce is worth it. Anything eaten fresh from the garden is far superior to anything bred to withstand a supermarket.
Once the plants have warded off the animals, they have to contend with insects. Most plants have some innate defenses but others need a little help. Then once they fend off the insects, there is the problem of weather. It is too hot, too cold, too much rain or not enough rain. Nothing is ever perfect. We do what we can to help them along. Sometimes it is enough and we have the biggest, tastiest fruit or vegetables ever. Sometimes we fail, and the squirrels win.
Life is like that. We plan, we prepare, we try and sometimes we fail. Sometimes we win. It is the struggle that makes that first tomato of the season taste so sweet. We don’t just taste the tomato, we taste victory.
If it were easy, then it would be ordinary. Think how different the first tomato tastes from the last. There are other benefits as well. Time spent outdoors playing in the dirt is a great cure for almost anything that ails you. Simply breathing air that has not been artificially heated or cooled is good for the soul. Getting away from electronic devices and being present in the moment gives our minds a break. Even if your garden consists of one flowerpot holding a spindly tomato, it does us good to care for something.
Gardening isn’t for everyone. Some people prefer all their food to come wrapped in layers and layers of plastic. Some people don’t like the feel of dirt under their fingernails. Some people think of gardening as just more work. That is OK.
But for those of us who live for real food, handpicked, and hard won from the squirrels, gardening is a source of pleasure and relaxation. It is also a challenge. The squirrels may be winning now, but I have another box of forks in my arsenal.