DEER AND WORMS
I love the outdoors and gardening. The two blend seamlessly for me each spring as I fill the planters around my home, the content of which is governed by one non-negotiable rule – each must contain a plant capable of producing something edible. Well, I think the rule needs amending - edible for human consumption. Why this level of specificity? Deer and worms. These two have decimated my sweet potato vines, greens, and okra multiple times this year. One would think given the prickly texture of the okra leaves, that they would have been spared – not so. I know that my misery is shared with my neighbors and my sister-friend in Missouri. We have shared photos of the decimation.
After a deer’s evening visitation, my initial reaction is always the same – irritation and frustration. I have tried any number of hacks to get rid of both the deer and the worms. I have gone as far as to cut all the leaves off the greens to let them refresh. As soon as I think success, the worms return to feast turning the lovely healthy green leaves to lace before I can harvest. When I complain about either, there is a voice beside or behind me that says, “they have to eat too.” I don’t want to hear that, but it is true. Nature dictates that a small moth will visit the greens, deposit eggs on the leaves which will hatch as cabbage worms and eat my greens. My fellow earth citizens destroy more of the deer’s natural habitat each year. They need to eat, so my vegetation becomes an attractive meal.
There is much that I could have written about these nuisances, but I decided to make peace with their existence in my world. I have another means of getting greens – the grocery store. The deer are delightful to watch as they gracefully move about the neighborhood. Neither has invaded the walls of my house and I love being a part of their ecosystem as a provider of meager sustenance.
Planting and watching things grow brings me joy. Gardening is a form of physical activity. It is what I Iong for in February. Gardening and being outside blesses my soul and is a huge part of my regimen for self-care. The deer and the worms have helped me to understand more deeply, that I am blessed to bless.
Therefore, I will continue cutting the greens back, sprinkling red pepper on the okra and sweet potato leaves and yes, being frustrated and irritated sometimes. They need to eat too. My governing rule is still intact. It looks much different than I intended. And that too is okay.
PONDER THIS THOUGHT---Know the challenge, know why it frustrates, know that it will change, know that frustration and irritation is not the answer.
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