Sunday, September 11, 2011

Slippery Slope

There is a fine line between backyard farmer and redneck, and I think we just crossed it.

You see, we have the infuriating problem of a rather large rabbit who has gained his girth by dining on our hard work.  Our backyard has become his own personal Garden of Eatin', and I swear he has doubled in size this summer alone.  We first saw the wascally wabbit early in the spring, and being the uneducated gardeners we were, we thought he was super cute with those big ears and little cotton ball tail.  If I had known then what I know now, I would have worked harder to catch him before he became quite so educated in the ways of the world.  Now, this full-grown rabbit is sneaky, elusive and always hungry.  I have lost many a plant (his favorites being strawberries, beans, peas, and young, tender greens) to his appetite, and last week when he devoured another two rows of green beans, a row of beets and one of cauliflower, he broke this camel's proverbial back.  Four long months we have tried live traps and a multitude of scare tactics, but he will not be caught or deterred.  I'm pretty sure that yesterday when I was replanting, I heard war cries coming from the row of hedges that serves as his line of defense.

That's it, rabbit.  Game on.

Now, when battle plans were being drawn up, I envisioned a little hand-held air-pump beebee gun that we'd use to administer a painful no trespassing reminder.  Instead, my husband returned home bearing a pellet gun that I'm pretty sure he chose for the sole reason that it had a picture of a rabbit on the side, under which the words "large pest control" and "small game hunting " were written.   It is not discreet nor suburban by any stretch.  Did I mention it has a scope?

Now, thus far our neighbors have surprisingly tolerated our growing backyard farm as well as our budding chicken operation.  We're a little novel and grassroots, and so far tolerable.  However, I am slightly afraid that backyard rabbit hunting may very well get us voted off the island, and slightly disturbed that we feel rabbit dumplings would very well be worth it.

6 comments:

  1. Wow! Just found your blog and have been going through it all. I haven't been paying attention, I guess, to your moves. This looks like an awesome life to me!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my goodness. I know it's probably not funny to you, but you had me cracking up. Particularly the picture! That is awesome. Love the bandanas :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks, Jack! And Heather, I am glad you laughed. I plan to have the last one when I catch that silly rabbit!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a great photo of you and the kids! Love it!! (Heather - Debby Pasho's sister)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you, Heather! From what Debby tells me, I think you may be living my dream! Karen, I'll have you over for a bowl when I can finally claim it is simmering on the stove.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...