So far this year I have been able to successively plant and mostly feed the family from our patch. It has been satisfying pulling carrots and beetroot, picking kale and silver beet, watching things grow and sprout from seed. While I missed planting in spring, I was still able to get significant growth due to our prolonged warm weather we experienced here. Pulling the last zucchini or courgette last week was a sad occasion but with the frosts we have been having they were spent.
My broccoli has been growing incredibly well, along with rows of additional kale carrots and beetroot. Lettuces, cabbages, cauliflower and silver beet have been flourishing despite the now cooler weather.
Enter the possum!
The devastation that can be caused by these little furry bastards is unbelievable. Our six foot high fences have not been enough. Our mitigatory measures were not adequate.The net which has been draped across the entire patch area and hastily put together with cable ties has not stopped him.
Each morning the enclosure is inspected and most mornings there is a tell tale pile of possum shit left to taunt me and demonstrate that he is able to thwart my best efforts to stop his pillaging. Thoughts of motion sensor cameras and other possum stopping measures fill my mind at times. I have had to work on not becoming completely deranged about this all.
I have been working hard to secure every possible place that could provide access. This has included more cable ties, using twine to stitch net together and metal clips to reduce any possible possum sized holes.
The last two nights have shown possum activity outside the net but not inside the enclosure. Hopefully the patch will recover and we will get the reward of our winter harvest.
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