How To Grow Your Deer-Free Vegetable Garden

How do you grow a deer-free vegetable garden? It's simple actually. Just put up a large sign saying "FREE VEGETABLES" followed by my name and address and a map to my house. I'll be delighted to have deer in my back yard. Made in California where, apparently, deer are a problem to the canyon-dwelling upscale suburban types lampooned in T. Coraghessen Boyle's new novel The Tortilla Curtain, this simple but effective guide instructs viewers how to use gentle methods (no snare traps, or buckshot recommended here) to keep their gardens from being plundered by neighborhood Bambi's. Veteran newscaster Betty Ann Bruno seeks the advice of nurseryman Bob Tanem, and taking a page out of the Simon & Garfunkel songbook, he suggests planting parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. Deer, it seems, are not S & G fans, and will leave those four plants in peace. Basil, on the other hand, is an invitation to trouble, and brussel sprouts are choice cuisine to a deer (they can have ‘em). In addition to pointing out which vegetables and herbs to cultivate and which ones to skip, Tanem also offers suggestions on non-toxic sprays (deer are put off by a skim milk/raw egg spray which, frankly, would probably also make me want to hurl), shows how to construct mini-shelters for individual plants, and shares a few tidbits of general deer psychology. Regions who have this kind of problem can either make the aforementioned sign and send me your deer or purchase this tape. Recommended, where needed. (R. Pitman)