I've read that used coffee grounds act as a deterrent for slugs and snails, even the little bit of caffeine left in them being toxic to them. It's a quick and cheap trick to try, anyway. I've also read that they are a deterrent to most rodents. I'm trying this for the first time this year, and it's early days yet, but so far no problems from either slugs and snails, the tree squirrels I see cavorting about, or the wood rats that stripped my lilies a few years ago. The coffee grounds are good for the plants and safe for kids and pets. I don't think it will help with insects or roaches, but who knows? I did find a round hole like described in the opening post and I have to admit that after watching the video posted of the roach eating the strawberry, that looks like the most likely culprit. The question remains "What is an effective deterrent?" Who thinks of roaches as a garden pest? LOL!

I love borage flowers -- borage is said to lift the spirits and give courage. At the end of the afternoon, after the bees are more or less done with them (and when I have time for a borage break), I eat all the borage flowers from one plant. Most herbs can be eaten fresh from the garden (rather than as teas or tinctures -- is that what you're asking?). As far as I know, any tea herb is just as beneficial eaten raw as in tea, though most have such strong, concentrated flavors that tea is often a way to make the herb more palatable. A few herbs are best used as alcohol extracts, but again, can often be used fresh as well. When I'm in the garden, sometimes I can't resist eating a few lavender buds or an echinacea leaf. Some of the witchier herbalists (in the sense of being closer to the garden) whose books I enjoy are Kathi Keville, Juliette de B. Levy, and Rosemary Gladstar. Another GREAT source of this kind of info is conferences where herbalists share their knowledge. I know of annual herbalists' conferences in Calif. and New England, but haven't heard of other regional gatherings. Seek out local herbalists. One of the best things I learned from herbalists at one of these conferences: get to know 3 or 5 or 10 herbs really well. Eat them from the garden, drink them in tea, bathe with them, use them in as many ways as possible. Choose herbs that speak to you. Learn all the different uses. Become aware of the range of conditions they can treat, and of how your body and mind and spirit respond to them. One herbalist used to do a one-herb immersion for a few days: eat, bathe, drink that one herb. I love reading about all the different uses of herbs, not only teas and tinctures but also flower essences and essential oils. An herbalist who has a local radio show (also on KPFA on the web) often talks of spirit doses -- a drop or two of a tincture to treat emotional/spiritual stuff.

Agree with the snails/slugs as the most likely culprit. And Sluggo will work very well, and is safe to use for your strawberries. Believe me, if you think you're upset about the leaves being eaten by the snails and slugs, just wait until they ruin the fruit! Lay down Sluggo in a 2 to 3" row all around your strawberry bed, and sprinkle throughout the bed. You can also use Sluggo Plus if you're also having earwig problems, great new product! For a non-organic solution, Corry's makes a liquid product called, "Deadline" which is Metaldehyde. Normally, in pellet or bait formulation, you don't want to use this if you have dogs or small children, but in liquid formulation, you can lay a line down around the perimeter of your strawberry patch, and if a snail crosses it, it will die. You'll need to reapply if it rains. Strawberry patches are an ideal place for snails and slugs to hide out, so you really also have to hand-pick them out in the evening or early morning as well, to get the population down. We are having a snail, slug, ant and earwig explosion here in California, due to all the rain we've enjoyed :-( Patty S.

While I love our little herd of deer and find them fascinating to watch, I've never liked them *in* my garden. The can do, and have done, a lot of damage very quickly. However, after years of chasing them out of the garden they are getting bolder and mostly just ignore whatever sounds I make. I'm trying a different strategy this year and have been talking quietly to them and telling them to please only nibble and not eat any plant right down to the ground. Not sure it's working for my plants but I'm not feeling quite so angry with them! LOL :-D I planted my new roses in beds within the dog's yard thinking they wouldn't jump that fence, However after they nibbled them last fall I strung 2 rows of jute twine from fence to fence which keeps them out as it probably looks like several rows of fencing to them. I also flagged them with strips *annointed* with garlic essential oil which they apparently don't like. Wouldn't work in the larger yard tho as the fences are too long. It also looks a little weird so may not be a long-term solution. Just a warning to anyone with dogs. Deer have been known to kick them to death, especially when they have fawns to protect. I don't let my little dog chase them altho she'd love to. Yaps something annoying when she sees them. I'm seriously not buying more plants that the deer like altho I know they'll eat almost anything if hungry enough. We also have marmots which decimated my newly planted pots of hens and chicks and other sedums. This year I'm putting bird cages over the pots. The baby marmots are so cute but my plants were not after they finished them off. I've been gardening with deer for over 20 years so the novelty of their destruction is wearing thin. However I know I really can't beat them so must try to out think them. Unfortunately many of the anti-deer remedies are not attractive or not easy to use. Might use the garlic essential oil on the perimeter fence but it needs refreshing frequently and makes the entire area smell strongly of garlic. I did buy a lot of lavender plants last year which I'll move this spring to various areas of my garden in the hopes the smell will deter them.