I am surprised that in 3 years since this post began no one has mentioned pigeons. They are the perfect homestead animal-- and were the poultry meat of choice until commercial chickens replaced them mid 20th century. A pair of pigeons will raise 2 - 4 squab a month. One squab feeds one person. Here's the amazing part: You should feed them well, but they will also fly, forage and return to feed their young: So it is possible to feed them lightly and they will still thrive on their own resources. Many a village under siege were able to continue to eat meat because their pigeons would fly safely above the battle, find food, and return. The droppings are also great for your garden. Pigeons are hugely under-rated in the united states as a valuable livestock, mostly because 'escaped' pigeons from 20th century abandoned squab farms have become a nuisance in many cities. Healthy pigeons can be purchased sometimes for as little as $2 each. The first generation should not be allowed to fly, until the second generation is established and off the nest or they may fly 'home' to their previous owner. Squab are best eaten when just coming off the nest, however older birds are fine too, just not as tender. They also provide a fascinating hobby if you choose homing or racing pigeons: you can fly them home from great distances. Because they mate for life, and are beautiful on the wing, we are somewhat tender-hearted about eating them. However, we maintain our flock as a small side business for wedding & funeral releases, (they fly home afterwards) and consider them an emergency food source should 'it' ever hit the fan. Here is a link that might be useful: Full Circle Doves

One year later, and time for a report. In the past couple of months, I've caught eight fox squirrels, and moved them out of reach. That's about half what I caught last year. I have had zero squirrel garden damage this year, BTW. The fact that I've caught only eight (about half that of last year) means to me that I had a serious overpopulation of them last year, and that culling made a big difference. But as expected, the population grew in the spring, though never got as bad as it was last year. We had a very wet spring, and the winter acorn crop was enormous. As a result, I only caught a few in May and June. They just weren't that hungry for my bait. But just in the last two days I caught FIVE! Wham. Wham. Wham. Wham. Wham. The nuts are running out, I guess. As of now, I go outside, and I hardly see any of them at all in my yard. As I've learned, the repopulation/dispersal rate of urban squirrels is very slow. In a given year, these squirrels don't just migrate from one yard to the next. They just don't do it. I consider them cleaned out of my yard until next spring, when I'll dust off the trap and snatch a few more.

Oh Ingrid, I do feel for you. I too am in a sort of gardening depression. Being in CA I'm with you on the water restrictions. I went from waaay over-watering in 2013 (thankfully), to cutting back last yr by about 30%. I just got my notice from our local water company that I am in the top 25% of water users in our area. (Go figure) They are requiring me to cut back to HALF of my usage from 2013. Plus we can only water on odd/even days based on your address. Soooo... I am now trying to only water every 4th day. I had gone to every 3rd day before the letter came. But being as I have to water only on odd days, doing every 3rd day doesn't work, obviously. I have cheated a little and done a little extra hand watering on even days with my potted roses, because if I don't, in the heat we've been experiencing... I'd have some dead roses. And I tell you, I AM NOT going to lose more roses. I have invested waaaay too much money and time in them to let them go. Adding mulch has helped and (trying to find time to) clear away all the damn leaves and infernal pine needles and weeds that are wicking the water away from the roses, has helped a lot. Plus getting a few little mini thunder storms dumping tons of water in a short time has helped too. That and the now slightly cooler temps we're having today. Hopefully that will be a trend for awhile. The 90-100 degree temps are not good for only watering every 4 days!! I often ask myself what the @#$% I am doing with all these roses (1700+) and adding more. I work two jobs 6 days a week and help take care of my almost-97yr old mom on two of my 4 days off per month. I have no life.... and not much time to do the things I need to do in my yard. My husband helps only if I ask, and absolutely need him. My son and his girlfriend are worthless when it comes to helping in the yard. And my niece who just moved back from NY is also staying with us, and while she does help with dishes and meals, she's never set foot in our backyard. No gardening help from her either. Not that I'd expect it. But, I get sooo depressed some days when I go out and see all the weeds and deadheads, and the many oak and walnut trees growing amongst the roses. (thank you, Squirrels!) So very much that I need to do and just haven't the time nor the energy to go do it all. I feel so overwhelmed so often. But then I go out and see the gorgeous roses blooming (I call them the "beauty amongst the ruins") and taking pictures helps to keep me going at it. And then I see all the "ruins" in the background of the photos and that can get me depressed too. But I keep on plugging along, doing whatever I can, whenever I'm able. As long as I keep the roses watered and "alive" I figure one day I might have time to do what I want. And the way things are going, I think mine will survive the less watering and be hanging in there until the next El Nino comes in the fall to bring us the much-needed rain. So hang in there too, Ingrid. I know it's easier said than done. But things will get better. They HAVE to!!

Marianne has grown so nicely in my garden. Last year it was one year old and bloomed nicely. I'm really looking forward to it this year as it's getting huge. I hope you like yours! This will be it's third spring in my garden. alsoalso I'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'mI'm also looking forward to seeing Ellen Tofflemire next spring. It was a baby last year so I haven't seen it bloom yet. Keep us posted on your Garden with Paul Barden roses, Bob!