Deterrents as relationship
Living in the future (part three)
There’s a new neighbor in Puerto Rico’s forests. For the last 7 years, as a result of the destruction that Maria wrought, our mountains have been filling up with wild pigs. Hog confinements were broken open in the storm and the pigs that escaped rewilded, growing back their rough hair and quickly adapting to life in the woods. On still days we hear what sounds like wind rushing through the trees: it’s a pack of frolicking piglets, 15 babies tumbling along behind mom, searching for shallow roots and palm kernels.
Without predators, the population is exploding and while we find them adorable, they are a nuisance to farmland. Wild pigs are known to tear up 1/4 acre in a single night as they root for yautia or hunt for worms, leaving craters where crops once stood. Many of our neighbors have decided to defend their harvests with traps and guns, but we’ve been developing a more holistic response.
Pigs are notoriously smart. Once they’ve gotten out of a trap once, they won’t get caught twice. Frustrated farmers anxiously chase them through the woods and end up lining their farms with barbed wire. We’d prefer not to rely on barbed wire that can injure our dogs and needs to be pulled up and replaced once the jungle humidity rusts through it. So we’ve been working on green fencing; lining the annual growing areas with pineapples, their sharp spines proving to be sufficient deterrent to animals.
Green Fencing
Pineapple plants are short and wide. Given enough nutrition, they can become thick, robust clumps. Their spines are lined with tiny thorns that don’t bother the dogs but can break off into the skin of a pig (which is very similar to our epidermis). Each plant is spaced 4-5 feet apart and given plenty of sunlight so they can spread out, leaving just enough space for the dogs to pass, but making a dangerously tight pass for pigs. While the pineapple plants grow, we leave shiny scraps of construction material in the gaps, enough to make them suspicious of traps and look for a different route.
As we expand the green fence, the pigs are forced to go around and quickly learn to stay away from the harvests. Started from the crowns of pineapples, the green fence reproduces itself, simultaneously making food and even more fencing. One pineapple plant will reproduce itself into 5 pineapple plants in 3 years. And 80 pineapple plants are enough to fence the length of a football field. It’s a slow process to begin, but with only a few dozen pineapples we can protect acres of farmland without barbed wire, traps, or guns. No need for death when a deterrent is enough to live in relationship.
Deterrents as relationship
told us that the deer in their region have been eating everything in their garden. Unfortunately, a green (pineapple) fence like ours won’t do the trick—the deer could hop right over it. And we’ve heard of many Virginia farmers that spend a fortune on super tall fencing to try to keep deer out (deer can clear a 12 foot fence if they’re motivated enough). Cheaper options include spreading pet hair or even peeing all around the garden, but deer have a good laugh as they walk right by.These problems are not new. Studies of deer-deterrents (even electric fencing) were published as far back as 1939. Today, the market is flooded with sprays, tools, and weapons, all guarantee a deer-free garden, but deer learn to tolerate most deterrents and constantly test for weaknesses in obstacles. In fact, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, “Realistically, deer predation will not be completely eliminated by any method,” and a more achievable goal is a 50 percent reduction.1
Growers are left with few options. Replant the damaged crops and the deer will come back for seconds. Fences and nets work, but are costly and impractical. Offensive smells, noise, lights, and electric-fencing shocks work for only a short time. Chemical repellents must be constantly reapplied. And hunting, while very effective on an individual basis, is a whole other world of permits and processing.
Wouldn’t it be best to leave a peace offering, far away, so that everyone could be happy? Studies confirm that yes, the most affective deterrents are to plant palatable crops that will redirect deer away from the garden, especially when mixed with gentle obstacles surrounding the space.
We don’t have all the answers, but we think there is always a better option than killing animals you have no intention of utilizing for food. Finding deterrents that function in relationship is our priority when it comes to pest control. Gentle obstacles (pineapple plants as green-fencing) and leaving offerings of food (our compost) far away from the garden has worked for us.
