I Waited 3 Years For This

It begins. I planted my fruit trees three years ago. I dreamed of the day I would taste my first peach. I dreamed of the day I could grow and share fruit trees and plants with my neighbors so they could do the same. I dreamed of the day I could hand fresh peaches to my local food pantry to pay back what they did for me three years ago.

I didn’t realize or dream that I would come up against what I call ‘The Battle of the Squirrel’ three years later.

I’ve soaked myself in books, courses online support groups, consulted with experts. None of them have the perfect answer. In fact, one of them has ‘The Battle of The Bear’ every year. To which, I became grateful for my Battle of the Squirrel and stopped complaining as much.

Because my trees are so small and this is the first year they are bearing a little fruit, I’m exceptionally determined to taste of my labors.

The squirrels didn’t seem to notice or weren’t interested in my plumcot tree. I got a total of four plumcots this year. At least I got to taste something!

I became so desparate that I negotiated with the squirrel. “Listen,” I said. “I am going to put netting around each nectarine and also a second net over this entire Arctic Glo nectarine tree.” The squirrel looked at me from just beyond my property line. “Also,” I continued. “I am NOT going to put netting around this second Arctic Glo nectarine tree. You eat those. Don’t eat the netted one.”

Don’t laugh. You don’t understand unless you’ve tried to grow a peach tree in New England.

I walked away and prayed.

Within 24 hours that squirrel picked the meager 5 or 6 nectarines off the tree I left unnetted. Weirdly enough, it’s been about a week and it has left the netted tree completely alone.

Have I found the answer so I can continue to grow and share my delicious harvests with my community? Only time will tell. We still have three weeks left until they are ripe. I’ll keep you posted.