New Definition of Companion Planting

[valkerri]

I use a low-maintenance, low-chemical method of gardening referred to as "companion planting." Basically, you intersperce flowers, herbs, and perennials in your vegetable garden. You also mix-up the vegetables -- tomatoes with carrots, potatoes next to beans, etc. The idea is that you don't get too much of any one plant in a group so insect pests get confused. Or, at least bugs won't rampage through the entire crop of any one vegetable because the various crops are broken up into smaller plots.

Anyway, this morning I found some bugs on my potatoes. So, instead of running for the bug killer, I thought I'd give a couple of my 2-month old chickens a chance at them. Our quarter-acre garden area is all fenced, so I thought I'd take a couple of the chickens out with me while I weeded and see what they would do.

We brought two out to start. But, they really weren't comfortable until I brought out a third one.

Well, they didn't eat the bugs I wanted them to. However, I have never had so much fun weeding my garden. The "kids" were so interested in my weeding, they actually got in my way a couple of times. The whole time I was out there, they never strayed more than about 5 feet away from me. And their sweet peeps and chirps were about the nicest, most soothing sound.

This is now my new definition of "companion planting."

 

[messmaker]

THAT sounds like a wonderful weeding time! I am daydreaming with two small children running and screaming around me, how wonderful it sounds to be in the garden with sweet little peeps!

 

[damselfish]

Sometimes you have to show them the bugs a few times before they get the idea. Put one on your hand and let them come try it, like a mama hen showing them new food.