Here's the deal - being the nature-hugging, plant-loving and animal crazy nerd that I am, I want to establish an edible, permaculture forest garden on family land. But I am having a really difficult time trying to think of edibles that the wild fauna isn't going to wreck - or more specifically, that the local wild boar aren't going to uproot and gobble down before I have a chance to harvest. Legumes, grains, most vegetables and root veggies like potatoes are definitely ruled out.
The main focus of this food garden is going to be some already existing hazelnut brushes that I'm pruning into tree shapes, so I want the rest of the plants to fall into shrub and lower categories. Thus far I'm thinking about currants, heather, elderberry, raspberries (they grow wild nearby and I haven't seen them disturbed by the boar) and European cranberries (blueberries and lingonberry would work too but they already grow in the area and I don't need to plant more). I live in a temperate climate so they need to be able to grow and produce even with cold winters. I'd also prefer to avoid plants that aren't native to Europe, the last thing I want is an invasive plant crisis on my hand.
Any tips?
Here's the deal - being the nature-hugging, plant-loving and animal crazy nerd that I am, I want to establish an edible, permaculture forest garden on family land. But I am having a really difficult time trying to think of edibles that the wild fauna isn't going to wreck - or more specifically, that the local wild boar aren't going to uproot and gobble down before I have a chance to harvest. Legumes, grains, most vegetables and root veggies like potatoes are definitely ruled out.
The main focus of this food garden is going to be some already existing hazelnut brushes that I'm pruning into tree shapes, so I want the rest of the plants to fall into shrub and lower categories. Thus far I'm thinking about currants, heather, elderberry, raspberries (they grow wild nearby and I haven't seen them disturbed by the boar) and European cranberries (blueberries and lingonberry would work too but they already grow in the area and I don't need to plant more). I live in a temperate climate so they need to be able to grow and produce even with cold winters. I'd also prefer to avoid plants that aren't native to Europe, the last thing I want is an invasive plant crisis on my hand.
Any tips?
I know you're looking for shrubs, but if you're open to smaller things, wood sorrel might work. It's frequently mistaken for clover, the whole thing is edible (even the seed pods), it tastes like lemons, and I don't think the boar will take much interest. The only possible problem is eating too much, it can cause kidney disease in high quantities. I wouldn't worry though, I've been eating it my whole life and I've never had kidney problems.
I know you're looking for shrubs, but if you're open to smaller things, wood sorrel might work. It's frequently mistaken for clover, the whole thing is edible (even the seed pods), it tastes like lemons, and I don't think the boar will take much interest. The only possible problem is eating too much, it can cause kidney disease in high quantities. I wouldn't worry though, I've been eating it my whole life and I've never had kidney problems.
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Finnley
I'm afraid you're out of luck there. Pigs are omnivorous, and dangerous on top of that. Your best bet is a good strong fence around your garden, maybe electric if you can afford it.
I looked on an animal control website and it suggests strong plastic mesh. It might be unsightly though, so I dint know how you feel about that.
I'm also making these suggestions on the assumption that you are not like my family, who would just eat them XD
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Finnley
I'm afraid you're out of luck there. Pigs are omnivorous, and dangerous on top of that. Your best bet is a good strong fence around your garden, maybe electric if you can afford it.
I looked on an animal control website and it suggests strong plastic mesh. It might be unsightly though, so I dint know how you feel about that.
I'm also making these suggestions on the assumption that you are not like my family, who would just eat them XD
Hugs? Hugs!
Yeah I'm with @
Kanestiel, I can't think of much that wild boar won't eat, or won't destroy on their way to getting to tastier things. Fencing of some sort would probably be more useful.
Yeah I'm with @
Kanestiel, I can't think of much that wild boar won't eat, or won't destroy on their way to getting to tastier things. Fencing of some sort would probably be more useful.
Thirding Kanestiel, unless you're going to stick with trees, which you don't seem to want. You're better off finding some way to fence out or deter the boars.
Thirding Kanestiel, unless you're going to stick with trees, which you don't seem to want. You're better off finding some way to fence out or deter the boars.
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Kanestiel I'll absolutely eat a boar every now and then xD But they're not invasive here - just regular old European wild boar in regular old Europe, and I definitely don't want to kill 'em all. The land owners here appreciate them for the digging they do, it has a lot of ecological benefit. Sadly, I won't be allowed to fence the area like that either, it's protected as cultural heritage for a couple of miles around. And they run straight through the electric fences...
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Amazonite I'll definitely be looking at that, thanks! Now when you mention it I've seen a lot of sorrel in the area go untouched, so it might be something that the boar aren't interested in.
What about plants like dandelions or Orchis Militaris, flowers with less nutritional value than vegetables? Would they stay away from stinging nettles or anything with thorns? What about tobacco or other medicinals? @
Rhea @
Dinogrrl
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Kanestiel I'll absolutely eat a boar every now and then xD But they're not invasive here - just regular old European wild boar in regular old Europe, and I definitely don't want to kill 'em all. The land owners here appreciate them for the digging they do, it has a lot of ecological benefit. Sadly, I won't be allowed to fence the area like that either, it's protected as cultural heritage for a couple of miles around. And they run straight through the electric fences...
@
Amazonite I'll definitely be looking at that, thanks! Now when you mention it I've seen a lot of sorrel in the area go untouched, so it might be something that the boar aren't interested in.
What about plants like dandelions or Orchis Militaris, flowers with less nutritional value than vegetables? Would they stay away from stinging nettles or anything with thorns? What about tobacco or other medicinals? @
Rhea @
Dinogrrl
I don't know about edible plants... but the way to control the boar is to hunt them. They're fast learners - shoot a boar or two in that garden, and the rest will know to stay away. Just for the love of Talos, don't shoot any mother sows unless you want her stupid and confused piglets (in boar, common sense and self preservation is taught by the mothers and aunties) to loiter around your garden. Then you'll have to shoot them all, because they WILL NOT LEAVE unless they're adopted by another, wiser sow and led away from there. Lure them in with something they can't resist, like corn or peas, and they'll show up if the winds are in your favor. You can start this well before you begin the garden, provided boar are in season and legal to hunt. They'll still know that the area is dangerous. Live traps will also more or less work, but they can be expensive.
If you don't like hunting, and we're talking pure European boar and not those crazy mix breeds of North America, you can use a dog to some success. As long as the boar haven't been wildly hunted in the area using dogs, they'll turn tail by the time it begins barking at them. If they've been hunted already, they might have learned to attack dogs in self defense though and then your dog is in serious trouble, so do some research.
I don't know about edible plants... but the way to control the boar is to hunt them. They're fast learners - shoot a boar or two in that garden, and the rest will know to stay away. Just for the love of Talos, don't shoot any mother sows unless you want her stupid and confused piglets (in boar, common sense and self preservation is taught by the mothers and aunties) to loiter around your garden. Then you'll have to shoot them all, because they WILL NOT LEAVE unless they're adopted by another, wiser sow and led away from there. Lure them in with something they can't resist, like corn or peas, and they'll show up if the winds are in your favor. You can start this well before you begin the garden, provided boar are in season and legal to hunt. They'll still know that the area is dangerous. Live traps will also more or less work, but they can be expensive.
If you don't like hunting, and we're talking pure European boar and not those crazy mix breeds of North America, you can use a dog to some success. As long as the boar haven't been wildly hunted in the area using dogs, they'll turn tail by the time it begins barking at them. If they've been hunted already, they might have learned to attack dogs in self defense though and then your dog is in serious trouble, so do some research.
