Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Spontaneous wildlife sightings are some of rural living’s greatest rewards. A brief unexpected appearance can turn a bad day around. Bear, deer, raccoon and fox are our closest neighbors. They are adorable, especially their young. They love to eat grapes, and they add a good deal of stress at harvest time.

The only way that we can live in harmony is to build a good fence. That was done in the 1980’s here at Hardscrabble. Deer were the problem and a six-strand electric fence run by battery worked. (This was before solar, and before we had access to power on the farm).

Our simple fence has morphed many times and expanded as the vineyard has enlarged. The deer figured out that a quick shock was worth the reward of all you can eat grapes. Raccoons, possums, skunks and fox all joined in the feast. Bear populations and territory expanded. Our simple fence was no longer adequate. There were some vines that were 15 years old that were never harvested (by us).

This fall we have taken down the original fence (all 6,000 feet). It is being replaced with a design that in theory will keep every creature in eastern North America out of the vineyard. It had better, given the scale and expense of this project, which will take us several months to complete. Right now any and all animals have free access to the vineyard, which is OK, as there is nothing left for them to eat.

Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: November 6, 2019