On Sun, 21 Jul 2019 07:54:54 -0700 (PDT), GM
> wrote:

>Gary wrote:
>
>> wrote:
>
><SNIP Gary's corn for critters discussion>
>
>> Also curious...you plant trees for show all the time. Why didn't
>> you plant some fruit trees back when you first bought the
>> property? At least a couple of apple trees and maybe other fruit
>> or nut trees. You could have at least turned your back pasture
>> into producing good treats instead of another giant lawn that you
>> have to mow yet never see.
>
>Fruit trees are a real "task" to maintain, in a rural area one can find plenty of seasonal fresh fruit at farmer's markets, from neighbors, etc....

Fruit trees require tremendous maintenence, pruning every fall is a
pain, and there is no such thing as organic fruit trees, they all
require chemical spraying as they are very susceptible to all sorts of
molds and rusts, and then all the insects.
If I planted corn without fencing the critters would eat the seedlings
as soon as they germinated... corn plants would need to be fenced and
netted or the crows would eat the seedlings.... crows and other birds
dig up the corn seeds unless I lay down chicken wire... without
fencing deer would eat the young plants well bebore they produced any
corn, deer consider young plants grass It's obvious to me that you
never had a vegetable garden, or any kind of garden.
Why should I plant corn when I can drive 5 minutes up the road to the
vast corn fields and buy all I want for like 25¢ an ear. I don't buy
much corn anyway, it's not my favorite... most years I don't buy more
than six ears, some years none, I'm happy with an occasional can of
niblets.

We only plant crops that are unavailable fresh at market, like
tomatoes, cukes, melons, squash, greens, etc., about two more weeks
for fresh Swiss chard.