Slugs. I mean, really, what can you say? They are awful, slimy creatures that are taking over everything...and, I did something the other day I never thought I'd do...but I am getting ahead of myself.
Let's start with this evil little creature...just fat and happy, eating my tomato.
In Portland, we are always battling slugs...it is a part of life...this guy is small. Often, I find the larger slugs decimating my lettuce.
But what's different here is that this guy climbed up the tomato plant and grabbed this tomato.
In fact, many of my tomatoes had slugs. I can't say I have ever known these voracious eaters to climb up a weirdly textured plant like a tomato to get to their dinner.
Yet, there they were...all over my end of summer (ok, let's face it, fall) tomatoes.
I don't know...I feel sort of apathetic about the whole thing. Early in the season, I use the pick and stomp method and WorryFree to keep these dudes at bay. But now, I feel less inclined to kill.
And actually, I did the unthinkable 2 days ago. We had spent the day harvesting fall bounty and had buckets of produce everywhere (check out the grape escape on Portland Foodie). I hurriedly cleaned and stored most of it, with the odd tomato or grape left in a bucket or two.
That evening, it rained. When I went out the next morning, there was a tiny slug sitting on a tomato, holding his little feelers and face above water...the rest of him was submerged.
What do you think I did? Yes, that's right, I picked up the tomato and put the slug in the lawn. I don't like the lawn anyway, and would be just as happy without it, but I digress.
I just couldn't watch the little dude drown. Would I use soapy water or beer or salt or any number of things (including squishing) to kill him on any other day? Yes. Could I stand by and do nothing while he drowned? No.
I don't know...it seems like it is less then fair play to kill the slug that way. Really, they are my most worthy opponents in the garden and winning by default, well, it felt less than honorable.
I know, you all will write in and tell me I am a nut...but I couldn't override my heart...and that connection, from my heart to my garden, is what I love about my time outside. And when the season is closing, I am more tender, more sentimental...and I honor that.
So, go free, little slug...'cause when I find you again in the spring, you will be sleeping with the fishes!




