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You may have noticed a curious addition to our tomato beds this week: compact discs. They are an experiment to try to deter the birds from eating our tomatoes.

The trouble started when our first full-size tomatoes ripened. We showed up at the garden expecting to pick ripe tomatoes, only to find all the ripe ones already partially eaten.

We suspected squirrels, raccoons or bunnies. Then we began to wonder if the ever-present birds might be the culprits.

The presence of birds is generally a delight in the garden. Yet, we definitely draw the line at deeding them our tomato crop.

We're not the first to keep birds from their garden with CDs dangling from strings. It's generally acknowledged that their movement in the breeze and reflectivity can make birds uncomfortable enough to stay away from adjacent food crops.

At the very least, they should make for interesting conversation.

Update 8/28: The CDs have made a noticeable difference. A few additional tomatoes have been damaged, but the remainder of the crop has been beautiful!

[Oakes Plimpton is a founder and now member emeritus of the group. He still comes by on some afternoons to open the garden to visitors, as he did Tuesday.]

Amazingly, it turns out Coyotes are feasting on watermelons out there in farm country, and on occasion even corn. One knew about raccoons, but coyotes?

I agree on birds being the culprit respecting our tomatoes, looked that way especially on one tomato.

With 3 kids, I held a raffle (number between one and ten) for a cherry tomato. Gave them another one to split. Showed two young cucumber fans our tiny cukes. Lots of honey bees on the herbs, some kids afraid.

People from everywhere: Korea, Ukraine, Greece (kid showed me the Greek X), Mexico, grandparents from Larchmont, L.I. Everyone interested in the garden and how it works.

Mexican woman lived near the Sea of Cortez, so I told her about my journals, and she knew about Maria Sabina, the Currendera! To market my book now, I’m renting it for a dollar 1957 Expeditions Journal iUniverse 2013, so let me know if you’re interested.

Picking up cigarette butts walking back by the viewing oval, thought to ask a Vietnamese man counting beads what he was up to. “Meditating.” he said, “Do you?” “Well, I take Yoga classes.” I replied. Then he showed me a number of a.m. Yoga exercises!

To life — Oakes