ah deer!!!

[Martha27]

We just spent all weekend planting a huge garden and we have deer already tramping through nibbling on my just sprouted chard!! We live in a rented farm house with fields and woods all around so I don't see what they need our garden goodies for!! We have a very large garden, probably about 100'X40 ish?? and do not have the money for fencing that in with the suggested 8 foot deer fence. What else can we do?? would just some simple fencing like doubled up electric fence work? we wouldn't be able to afford to keep it plugged in and "on" but would that be enough to deter them?? the garden is about 500' from the house behind a barn and we can't see it from the house which means the deer dont see our house or hear a lot of commotion from the house either. I'm sure this doesnt help we also dont have any animals like dogs to lend their sent and pee! would that help though? we could have the nieghbors dogs come over for a visit and stroll around our garden.
I need suggestions please

[HeatherAtHome]

I went with the deer fence. Cedar posts were 4-4.50 each, 8 feet apart. Then 6 ft tall chicken wire. Total cost: Priceless. Kidding , about $250. All the work and energy I've put into the garden so far and what I hope to accomplish with it, I'd never chance it that a deer won't come around. DH didn't want to fence but soon learned it's the way to go by asking around.

But I know that having a dog near the garden helps. I'm not sure if just having it's scent there would help, he might actually need to BE there to bark when anything comes near.

Also, I've heard about putting an electric fence nose high to a deer. For extra insurance, add some peanut butter so that they lick it, realize it will give a shock and stay away. I know, not nice and not something I'm going to try!

There are other suggestions you can find online like planting certain flowers/herbs around that deer don't like or making some sort of deer away by using rotten eggs or hanging bars of soap or hair clippings scattered around. I've heard that they don't always work.

Really, I'd go for a true deer fence or dog. Not to mention, once your garden gets bigger you might have other animals in it like raccoons, especially if you're planting corn.

Sorry!