Washington Home & Garden Blogs

By the Tomato Warrior

I had the opportunity to hear how Maryland judge Steve Johnson dealt with his deer problem and realized he used a strategy that Caesar had used to conquer the Gauls at Alesia in 52 BC. 

Judge Johnson knew that deer were prolific jumpers in a way that any Olympian would envy.

Caesar's Angels by Mihay.

Consequently instead of building one high fence that the deer may end up jumping over anyway, he surrounded his garden with two fences. This dissuaded the deer from ravaging his garden.

Interestingly, this is how Caesar conquered Gaul. Caesar surrounded the Gauls lead by their chief Vercingetorix on their hill top fortress on Mount Auxois in France. The Roman leader then constructed entrenchments (circumvallation) to keep the surrounded Gauls from breaking out.

Caesar hoped this siege would starve the Gauls into submission. However, the Gallic Chieftain Vercingetorix ordered the Gallic tribes outside the fortification to attack Caesar. Most military leaders would drop their siege and retreat in the face of this threat to their rear.

However, this rogue leader was not giving up any more than Judge Johnson would abandon his prized tomatoes to the native deer! 

Caesar built a second set of fortifications facing outward (contravallation) to keep the Gauls out. The Romans repulsed several coordinated and uncoordinated attacks from Gauls to break in and break out thus successfully maintaining their siege.

In spite of being outnumbered by 5 to 1, Roman engineering, discipline and determination won out and Gaul became part of the Roman empire (at great cost to the Gauls I am afraid).

As you face the daunting task of protecting your tomatoes while being greatly outnumbered by the deer, take inspiration from this idea that two fences may be better than one!