Argh! Evil slugs ate my beans!

[zazen999]

Seriously? Take the whole thing out. I love stamping on snails - ask Zazen

*shivers...yes she does.

But you grow a mean cucumber plant - just making a net for mine to grow up as it's already got harvestable cukes on it...well, 2 of them have. Marvelous

[binley100]

*blows a raspberry at Zaz .............

[Rabidbun]

I've got a strange image in my brain now of whack-a-mole but with snails!

In my defence I had expected slugs, it was dark and the teething 9 month old was about to waken! The snails also may have giggled at me when I tried to cut them in two in a sleep deprived attempt at logic... after all, they are half slug!?

[eirish]

Thank you Zaz, I was started to think that I was odd

Heaven forbid we should let you think *that*.

(Should this go on that other thread?)

I tried snipping a slug and decided that was even more disgusting than squishing them. Bashing 'em with a trowel on a stone works best for me so far. I don't like the way they squash underfoot, bleurgh.

Snails get rehomed far far away in the woods generally. I have a bit of a soft spot for snails. (does that make me odd too? )

[veggiechicken]

Heaven forbid we should let you think *that*.
(Should this go on that other thread?)

I have a bit of a soft spot for snails. (does that make me odd too?

Its OK, eirish, I know you are one of the few here who understand me Sorry!!!
I'd rehome all the slugs and snails if I could think of somewhere where they could live out their lives peacefully - that is without me shouting at them when they've eaten all my cucurbits - but lets not go there!
They must have a role to play in our gardens and stomping and snipping them seems so ungrateful somehow.

[binley100]

If they would only stay in the compost bin and not wander ...........

[veggiechicken]

So its a compost bin with a moat...........

[Rabidbun]

... or froggie and thrush guards.

[veggiechicken]

That sounds like a medical condition.............

[eirish]

Its OK, eirish, I know you are one of the few here who understand me Sorry!!!

I'm not sure whether to be flattered or insulted...

[Two_Sheds]

I'd rehome all the slugs and snails if I could think of somewhere where they could live out their lives peacefully

You could make them an island home with a moat: Bob Flowerdew mentioned it, but I can't find any links because he's not really "on" the internet

[Florence Fennel]

You two becoming Buddhists? Back of a trowel when you get about 10 in a huddle, most satisfying. I too am on my fourth sowing of some things and on the verge of giving up. I have nicknamed them snugs, but there are far more snails than slugs in my garden.

[rustylady]

I give up! They've now eaten all the purple tepee french beans. BARSTEWARDS!!!

[veggiechicken]

I don't want to start a debate on this but if a snail or a slug were much larger, say the size of a cat or dog, and someone stamped it to death, or cut it in half, then a lot of folk would want to do the same to them. And this is my problem, even though snugs are small, and pests, they are still living creatures that feel pain - and I just can't inflict pain on anything. So I'm searching for a humane way to deal with them, to salve my conscience. If I have to stop growing tender veg or grow them in different ways, I will, just because I believe in live and let live as far as I can.
As you were, standing down and backing off

[Samurailord]

But a if a snail or slug were the size of a dog, and ate proportionately as much a 'regular' sized one does then we would have eradicated them long since - just look at wild boar.

They used to be plentiful, then as we moved to a farming lifestyle from hunter/gatherer they were hunted down, not just for their meat, but also to protect the crops we grew.

I have no problem with anyone who wants to be humane with their pests - but mine will still get salt water swimming lessons.

Andy