Dan's Papers - June 22, 2007 - Dear Deer, Go Away!

How frustrating has it become to live and garden on the East End of Long Island? For the past thirty years I've been coming out to the Hamptons and I must say some things are getting increasingly difficult. I remember all the potato farms, various restaurants and businesses that have changed over the years but the most irritating and constant problem has to be the growth and evolution of the deer population and the lack of fear and regard for our home boundaries.

I remember how all of our friends and neighbors would try to out brag each other over things like never needing air conditioning, I have perfect cross breezes and get the best ventilation possible or what, me buy vegetables, no way, I grow them in my garden or being able to walk into any of the restaurants in the Hamptons and sit down at a table right away.

Over the last ten or so years I think we've adjusted to many different aspects of change in the Hamptons. There are huge gorgeous homes where many of the potato farms used to be, very, very expensive restaurants with no guarantee you'll be seated within two hours of your reservation, the constant flow of traffic on Montauk Highway at any time of the day, but the most frustrating and somewhat dangerous problem is our ever expanding deer population.

Last winter I was driving from Westhampton to East Hampton to our friends home. While on Route 27 and Noyac Road we saw many deer on the side of the road, but the scariest moment came while on Springs Road going around a bend we saw what looked like a family reunion, maybe as many as 15 deer, all sizes and shapes just staring at us in the middle of the road as if they were saying - what, you're trespassing on our home turf!

During the winter an old business friend of my husband contacted us to introduce his new business venture in upper Westchester - custom raised bed flower and vegetable gardens that protect against deer and critters from jumping in and burrowing up into the gardens. It was as if a light bulb appeared over my head, what an ideal concept for the East End.

Packing up the SUV and mapping out our destination my husband and I set out for South Salem, NY to the home and headquarters of Teich Garden Systems to gaze upon this incredibly wonderful solution to the home gardener's worst nightmares - deer and critters.

South Salem is beautifully situated with woods and nearby Darien, CT boasts many waterfront homes much like our Hamptons.

We met with Jamie Friedman, my husband's old business friend, and his partner and founder of Teich Garden Systems, Mark Teich.

Jamie and Mark showed us some fabulous photos of gardens they had built at various homes and schools in N.Y. and CT.

Later in the day we drove around and visited some of the gardens they built, but the one that struck me the most was a school garden where off to the side was a young girl in one of the corners of the garden reading amongst the flowers. After saying our hellos, she proudly remarked with pride, "My first grade class planted these flowers, aren't they pretty?"

I saw first hand how these gardens have become an outdoor classroom where the students learn not only how to plant and harvest a garden but they also have a hands on experience that shows them vegetables can be a tasty and healthy alternative snack instead of candy or cake.

Seeing first hand how easy and joyful gardening could be once again, I've come back to the Hamptons as the East End sales representative for Teich Garden Systems knowing I can offer at least one thing from the past, a home garden of various sizes where flowers and vegetables can grow bountiful.

The opportunity for a fabulous, carefree and enjoyable garden can be yours by calling Sandi at (631) 298-7327 or by visiting www.TeichGardenSystems.com.