Scared of disease pest! How to prevent?
david fyfe2
Posts: 17
So I have been very unlucky over the last year...I have had campylobacter food poisoning and ecoli 0157! Both these infections have given me chronic fatigue syndrome so I am trying to get back to full health and growing vegetables. My concern is pest and disease. Now I appreciate I may sound paranoid but after ecoli its understandable.
So I can see mice in the garden at night due to the complete mess of the neighbors garden and there compost. I have requested they tidy it up but no such luck. Environmental health wont do anything unless rats are seen. Rats were seen last year but not this year.
Anyway, I am growing broccoli, beetroot, kale, chard, radish, carrots, courgette etc So far I have seen mice, rabbits and hedgehog in the garden and one of them is eating the brocolli big time! I have around 12 broccoli plants growing and the leaves are getting munched! Would this be either of of the pests mentioned? I put wire over the top (not covering completely but they are still getting at it. Maybe its the slugs?
Regardless of what pest I am completely paranoid about eating the veg due to potential risk of disease the pests carry. I like to eat chard and carrots raw and sometimes kale raw but im too paranoid.I know cooking will kill bacteria but id like to eat some of the veg raw. Am I being too paranoid? Should I try get rid of them?
Any advice is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave
Posts
Could be slugs on the kale.
Micromesh netting will keep off butterflies and hence caterpillars, It will deter small mammals if pegged down or buried. With rabbits you may need to use chicken wire to keep them out.
Carrots you can peel. Other veg like chard and kale I would cook if you are concerned about bacteria.
Any veg out of the garden at ground level, I soak in salty water before draining and cooking.
Hello Dave. I can empathise with your concerns, as my one of my nieces suffered from E. coli o157 when she was a lot younger, almost died and has been left with reduced kidney function which she is monitored for regularly. She is now happily married with two lovely children and she readily eats food - raw and cooked from her's and her Dad's garden and also from the farm shop too. I know it will take a quantum leap for you to feel confident about eating your food crops but as long as you exercise care with the washing etc. of your crops you should be absolutely fine. Thinking about you now and wishing you all the very best as you get over your fears.
Thanks everyone for the replies and thanks ladybird4 for the nice message.
im absolutely paranoid about getting ill again after it so will take some time i guess. I see mice, rabbits etc and i instantly google diseases as worried they pass it into my crops. I dont use manure and I got ecoli in winter so it definitely wasnt from my veg!
You can wash the things you want to eat raw in baby bottle sterilizer. Anything you boil will be safe. Wash your hands well and wear gloves.