Even the slugs in Oregon are beer snobs

This year I got around to planting my vegetable garden early. Usually, I don't get around to it until mid-June, but this year, I was at it in early May! Because I was so early, I figured I could start with seeds. When I get going late, I usually buy started plants so that I can get some yield before fall (we haven't got the longest growing season here).

I planted my seeds and about 1 week later, I saw the sprouts. I was so excited. I found some beer that I had and put it out in the garden in old margarine containers to catch slugs. It was a nice beer - Bachelor Bitter by Deschutes, if you're interested. I felt bad "wasting" the beer on the slugs, but it's what I had and I certainly wanted to protect my plants. Those slugs love to eat baby plants.

My beer catchers were successful. I had slugs-a-plenty in the cups every day. Then, I ran out of the beer, so I went to the store. I didn't want to spend good money on good beer just to get some slugs drunk, so I bought some cheap stuff. I put it out in the cups and DANG IT! The slugs don't like it. They are eating my plants and largely ignoring the beer. Some of the slugs like it - mostly the small, young ones, but the big, old ones know better. Argh.

Perhaps I'll conduct a formal experiment to see if indeed slugs in Oregon are beer snobs. You are welcome to send me grant money for this experiment. All funds will be used to buy beer :) Ha ha!