I went back to that bare area just now, where I had scraped off giant weeds a few days ago, and dug in a few different places. There is still the distinct soaked top like a crust, consistent all over, but it does seem like deeper down some places are damper than others. The area is flat, but of course on a scale of feet there are places higher or lower by a few inches. Then I dug into the bahia sod in a few places, and one would be hard pressed to imagine that there was heavy rain recently. Due to the total diffusion of the root-mass, though, it seems that the moisture spreads more evenly in a heavy sod. And yes, of course other places like mulch around trees with high OM were much more wet.

Insects that might be attracted to Kale might not be attracted to tomatoes or beans, depending on which ones. That insects did bother yur Kale indicates there may be a soil nutrient, or soil pH problem. Get a soil test done on that raised bed soil before doing much of anything else. Think about the growing conditions in that raised bed over the winter. Too wet, too dry, good air circulation, no air circulation, what might heve made those plants attrctive the that insect pest. Aphids maybe?

I live on the inside of a developement where all the lots are 2-3 acres. The development is surrounded by farmers fields. We are in the woods the farmers did not bother trying to clear. Deer are seldom seen on the outside of the circle. With the roaming dogs we have, etc. it is not deer. Besides the SS is "extra" in my hosta garden. Not one of the hosta has been snacked on. If I lived on tbe outside of the circle I would believe it.

The movie is available on line....the kitchen at 14:09. Here is a link that might be useful: celtic riddle