WATCH: No counting crows this year, just melons at Rappahannock Education Farm

July 30, 2026 - 12:58

Last year, the Rappahannock Education Farm learned a hard lesson about wildlife. The crows won. They swooped in, pecked at the young plants, and made off with a good portion of the season's crops. It was a frustrating loss for the farm, which relies on those harvests for its educational programs and community food shares.

This year, the farm tried something different. Instead of fighting the birds with nets or noise, they switched up the planting plan. The result is a field full of melons. Watermelons, cantaloupes, and honeydews now sprawl across the beds where corn and other vulnerable crops once stood. The crows, it turns out, have little interest in melons. The thick rinds and heavy fruits are not worth their trouble.

Farm manager Sarah Jenkins said the change was a gamble, but it paid off. "We needed a crop that could stand up to the pressure," she explained. "Melons are tough. They sit low to the ground, and the birds just don't bother them." The farm also planted sunflowers along the edges, which act as a distraction crop. The crows prefer the sunflower seeds, leaving the melons alone.

Visitors to the farm this week found rows of green and striped melons ripening in the sun. Some were already being picked for a local food bank. Jenkins said the farm plans to keep the melon strategy for at least another season. "We learned our lesson," she said. "You can't outsmart a crow. But you can change what you grow."