QOTD: Deer Visit Garden in Winter - Will My Harvest Be Safe to Eat?

A client sent me this question via e-mail (edited for clarity). My answer follows:

Dear Paul, 

Around mid-October each year, I give up on my garden, till or rake away all vegetation and plant annual ryegrass.  I also take down the fencing that helps keep the deer out during the growing season so I can more easily till and plant the garden the following spring.  I do not mow the ryegrass and it grows tall and becomes green manure for next year’s garden.

I’ve noticed in the last two days with all the snow that the deer are eating the tips of the tall ryegrass coming through the snow in my garden.  I’ve also noticed an abundance of deer feces on the white snow in the area.  

QOTD: How Do I Choose a Consulting Forester?

I received this inquiry today. It has been edited for clarity, and by "edited for clarity" I mean "completely fabricated."

Dear Paul,

I am writing to you because your wisdom and advice is so highly regarded throughout the land. I have some timber to sell, and I have learned that a Registered Consulting Forester can provide invaluable assistance to me in navigating that process. I was directed to the North Carolina Forest Service website to obtain a list of consulting foresters that work in my county. However, the list contains dozens of names! How do I choose?

Sincerely,

Mr. N. D. Cision