Discussions

Hello, I'm a gardener who rents out a couple of plots at one of the local community gardens. Since June I've been growing a variety of plants and since June there has been a steady stream of vandalizim.  
I have had plants pulled out (so they actually die..), mounds stomped on (can see the foot prints in the dirt..) now my gardening buddy and I have just had a bunch of cucumbers stolen, half of my cayenne pepper plant pre maturely plucked (except for one beautiful red pepper I was going to pick today..), the fences we've built around our plots to try and combat this have been pretty well destroyed with pieces missing (fence posts - which means it's not the deer...)  
 
Now I do realize the deer have gotten some lettuce and such but I can also defiantly tell people who leave foot prints and leave clean cuts on our plants with knives. AND I KNOW A DAMN DEER WOULDNT EAT 10 CAYENNE PEPPERS (those things are HOT).  
 
So please teach your kids proper etiquette and the grown ups taking my produce, can you PLEASE GROW UP. I work very hard all summer to have this produce for myself/family since we don't have the luxury of having a yard for a personal garden... If you asked me I would probably most likely let you have some produce, but stealing it from me kinda breaks my heart...  
 
I realize it's a public place and there's little I can do to thwart the threat of people stealing but I know myself I would never take anyone's produce....so please have the same respect for others!  
 
Thank you for listening to my rant.  

I had a community plot years ago, and quit because it kept getting vandalised. They would pull up entire rows of stuff (and it wasn't an animal unless they wore size 10 Nike sneakers).  
 
The immaturity of some people astounds me.

Maybe a rural farmer or someone with an acreage would rent you space to have your plot next year...might have to drive a little bit out of the city..but might be worth it...or a co-op type garden...??

Its not right that the OP needs to go out of Brandon to grow their garden!  
 
How about this? If its not yours, don't take it!  
 

This makes me really sad! Gardeners take so much pride in the things they grow, and to have them taken so that they cannot see the rewards of their work and patience is really upsetting!  
 
I am sorry that your veggies are going missing!

Makes me sad as well. I'm sorry your gardens are being destroyed and rifled through. What's wrong with some people!

gardens. I have to bring ripening tomatoes in the house to finish ripening or else some thief steals them  
 
Buggers!!

Maybe try growing blackberries or raspberries around the outside as a prickly deterrent...?

It was Winnipeg they would steal the dirt as well so you are better off???

This person shouldn't have to defend their gardens this way. It makes me sick to think people are so damned destructive when a family just wants to have some fresh produce and puts a lot if work into maintaining it.

Johnbisonbear said "gardens. I have to bring ripening tomatoes in the house to finish ripening or else some thief steals them     Buggers!! "

For the last few years we've had to bring in vegetables prematurely because ripe ones go missing. Plants get pulled up and left to die. Pots, etc sprout legs and structures get damaged.  
 
Law enforcement won't allow a property owners to protect what is theirs and the city by-laws on fence height restrictions is ridiculous.  
 
We don't leave anything outside that we don't want to lose. The yard is bare. I think when I retire, I'll let the entire yard to go weeds

are you allowed to put electric fencing along your property fences? Might help...of course you'd sign it as such.

Son-Rea said "are you allowed to put electric fencing along your property fences? Might help...of course you'd sign it as such. "

No you are not.

I live outside of Brandon, within a 10 minute drive, and being a person who values healthy eating myself, was wondering if others would like the chance to grow a garden in a rural setting whereas it would be highly unlikely of being vandalized? Just wondered, any thoughts out there on this idea?