Homeowner cultivates vegetable garden in front yard, neighbor decides to harvest the produce: 'We are not a community garden'

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  via Mary Jane Duford

  _{A woman tends to mature vegetable plants in her yard. Models for explanatory purposes only.}  
   

• A homeowner had spent several years cultivating a vegetable garden in her front yard, as their house was on a small lot. It was something that her household was very proud of, and it yielded a good harvest.

  However, she was facing an ongoing issue with a neighbor who had decided that he was allowed to take their produce without asking first. He would take what he wanted, and then tell her about it afterwards. Sick of dealing with his thievery, she pondered what the best course of action was.

• My front garden is not a community garden!!!!

  I moved into a house and each year since I've been expanding my front yard vegetable garden as much as possible because I love cooking and preserving foods.

  The front yard is really the only space available since the lot is so small (50x80 ft).

  I am proud of my garden (I get tons of compliments) and it provides enough for my family and occasionally some to give away to friends and extended family. (My dad did the same thing - he'd have hand-deliver produce on my bike as a kid miles down the road to our country neighbors and invite friends and family to pick as much excess tomatoes and peppers as they could carry home at the end of the season after we canned as much as we could fit in our pantry)

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  via Sincerely Media

  _{Green produce growing on a vine. Image depicted solely for explanatory purposes.}
   

• However, this year, an older gentleman who lives in a shared rental house down the street has decided he can snag our produce at his leisure and "ask" for forgiveness later - which is him leaving a message on our ring doorbell saying he appreciates us, he only took so much, and that he left us some.

  We are not a community garden! We are not a free-for-all! You don't just take without asking!

  I understand it's within arms reach but that doesn't mean you can have it!

  If he had asked before helping himself I would be a lot less angry. I love the feeling of helping others but have some manners.

  _SuperDump101

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  via Mary Jane Duford

  _{A woman wearing gardening gloves inspects her tomato vines. Not actual story subjects.}

• I had a neighbor like this, and in all seriousness you need to nip this in the bud. She got to the point that she barely left anything for me - picking tomatoes that were barely ripe, etc. Really leaning in to the whole "I'm a little old lady and I really appreciate your generosity" angle.

  I would get a sign made that says "this is not a community garden. Please do not help yourself. If you are in need please contact me and I can drop off our extras!"

  Do it soon before he assumes that he's grandfathered and can do whatever he wants.

  _Calliope719

  You have to directly tell him you are not a community garden and do not appreciate him helping himself. Yes, he will try to make you feel guilty. Don't let him. He's wrong and knows it.

  _{MrsLisaOliver}

  I had a neighbour like this and even after talking to him he kept doing it. He had to come pretty far into my front yard to get to the garden so I just sprayed him with the hose and never saw him again.

  He was also a racoon, but I'm sure it would work on an old man too.

  _{Kingofcheeses}

  Had a neighbor go into my (fenced-in!) backyard and all but clear my vegetable garden. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, lettuces, even melons and strawberries. There was barely anything left. She was on camera so I confronted her.  She gave me the whole “they looked so good,” “I left you some!” and “you should be more neighborly.”

  I was beyond angry. A couple days later I went to her front yard and clipped most of her blooms. Made sure to do it when she was home. When she came out screaming at me I repeated everything she had said to me just days earlier and happily trotted home. Never saw her in my yard again. 

  I put her flowers in arrangements and placed the vases in my front bay window. 

  KillberrryMunch

   

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  via Eileen Kummer

  _{A hand picking ripe tomatoes from a vine. Not actual story subjects.}
   

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