It looks like we might have some showers tomorrow, but at least it looks like it will be warmer.
Rain or shine, we’ll be in the garden with tools and wheelbarrows for anyone who wants to come and top off beds and put down wood chips. We’ll also be hosting our Internship Program Orientation from Noon to 2, so the tools will still be available while that’s going on.
Come on out and meet our 2011 class of Garden Interns, get a start on your garden, and help out on our overall garden projects.
See you in the garden!
Project Day
Saturday, May 21
9AM to Noon
WE NEED HELP! Hello my fellow community friends & neighbors: You may have seen me out in the gardens or outside my home. My home faces the garden. I have labeled my family and I the “Garden Police”. We really have had to police the Kilbourn Park for the last two years now. This is no joke. The problems are vast.
People are continually stealing the crops. This happens ALL throughout the summertime. Last year I spent over $40.00 dollars on plants. I worked hard planting, weeding, watering them and caring for them – even placed a flag in the corner of my bed to identify it from afar. When it was time for harvesting, all my good veggies were gone!! People have continued to steal other people’s crops right in front of our eyes. When approached by a member of my family, they have used vulgar language, saying things I can’t even repeat! They have thrown tomatoes among other items at our house and blatantly lied to us, saying things like -”Look around, there’s plenty of free stuff for everyone!” or “My church sent me here.” “I didn’t know this wasn’t free.”
I am quite sure those of you who have a garden bed have certainly felt this loss. There must be a way we can keep those who do not have an assigned garden bed “OUT” of the area. Some people have said to us, “It looks free to anyone who wants it! ” as they walk away with their bags filled. They continue to ignore our pleas to just leave the area and not steal the items. They ignore our concerns and questions; they just run around from one bed to another, taking whatever they please. People have been in the gardens with actual grocery bags in-hand, filling them up with whatever they want! One can certainly recognize that they don’t belong nor do they have a bed because they go from one bed to another -running aimlessly for the goods. Leaving with tons of our food! Watching this is very frustrating. By the time the police arrive, they are gone.
Another concern is what the beds also attract…homeless people and vandals. There are people who have come during the night using the garden beds as a place to hang out. We have found broken glass bottles of alcoholic beverages on the side walks and in the gardens. Trash around our home and in the garden bed areas. We even found a couple (during the night last summer) in the very middle of the garden -when it was fully grown- fornicating! When we heard loud noises coming from the center of the garden, my husband yelled out to the couple to leave the area. Upon exiting the garden, a woman came out pulling up her pants and then her partner pulling her by the arm in the opposite direction of our home! We called the police but again they arrived too late. I have children and this was very disturbing to us. I am sure those of you who have children agree. I know that COA cares for children in our community and they do not condone this behavior. But this is a problem for us as parents.
Another problem we have are the people who bring their animals more often now than ever before. The dogs are not on leashes nor do the owners pick up their feces afterward. The gardens truly attract more spectators with their dogs than children. They allow the animals to run in and out of the bed area. Like a maze. At times it seems amusing for the owners.
Even if my family and I choose not to participate in this garden, it will continue to affect us personally. It brings problems into our very own backyards. Ever since Victory Garden began there has been an increasing problem with rodents running rampant in our yard. Personally, they cause huge issues with our family dog. Not only is our family pet in distress with these creatures on her territory, she is also in danger. These large (the size of a raccoon or larger) rodents attack our pet. She has even been bitten by one in the past. The vet bill was massive as she needed shots and bandages for her wound. Not only do I feel she is in danger, my children are as well. And not only are my children in danger, others are as well. There are numerous youngsters in the area and I know they are just as, if not more, susceptible to encounters with these vermin. These rodents have made huge holes in our yard, digging their way into our shed and under our fence. This is definitely something that must be addressed immediately, as it is far more detrimental than theft and inappropriate behavior and conduct.
If anyone has any suggestions on how to resolve the many problems we have please let me know. We’d like to work with our community to solve these issues. The concept of the garden was a good one. However, unforeseen complications have arisen and something must be done about them. This garden was supposed to benefit the community and create a better area for us and our children. But it has only attracted various unwanted attention.
This used to be a tranquil and beautiful area of greenery that we could come out of our home and enjoy for the last 30 years. This is not the case any longer. We need your suggestions and to help restore our confidence in this community-based project.
Thank you.