How do you deal with people stealing from your food garden?

[Anonymous]

Particularly children taking berries and damaging plants in the process. No, the kids are not needy. In fact, the mom is walking them back from the dwtn SS Whole Foods with bags of groceries when they are raiding my garden. I’ve spoken to them twice already. I don’t want to call the police so I was thinking some type of netting fastened around the plants. An actual fence is not an option.

[Anonymous]

They are in the wrong, but frankly I can see how tempting it is for kids to pick a couple of berries on their way past your house, if the bush is close to the sidewalk.

If you don't want to allow this, then a netting or wire fence around the bush is a good idea. It won't look good, and you'll have to take it off you pick some yourself, but there you go.

My husband has wire fencing around our berry bushes in an attempt to ward of wildlife.

[Anonymous]

If they don’t again call the police

[Anonymous]

I put netting on my fruit trees and bushes. It's green so it blends well with the plants.

[Anonymous]

Video, and put on Next Door.

[Anonymous]

Signs. Nice looking signs, but with a clear message.

[Anonymous]

Signs and netting/wire.

[Anonymous]

Is the garden on the sidewalk or further back on your property?

[Anonymous]

I’m surprised you don’t need netting to prevent birds from eating your berries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the garden on the sidewalk or further back on your property?

They have to jump down about 2 feet from the retaining wall. Which is how I was alerted: the loud jumping sounds and giggling. And in their haste, damaging the plants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised you don’t need netting to prevent birds from eating your berries.

I think the birds are scared of our cat in the window and neighborhood cats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
They are in the wrong, but frankly I can see how tempting it is for kids to pick a couple of berries on their way past your house, if the bush is close to the sidewalk.

If you don't want to allow this, then a netting or wire fence around the bush is a good idea. It won't look good, and you'll have to take it off you pick some yourself, but there you go.

My husband has wire fencing around our berry bushes in an attempt to ward of wildlife.

I wouldn’t mind the theft of a few berries, it’s the damage to the plants.

[Anonymous]

Animal Deterrent Repellent Automated Sprinkler

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I put netting on my fruit trees and bushes. It's green so it blends well with the plants.

Can you recommend a brand?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Animal Deterrent Repellent Automated Sprinkler

this would be fun hook a video up as well.

but how about wait for them and next time, show them how to pull the berries with out damaging the plant. Ie turn it into a learning experience..