How low are thieves ?:

[The A Team]

Our community garden in Santa Rosa is plagued by thieves. We wanted to have a place for neighbors to grow food and have some of the produce for the homeless. We moved 20 truckloads of soil, put in irrigation and plants and a chicken wire fence, couldn't afford a real fence this year. At first most of the large plants were stolen! We thought thieves would at least wait until there was food there. We put up signs saying please don't steal from your neighbors, but it has persisted. We even have people do walk through watches for the garden. This is too discouraging!

[mykil]

Yes when I opened my little store in Graton Six and a half years a go I too said to myself hell I don't even need to lock my doors, no one will steal from me!!!!!! Boy was I wrong. Stick with it and find something that works is the only advise available at this end. Find some homeless people to camp out and actually be watchdogs is the oldest trick around if you can deal with the situation in this aspect. Gives them a since and a home and a vote of confidence from the community. Just choose carefully! :2cents:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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[Braggi]

Our community garden in Santa Rosa is plagued by thieves. ...

Oh, how frustrating!!!

Are you sure these are human thieves?

Perhaps you could buy or borrow "game cameras" that snap a photo or video when activated by motion. Then at least you'd know what the culprit(s) look like.

Or follow Mykil's advice and have someone camp out there. Just put your watchperson in a hidden place if there is one. Also, hang a lot of tin cans on the fence and gate so they make noise when they enter.

-Jeff

PS. How about a trench filled a foot deep with fresh cow manure around the prize plants? That would be sweet.

[The A Team]

Thanks for the suggestions, we especially like the cow manure idea. If I was more resourceful I'd assemble a team of ninjas to leap out.