Hi gardeners – I went up to my rooftop garden today to find all of my bell peppers and my most perfect jalapeños harvested off my plants. I am devastated. This is my first year ever gardening and it is so much more upsetting than I ever thought it would be.
I live in an apartment bulling with 12 raised beds on the roof – it’s a “community garden” but each person signs up and gets 2 beds to grow your things. Everyone who plants is in a group chat and is super respectful, but someone who lives here clearly is not. We still have 2 open beds (have had more all season only some just claimed for fall) so if someone wanted to join there is plenty of room.
I’m most upset about the bell peppers because they took so much work and care from me. I only had 2 good ones, and som deformed ones. I have more jalapeños and had already harvested 2 this week, so still not happy but less upset about those.
I’m looking for advice on how to either better protect my fruits in the future (maybe how to hide them in my other plans but make sure they’re still getting what they need?) or ways to prevent theft (if possible). And just emotional tips because this is making me not want to garden anymore. The anxiety of my other hard work being stolen is stealing the fun out of my gardening 😭
A fellow gardener suggested getting a camera but that does feel a bit like an invasion of privacy because it is a roof that has other tables and seating, and children play up there, so looking for any other tips or suggestions you all might have tried.
Thanks in advance! This is a picture from a few days ago – was waiting for it to turn red before harvesting, and then a photo of the stem today.
by Same_Pop
3 Comments
Oh my god. I would eviscerate whoever did that. I don’t care if they’re in need, they’re not entitled to steal labor like that and also they don’t know how in need YOU are.
Is there someone in charge of the community garden? An organizer/overseer or how does that work?
RIP. Has happened to me and the only solution was to move my garden elsewhere. See if you can install a camera.
First, put up a hand-written sign with something polite that shows you noticed, like: “Dear Pepper Thief, this was my first bell pepper and I am so disappointed that I didn’t even get to eat one. Please don’t take my veggies.”
Mention this to the community garden organizer and anyone else who will listen. Don’t act angry, just heartbroken and hope it doesn’t happen again.
Then, if it *does* happen again, go nuclear. Steal veggies from everyone’s plots (including yours). Take enough that they notice. Make this a problem for everyone, so that the managers can’t ignore it. Get them to put up a camera or lock the gate or something.