Snake in the Garden

Cynthia Garrigan is a pioneer in the Point of Woods community garden.  Since May 14, she has been hoeing, planting, watering, weeding and growing vegetables in the plot for which she paid good money.  Many days, three-year-old Hailey is at Grandma’s side, working right along with her.

Now, just as they are ready to harvest, a produce thief or thieves raided their plot and many others, neatly snipping vines and stalks and carrying off armloads of food meant for gardeners’ tables.

“Not all our harvest was taken.  We just took a pretty good hit.  Squash and honey dew that weren't ready, cucumbers, beans, watermelons. The thieves went grocery shopping. They didn't pick tomatoes.  We have tons of those,” said a disappointed Nikki Ebert, president of the Point of Woods 1 & 2 homeowners association.  “We think they must be coming at night or early morning in a vehicle to take that much stuff.”

Ebert notified police and residents and posted ‘no trespassing’ signs.  “I put something in our newsletter asking people not to just take from the plots. I encouraged them to talk to the gardeners and make friends. Then they won't have to steal. We don't mind sharing.  And anyone can rent a plot and grow their own.”

Ebert turned to Master Gardener Paul Gibson for advice.  Gibson is one of a team of Virginia Cooperative Extension Service volunteers who have shepherded the neighborhood through their first growing season since 600 1 By Youth volunteers transformed the three-acre field on May 14.  The Point of Woods “field of dreams” has been witness to a wedding in the Conner memorial gazebo, two open-air Family Movie nights, and now, what would have been, a healthy harvest at the city’s first public community garden – spoiled by thieves.

“Most community gardeners have experienced problems like this,” Gibson told Ebert.  “It's discouraging at first, but don't let it get the gardeners down.”

“Neighborhoods are made up of people, and people don't always behave as we think they should,” explained Gibson.  “Some are hungry, some are angry, some are hurting for legitimate reasons.  Some just don't respect the hard work and property of others.  But it shouldn't be tolerated.  You have a good community, and this presents an opportunity for the community to grow.  Making people in the community aware and alert to the problem is the first step, without guessing who might have done it or why.  Sometimes that is enough for the offender or offenders to stop.” 

Gibson often encourages people to engage their neighbors in coming up with solutions by giving out copies of the tiny book Seedfolks by Newbery Medal-winning author Paul Fleishman.  Written for ages 10 and older, the book profiles Wendell, Maricela, Amir and other residents of a poor urban neighborhood who seek common ground by starting a community garden.  “It’s very hopeful,” said Gibson. “We always say you aren't just building gardens, you're building community.”

Gibson polled Nancy Berlin, Master Gardener Coordinator, and Master Gardeners Ed Rishell and Thomas Bolles for theft prevention tips to pass on to Ebert, as well.  Here’s what they offered:

1. Designate a plot near the entrance for people to “help themselves.”

2. Harvest all ripe fruit and vegetables on a daily basis.

3. Create a shady gathering place where gardeners and neighbors can spend time together, or market plots to local non-profit groups to increase the time the garden is occupied.

4. Post signs that you are donating part of the produce to a local food bank, and then do so.

5. Install a fence with only a few entry points and solar motion lighting around the entries.

“I’ve had several school gardens out in the open with major problems in some and not in others,” said Thomas Bolles. “There are the browsers, who might be tempted to take a tomato in passing, and then there are the thieves, who take significant amounts.  I hate the thought of putting up a fence but it may come to that.”

“A fence is not going to keep out a determined thief,” observed Ed Rishell.  “But a fence may help keep normally honest people honest.”

Gibson said the Master Gardeners have seen success with the deer fences at VCE’s teaching garden at the Benedictine Monastery, though groundhogs and rabbits present another challenge.

“I would hate to have to put a fence up,” countered Ebert.  “It’s nice having it open like it is. We definitely don't mind people walking around and looking. Hopefully the ‘no trespassing’ signs we put up, in English and Spanish, asking people not to touch the gardens or pick from them, will help.”

There is another possibility.  Last summer, members of Chicago community garden found success by personalizing their garden plots with individual hand-painted signs.  One here might announce “Sarah, Adam and Carrie’s Garden.”   Another there might stake a claim for “The Shingler Family (Todd, Claire, Chris, Meghan, Stella, Cate, Claire, Helena, Eamonn and Doolin).”

Perhaps a meek sign, proclaiming “Hailey’s Garden” is not too far in the future.