RE: Garden Vandalism

P* L*

Scott, 
This is a trick that happen occasionally at gardens, though it is not
common. There are ways to prevent this kind of wanton vandalism, short of a
fence. The water system could have a shut-off that is installed on the main
line in a locked box in the ground. It would have a combination known only
to the gardeners. This would have to be turned on each time the gardeners
want to water (maybe for the day). Fencing may be a long term option,
especially if you have any problem with dogs, or people just straying into
the garden to help themselves to some free produce.

Be sure to join the American Community Gardening Association, check out
www.communitygarden.org . There is a conference in New York City July
25-28th.

Hope your season is a good one, and there is no more vandalism.

Your municipal neighbor,

Leslie Pohl-Kosbau
Portland Community Gardens

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Keller [s*@ci.beaverton.or.us]
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 2:31 PM
To: community_garden@mallorn.com
Subject: [cg] Garden Vandalism

Hello Community Gardeners...

My office oversees two community gardens in the City of Beaverton, Oregon
(one with 15 plots and one with 77 plots).  We recently joined this
list-serve and find much of the information helpful and informative.

Sometime after 9 PM on Friday and before 6 AM on Saturday vandals (we're
calling them "Extremist Advocates of Hydroponic Gardening") turned on 18 of
the 22 water faucets at the larger of our two gardens.

When it was discovered Saturday morning, about one-third of the garden was
under 1 to 6 inches of water.  

This is my third garden season -- and although we've had vegetable theft in
the past, we've never had anything like this before.  

Short of fencing the entire garden (which is both expensive and difficult
considering the topograhy of the area around half of this particular garden)
has anyone every had similar vandalism or any suggestions for prevention in
the future?

I spoke with several of our gardeners on Saturday and today and they are
generally taking it philosophically, but we'd like to avoid a repeat
occurance in the future.

Thanks!
Happy Growing.

SCOTT KELLER
Auxiliary Services Program Manager
Office of the Mayor
City of Beaverton
P.O. Box 4755, Beaverton, OR 97076
Office: 503.526.2217
Fax: 503.526.3730

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______________________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org

To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden@mallorn.com

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:  https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden