Perimeter Etiquette

[Ananke]

I grow brambles around the perimeter of my plot for jam and wine making but i'm getting really fed up with people picking my blackberries by the tub full. I don't mind those who munch a few on the way past or take a handfull or two for later.

I'm wondering whether i'm being unreasonable, one plot neighbour said that she goes around all the plots with her tub but thinks its ok as she doesn't actually go onto anyones plot to pick them and today another guy came round with a tub while I was there, so it seems that he thinks its ok too. I jokingly nodded at the tub and said I was gonna come down to his plot and pick his potatoes, i'm not sure he got my meaning though.

What do you guys think?

[VirginVegGrower]

A notice saying ONLY HELP YOURSELVES IF I CAN HAVE SOME OF YOURS! The raspberry canes which mark the divider between me and the old goat next door have had some stripping on his side too, Might spray them with something toxic next year ;-)

[VirginVegGrower]

Another thought - net them - shows ownership, ie. yours!

[zazen999]

Pick them first when you get there?

How do they know that they aren't thought of as a weed?

Our council came and chopped back my prize Elderberry earlier in the year and I went ape. As I had shopped it just right to get a good crop for some wine.

[VirginVegGrower]

Pick them first when you get there?

How do they know that they aren't thought of as a weed?

Our council came and chopped back my prize Elderberry earlier in the year and I went ape. As I had shopped it just right to get a good crop for some wine.

Do you want some - I have a secret supply? I've made 3 gallon and don't want any more.

[zazen999]

Do you want some - I have a secret supply? I've made 3 gallon and don't want any more.

So have I - the bushes round here are dripping with them. But it's the principle of coming onto my plot and chopping the blummin thing down when I had carefully pruned it proper like.

[Ananke]

my son suggested a sign with arrows "this side yours, this side mine". I don't fancy puting signs up lol.

Zazzen I had picked the plump ones this morning before this guy came around with his tub, I was leaving the not so plump to fatten up but I see what you are getting at with not knowing if they are just for security or just weeds

[Ananke]

I'm feeling like a right meany now, they are all really nice people

[WendyC]

Our allotment rules expressly forbid picking other peoples crops. Do you have this in yours? Perhaps laminate an enlarged copy as a reminder. Netting is a good idea too as it makes a statement too. I don't understand why people think they are up for grabs anyway.

[VirginVegGrower]

Don't! Your crops whether you planted them or inherited. Tell them you've sprayed them with pesticide and they really shouldn't eat them - then they will stoppicking. You could pick under cover of darkness...

[Ananke]

I don't know why they think that either Wendy, my automatic assumption would be that they were growing them because they want the fruit............. lets face it, who would put up with brambles if they didn't use the fruit.

I used to wonder why they didn't grow their own until I had mine for a few years, death of a thousand cuts comes to mind lol.

[zazen999]

my son suggested a sign with arrows "this side yours, this side mine". I don't fancy puting signs up lol.

Zazzen I had picked the plump ones this morning before this guy came around with his tub, I was leaving the not so plump to fatten up but I see what you are getting at with not knowing if they are just for security or just weeds

A sign with 'my own private fertiliser is used on these berries ' might do it.

[VirginVegGrower]

With the additional information being in larger letters - from my own private compost toilet!

[Ananke]

If I were really brave (which i'm not) I would wait until they were on site and wander in and pick stuff. Just to see what the reaction would be.

[Snadger]

Either build a fence around them or plant them on wires across your plot where they can't be mistaken for 'fair game'!