Blueberry/Neighbor rant

[The Chicken Lady]

The fact that they walked onto your property and wandered around without your permission is rude enough.

I would be livid.

For all they knew, you might have had plans for friends and family to come pick them.

 

[wombat]

If you can prove they did it, take them to small claims court for the value of the produce.

 

[mamagardener]

I myself hate having to put up signs that say no trespassing, because if someone means no harm(just passing through) I don't mind. But these type of people have no respect, unfortunately no trespassing signs probably wont work on them, unless you hit them over the head with it. What is so hard about asking" hi I noticed you are not harvesting your blueberries, would you mind if I take some?" I know you weren't up there, but they could have asked one of the neighbors to call you up and ask for them. I don't know what has happened to common courtesy, don't people raise their children with manners anymore?

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Since Ann is a very smart lady, and has neighbors watching her property for her, I am sure she would not post this unless she was sure.

 

[Sitka]

My father has some property out in the country but doesn't live there.
Years ago one of the neighbors, a total "ne'er-do-well," would traipse around on the land all the time. He would be real slick about it, too, you'd never know he had been there ... except for the tell-tale trail of empty beer cans....!!!!!!

Sorry this happened. Rude.

Maybe call them and tell that that you just discovered that the blueberries have a blight that causes lifelong diarrhea if consumed and you just wanted to warn them. "Not that you would come on our land and take our blueberries, so it shouldn't be an issue...."

 

[Reinbeau]

Quote:
They were seen. The first time they told Dave they were just taking a blueberry pie's worth. The next night they were there with the rake and another person. There won't be a third night, Dave knows they don't have our permission, and he's going to kick them off.

We didn't want to have to post it, it just seems so unfriendly - but obviously these people are going to need to understand there are boundries. Dave had to post his land, too, for other reasons. So our whole side of the road will be posted now.

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
It's a good thing to have it posted, sometimes law enforcement won't do anything unless you DO have it posted.

 

[raroo]

Quote:

I vote for that idea as well.

 

[CocoNUT]

That is SO annoying!!! Now maybe I'm just "jumping to conclusions" but it doesn't sound like these people might be the MOST upstanding type neighbors...especially given the sister was KICKED OUT (or 'put away') for selling DRUGS in the house!!!
But nevermind THAT....the MAJOR ISSUE with me is the woman INITIALLY asked to plant things in the OPs yard/garden! (WHAT THE HECK?!?!?) Do they not have a yard themselves? I mean COME ON! Anyways...the OP told her NO!!! NO NO NO NO NO! No means NO. PERIOD. This DINGBAT apparently is DEAF and DUMB that she 1) didn't hear the "no" to the whole gardening in the OP's yard and 2) felt that taking fruit from the 'off limits' property was JUST FINE!!!
In lieu of the whole bacterium thing...you COULD send out a note to 'all' the neighbors about how you and your hubby had used rather TOXIC sprays to try to control the diseased blueberries in your yard both last fall and in the spring. You could ALSO let "them" know you contracted LYME disease while gardening on the property!!! (This would all be in response to the potential pickings anyone may've noticed in your yard this year. You know...ooooh...look at all the blueberries....hmmm...they're still there....let's go pick some hon.....)
Maybe you could get your neighbor to take PHOTOS of the violators IN THE ACT?! (Before he chases them off....with whatever long-barreled method he sees fit). Either way...I WOULD file a complaint with the local PD if you can and possibly charge them for the amount of fruit they stole. I would definitely NIP THIS IN THE BUD ASAP. LIke you said...these people are USERS. They'll squeeze you for whatever they can.
I have neighbors whom I GIVE veggies/fruit from my garden TO. Then one of the neighbor's kid is always it TELLING me to give him stuff so he can sell it on ebay. He (& his complainy pants of a mother) don't get JACK from me. AT ALL. PERIOD. NO EXCEPTIONS. She'll even ASK me how my veggies are coming along....I tell her 'fine' and keep going. She wants to complain about me while she sits at home all day drinking....she can garden HERSELF!
Sorry...rambling. Let us know how this works out and I hope you're feeling better. Lyme disease really sucks and it becoming a lot worse lately. Take care!

 

[SarahBeth9394]

I'd tell Dave to call the police if he ever saw them stealing your blueberries again. He can give them a heads up that he saw them harvesting with the rake and you told him to please call the police if they ever went over there again. It's either that or file a police report on the first incident. They will return if they aren't told to stop. Even then they might.