What wont be stolen.

[silverseeds]

I have an area outside my fence, it runs my entire lot, so it is 140feet long I think.

Id like to grow something there this next year, but think it might be begging to be stolen, outside the fence like that. So any ideas what I could plant most likely to be left alone?

Im thinking squash, or zucchini, but Im not really sure. Please post something if you think it is better.

[ottawagardener]

Something prickly will probably be left alone

[ceara]

Stinging Nettle barrier? hehe

[silverseeds]

I will be planting some cactus, actually. Might try a plan of stinging nettle and see how it does also actually. So that helps a bit.

sunflowers should be good to. But I doubt I will have 140 feet of just that.

[spacecase0]

potatoes,
most people have no idea what is under the ground and can't recognize the plant for what it is.

[silverseeds]

yeah that is a good one...... Will need to do more work for the soil for that one, but your right, I doubt many know what potatoes look like, and even if they did, the potatoes are buried, so not hanging and begging to be picked like most things..... thanks everyone

[denninmi]

Anything that isn't too popular (don't see many people going out of their way to steal rutabagas, for example), of course, you might not want those crops, either.

Anything that takes a lot of work to harvest (such as root crops, sweet potatos, jerusalem artichokes, etc).

Anything prickly.

Anything that is unusual, such as ethnic crops (for example, couldn't see anyone stealing bitter melons or snake gourds, no one would know what they were).

Anything that doesn't really look like it's edible - a lot of greens, for example, that people might not recognize as food crops.

[ceara]

Just for laughs - choke cherries. Not really feasible for your 140 feet though.

It's reassuring yet sad at the same time that so many people cannot recognize certain food plants.

[plantsnobin]

I'm not trying to be a smart ass here, but might you consider planting something that people would recognize and want? What better way to improve our communities than planting stuff for everyone. Having neighbors that are also interested in gardening could only be a positive for you. You could be the mentor for others in your area. Sure, you won't get through to the vast majority of people, and there will always be those who will try to take advantage. But if you can teach and encourage even one person, you will have done something good. And with all the people here who are willing to give away seeds, all you have to do is ask for seeds you need, so that you wouldn't be out much money. Iv'e really been touched by Val & Dan's dedication to seed sharing, even through their difficult situation. If we all followed their lead in 'Paying it forward', just think what could be accomplished. Sorry, not trying to be preachy here.

[mnjrutherford]

I like Karen's idea. Discouraging on one hand to have things stolen... Yet, if you grew stuff expecting others to gather... well... what would that say about you?

I know it couldn't be expensive... maybe lettuce, carrots, peas, beans? Peas and beans assume a fence of course.

[silverseeds]

I totally agree with you Karen. Im trying to give seeds away already.
Ive also been talking to a women who works with the earthship people, who could benefit directly from the things Ive been working on.

In time I fully intend to find ways to show locals we CAN grow food here. Also show ranchers how they could better feed their stock on the same land.....

but right now, much of what I am doing is for my breeding work, or seed increases. so I CAN spread it in the future, and know what to spread. etc..... Go ahead and preach though.... More gardeners need to save seeds.

everything I am doing has building a local food culture in mind. there is very little of it here. But I am on the verge of some great concepts, and ways to improve the soils, without major input, while growing food at the same time. Now I have to perfect it, and teach people. within a few years I should have a few grains, and beans not needing irrigated.

Hopefully the following year, I can start contacting ranchers, and try to convince them to try a few things. The ranchers here all seem to know each others stories. so if I can convince one, it could be I convinced them all.

[paquebot]

Nothing will be stolen if one extra step is taken. Just before something is ripe, sprinkle a little flour on it. Nobody will even touch it!

Martin

[mnjrutherford]

You know, if you decide to make it a veg garden with the idea that passers by can harvest... You could dedicate it Val. We don't have any public borders yet, but some rentals are going to be built on the lot next to us. We are planning to put grapes along the shared boundary with the idea that our neighbors renters can enjoy them as well as us. I think I'd like to dedicate it to Val as well.

[cornishwoman]

I'm wondering if you have neighbours who in turn may have children.When I lived in Ohio we lived in an area where every one had pristine flower gardens and manicured lawns no one grew veg in their gardens on my street.We had a fenced garden,and a strip almost like your describing.Well I came up with the idea of an allotment for the local children to grow their own flowers and veg,my strip wasn't that wide but it was some 200 feet long,nice sunny location so it seemed shear waste to just let it grass over.I talked to a few neighbours about it and they seemed to be more than willing for their children to come dig in the dirt,it all worked very well,some grew flowers some veg,its surprising what a little bit of soil can do,must add there was one little boy who just used his small patch as a race track for his cars.

[denninmi]

Feb 9, 2010 16:41:50 GMT -5 @plantsnobin said:

but might you consider planting something that people would recognize and want? What better way to improve our communities than planting stuff for everyone. Having neighbors that are also interested in gardening could only be a positive for you.

That is a nice sentiment. I have 200 feet of road frontage where the township is scheduled to go through this year and put in a pedestrian walkway. I don't want grass to cut along it anymore, so I'm planning on filling in the space with a mixed planting, and I'm contemplating planting peach trees along there as well, since I've got plenty of them to plant somewhere.