How do I keep the neighbor kids from eating my vegetables?

Question

The neighbor kids... who happen to be Hispanic and don't speak a word of the King's English... keep getting into my vegetable garden on my apartment patio and eating them. I was going to fry them up for fajitas this weekend for my girlfriend who is coming from out of town to visit.

I can't put up a fence because of my rental agreement...

Answer 1

if they live on the same property call the landlord and tell him

Answer 2

That is so sad, that they are so hungry as to eat your vegetables from the plants. Go get a couple of more planters and grow more of them next year. Get someone to tell the kids in Spanish that they are welcome to share the food, but to wash it carefully before they eat it as you spray for insects and don't waste any of it. Then get some planters and seed and put on their side so they can grow some veggies too.

They are yours, but sharing and cooperating with the neighbors will get you much more than accusing them of stealing the veggies. They probably wouldn't eat them if they weren't hungry. Teaching them to grow them would help them and you, because it is a good thing. AND doing good things makes us feel better about ourselves.

I hope you find a solution that works for you.

Answer 3

go to your neighborhood pharmacy, buy whats called Magnesium Citrate. Its a very strong laxative when drank (which is how its supposed to be used), however, take a small paintbrush, and simply coat all your vegetables with it. It will still work, but will only be strong enough to give them the runs for a few hours. Do this for a while. Obviously, you wont be able to have them yourself either, but I guarantee you, the kids will eventually figure it out. And since they are hoodlums committing a crime to begin with, they cant do anything about it, as far as the law goes. That would be like you tripping an escaping thief and the thief accusing you of assault.

Answer 4

Put up a sign in spanish that says KEEP OFF

Put up a sign in spanish that says something about Video Survelance and prosecuters will be violated.

Go to a spanish translation website and type a letter expressing how you are flattered that they love your vegetables but their eating them is keeping you from having any for yourself and your family.  Then get some milk or water jugs with soil and some seeds and hand it over kindly.

Answer 5

Call the police.  That is theft.  If the kids are minors and are not being supervised, call Child Protective Services.   They also have those alarms that go off if someone crosses it's path.  Can get them at Home Depot or Lowes for pretty cheap.  Might want to set up a video camera real (and use it for evidence) or fake.

Answer 6

First of all, I bet they probably understand English. Sometimes people like to play dumb. Ya know? This means you've tried talking to them? If you haven't, you should definitely try yelling at them.

Second, I would go to the kids' parents and try to talk to them. If they don't speak English, then either find someone who can translate a convo between the two of you, or find a site to translate what you want to say, then print it out and bring it to them. Make SURE the kids are present!! Also, on the translator, translating English into Spanish isn't as easy as it sounds. Sometimes they don't have the same words as English. So, translate it - English to Spanish, and then reverse till you get it to say what you'd like.

If that doesn't work, then go to the Landlord/MGR, and let them know what's going on and that you'd like it stopped now. Make sure to remind them that its theft and tresspassing, and that you can't put up a fence (because it breaks your lease) (committing a crime also breaks a lease, I believe), and if you have to, you'll call the cops. They will like to respond to this for two reasons. Sorry if I sound like an @$$.

First, if they're renting to illegals, they won't want to get into trouble. (You can say your complex doesn't, but you'd be surprised. Look at the McD's in Reno, NV - 11 franchises, 58 illegals - http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080716/us_n...

Second, having cops around gives them a bad reputation. Also, remind them that you cannot have a privacy fence up to keep the kids away. Let them know the kids "don't speak English".

If that doesn't settle it, then I'd definitely call the cops. Let them know there are kids who keep picking from your garden, off your patio. They don't speak/understand English, and you've already talked to the property mgr and attempted talking with their parents.

If all else fails, obviously you're going to have to bring them in, which won't be too bad. You could find the pros - less/no bugs (YES!), you won't have to worry about if its too hot or cold... Etc. Leaving them by the patio sliders might not be such a bad idea, at the end.

Also, you could always bring the plant in when you plan to be gone. Or napping.