Are my neighbors odd or not?

[mommyoffive]

We have an apple tree (actually we have another one on our side yard too) planted in our front yard.  It is 100% on our yard not on the city tree bank.  People have taken to coming to our house and walking into our yard and picking apples off the tree to eat.   Mind you I don't know any of these people other than seeing them around the neighborhood.  I haven't invited them to do it.  I don't have a sign out front to pick your own apples.  So is this odd or not?   

[JustEm]

Yes very odd and rude

[saraha]

Yup, that’s weird. Did you allow someone to do that one time and they spread the word?   Oooh or maybe you have some hobo symbols?!?

Edited August 5, 2021 by saraha

[Katy]

I got really angry when, many houses ago, a roofing crew next door stole hundreds of peaches off my tree.  It turned out that it was in public property.  The easement in our neighborhood was 10' and the neighbor that was a cop said it was actually legal to steal off the tree because it was technically public property, we were just responsible to maintain it.  I wonder if that's the case in your neighborhood too.

[Annie G]

It’s definitely rude, especially if it’s adults who know better. 

[mommyoffive]

1 minute ago, Annie G said:

It’s definitely rude, especially if it’s adults who know better. 

It is about half and half with adults and kids.

[mommyoffive]

2 minutes ago, Katy said:

I got really angry when, many houses ago, a roofing crew next door stole hundreds of peaches off my tree.  It turned out that it was in public property.  The easement in our neighborhood was 10' and the neighbor that was a cop said it was actually legal to steal off the tree because it was technically public property, we were just responsible to maintain it.  I wonder if that's the case in your neighborhood too.

So 10ft onto your front yard is actually public property?  I have never heard that before?  I thought the treebank was public property that the homeowner needs to maintain.  I would have never thought that my lot is public property.

[mommyoffive]

11 minutes ago, saraha said:

Yup, that’s weird. Did you allow someone to do that one time and they spread the word?   Oooh or maybe you have some hobo symbols?!?

Nope, we have never let anyone pick apples off our trees.

[saraha]

7 minutes ago, mommyoffive said:

Nope, we have never let anyone pick apples off our trees.

Then I’m thinking hobo signs 😆

🍎🤲

Edited August 5, 2021 by saraha

[ktgrok]

Kids, whatever. I'd think they are trying to be sneaky. Adults? Nope. Heck, I felt guilty taking oranges off a branch that extended over the fence into my yard, lol. 

But as a kid? If it was a tree right by the sidewalk...I'd see grabbing an apple, if. they were plentiful. 

Not as an adult. 

[Jean in Newcastle]

This is stealing.  There is a big thread on our local Nextdoor about this.  Someone is going around the city cutting huge bouquets of hydrangeas from people's bushes.  Apples from someone's tree is no different.

 

Put out a "no tresspassing" sign?  A "beware of Rottweiler" sign? 

[saraha]

Ok, you’re going to have to scour your place to find the hobo sign and then change it to the one that means trouble lives here. Or, make a sign that says please don’t pick the apples.  or

apple picking $20 a bag or

beware, apples sprayed with poison ☠️ 

😆

[mommyoffive]

4 minutes ago, Jean in Newcastle said:

This is stealing.  There is a big thread on our local Nextdoor about this.  Someone is going around the city cutting huge bouquets of hydrangeas from people's bushes.  Apples from someone's tree is no different.

 

Put out a "no tresspassing" sign?  A "beware of Rottweiler" sign? 

I mean I hate when people are in my yard, this hasn't been the first situation.  Kids would come in our yard and go on whatever kid play stuff we had.  It makes my dogs go insane when someone comes into our yard.  Which is even more annoying that I have listen to insane barking and calming them down.  So yeah I don't think anyone is scared about my dogs who are both big girls.

 

And what are they doing with tons of hydrangeas other than selling them?  And by doing that wouldn't they get caught.  That is so crazy.

Edited August 5, 2021 by mommyoffive

[ktgrok]

Maybe get some signs like this? https://amzn.to/2WRxMyx

[Jean in Newcastle]

5 minutes ago, mommyoffive said:

I mean I hate when people are in my yard, this hasn't been the first situation.  Kids would come in our yard and go on whatever kid play stuff we had.  It makes my dogs go insane when someone comes into our yard.  Which is even more annoying that I have listen to insane barking and calming them down.  So yeah I don't think anyone is scared about my dogs who are both big girls.

 

And what are they doing with tons of hydrangeas other than selling them?  And by doing that wouldn't they get caught.  That is so crazy.

People in the neighborhood think that the hydrangeas are being used for weddings.  But who knows? 

[prairiewindmomma]

Super common problem. Rude in US culture, but common.

[Katy]

54 minutes ago, mommyoffive said:

So 10ft onto your front yard is actually public property?  I have never heard that before?  I thought the treebank was public property that the homeowner needs to maintain.  I would have never thought that my lot is public property.

I don't think it is written that way in our current home, but in that city that was the law, yes.  Technically we owned it but it was a public easement that anyone had the right to be on at any time.  Fruit trees in that area were not protected.

[theelfqueen]

Put up a fence? 

[gardenmom5]

yes, it's rude.  Is it clear this is private property?  even a chicken wire fence - or the orange construction fencing - temporarily along the property line - and clearly denoting the tree is NOT on public property, MIGHT, stop people.  but some people plain don't care.

[Jean in Newcastle]

52 minutes ago, gardenmom5 said:

yes, it's rude.  Is it clear this is private property?  even a chicken wire fence - or the orange construction fencing - temporarily along the property line - and clearly denoting the tree is NOT on public property, MIGHT, stop people.  but some people plain don't care.

I had neighbors who regularly let their dogs out of their yard to come over to poop in my yard.  I talked to them repeatedly about it.  I came home one day while they sat and watched their dogs take a dump on my yard.  I immediately turned the car around, went to Home Depot and got wire fencing.  It isn't the prettiest but the kids and I could do it ourselves and it keeps those dogs out of my yard. 

 

[J-rap]

I remember as a kid thinking it wasn't a big deal to pick a fruit off trees heavily laden along a path I went on...  But for an adult to think that?

Maybe one of the these signs?

https://www.mysecuritysign.com/please-dont-pick-the-fruit-private-property-signature-sign/sku-k-0828?engine=googlebase&keyword=&skuid=K-0828-DZHI-18x24&gclid=CjwKCAjwmK6IBhBqEiwAocMc8oN2nNn6-QA2aVMCdEU02F4wwNV0HbZw9QLVvgHwhwDDnSDLB27WBBoCCBUQAvD_BwE

 

[Bootsie]

9 hours ago, saraha said:

Yup, that’s weird. Did you allow someone to do that one time and they spread the word?   Oooh or maybe you have some hobo symbols?!?

I have to laugh because one of the straws that broke the camel's back in our decision to homeschool DS was when in fifth grade he used the term "hobo" talking about the symbols that they used to communicate and got in trouble for using such a deragatory, disrespectful term for homeless people.  

I wouldn't pick apples offf of someone's tree without being inveted to do so, just like I wouldn't cut flowers off of their rose bush.  

[lmrich]

I had people pick blueberries from my bushes which was close to a cut through (all on private property) to the pool. 

Kids I knew well actually brought buckets to pick them. I had to explain to them it was wrong. They said, it wasn't and their mom told them to do it! 

[Katy]

3 minutes ago, lmrich said:

I had people pick blueberries from my bushes which was close to a cut through (all on private property) to the pool. 

Kids I knew well actually brought buckets to pick them. I had to explain to them it was wrong. They said, it wasn't and their mom told them to do it! 

Wow.  I’d file a complaint with the police. 

[Carrie12345]

9 hours ago, mommyoffive said:

So 10ft onto your front yard is actually public property?  I have never heard that before?  I thought the treebank was public property that the homeowner needs to maintain.  I would have never thought that my lot is public property.

I have a 10’ easement on my frontage. Also easements on the sides and back, though I don’t remember the width. Probably 5’, making a total of 10 with neighbors.
In my case, that’s primarily in case roads need to be widened or added, or if utilities need add access. In current practice, it’s so we can’t do anything if the plow guys run down our garbage cans or flowers or whatever.

[KungFuPanda]

You need a fence. This is crazy! Maybe a former owner never used the apples and they rotted on the ground if people didn’t pick them? You’re dealing with a community habit at this point. I think you should electrify the perimeter and share video with us. 🤣

[Faith-manor]

People are jerks. That's all I have for you. Jerks.

I am glad at the new house the fruit trees and bushes are close to the house and a long, long way from the road. We are considering a gate at the end of the driveway so people won't be tempted to get out of their cars and walk the 1.4 acres up to them and steal the blueberries, plums, and grapes. That said, next spring DD is going to take a pint of blueberries and a clump of grapes to the nearest neighbors (not particularly close by though) as a friendly gesture so maybe the temptation won't be there, and as soon as the plums ripen, she will share a few of them too. There is going to be a lot of those, more than she can handle. She might even put a couple of logs out against the fence with a few "first come first serve" quarts of plums. She is just hoping a gesture of goodwill might thwart looting and pillaging. We will see if that works. If not, a gate is going up because we will eventually have raised bed gardens as well. She wants to raise food for her family, and that isn't going to work if people think it is a free for all looting match.

[mommyoffive]

1 hour ago, KungFuPanda said:

You need a fence. This is crazy! Maybe a former owner never used the apples and they rotted on the ground if people didn’t pick them? You’re dealing with a community habit at this point. I think you should electrify the perimeter and share video with us. 🤣

We are the only owners, had the house built on an empty lot 15 years ago.  And we planted these trees.

Laughing at your last sentence.  

[mommyoffive]

1 hour ago, lmrich said:

I had people pick blueberries from my bushes which was close to a cut through (all on private property) to the pool. 

Kids I knew well actually brought buckets to pick them. I had to explain to them it was wrong. They said, it wasn't and their mom told them to do it! 

WOW.   People amaze me.  I had no idea that this was a common problem, I thought my neighbors were just odd.

[mommyoffive]

7 hours ago, gardenmom5 said:

yes, it's rude.  Is it clear this is private property?  even a chicken wire fence - or the orange construction fencing - temporarily along the property line - and clearly denoting the tree is NOT on public property, MIGHT, stop people.  but some people plain don't care.

Yep.  I live in a normal suburban neighborhood.   There is the treebank along the street, the sidewalk, and then our lot.  This tree is on our lot.  Hmm now I am thinking of putting up a little fence.  I have to see if you can do that in your front yard.  It would also keep people from letting their dogs pee and poop in our yard.  Which I hate.  When I walk my dogs I never ever let my dogs walk on people's lawns, let alone pee or poop on them.  I only let them go on the tree bank.

[Faith-manor]

1 hour ago, KungFuPanda said:

You need a fence. This is crazy! Maybe a former owner never used the apples and they rotted on the ground if people didn’t pick them? You’re dealing with a community habit at this point. I think you should electrify the perimeter and share video with us. 🤣

Yes, please do share the footage! 😁

[gardenmom5]

1 hour ago, mommyoffive said:

Yep.  I live in a normal suburban neighborhood.   There is the treebank along the street, the sidewalk, and then our lot.  This tree is on our lot.  Hmm now I am thinking of putting up a little fence.  I have to see if you can do that in your front yard.  It would also keep people from letting their dogs pee and poop in our yard.  Which I hate.  When I walk my dogs I never ever let my dogs walk on people's lawns, let alone pee or poop on them.  I only let them go on the tree bank.

I'm not familiar with the term "treebank".  (looking it up brings definitions from linguistics, and computational linguistics.  Neither having anything to do with flora.)
 

does your suburb disallow front yard fences on the property line?

motion sprinklers.. . . 

[theelfqueen]

Motion sprinklers sounds great - and cameras! 

[Jean in Newcastle]

2 hours ago, mommyoffive said:

Yep.  I live in a normal suburban neighborhood.   There is the treebank along the street, the sidewalk, and then our lot.  This tree is on our lot.  Hmm now I am thinking of putting up a little fence.  I have to see if you can do that in your front yard.  It would also keep people from letting their dogs pee and poop in our yard.  Which I hate.  When I walk my dogs I never ever let my dogs walk on people's lawns, let alone pee or poop on them.  I only let them go on the tree bank.

You’re part of an HOA?

[mommyoffive]

4 minutes ago, Jean in Newcastle said:

You’re part of an HOA?

No

[mommyoffive]

1 hour ago, gardenmom5 said:

I'm not familiar with the term "treebank".  (looking it up brings definitions from linguistics, and computational linguistics.  Neither having anything to do with flora.)
 

does your suburb disallow front yard fences on the property line?

motion sprinklers.. . . 

Not sure if treebank is the real term or I just made that up.  In a normal suburban neighborhood that has sidewalks.  First you have the road, then a little strip of land that the city owns, but you take care of.  The city plants trees on it.   Then there is the sidewalk, and then there is our lot.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Just now, mommyoffive said:

No

Then can’t you put a fence wherever you want?  (Sorry if this is a stupid question. )

[pinball]

4 minutes ago, mommyoffive said:

Not sure if treebank is the real term or I just made that up.  In a normal suburban neighborhood that has sidewalks.  First you have the road, then a little strip of land that the city owns, but you take care of.  The city plants trees on it.   Then there is the sidewalk, and then there is our lot.

I’ve heard “treelawn”

ive also heard…devil’s strip or devil strip. LOL

[gardenmom5]

1 minute ago, mommyoffive said:

Not sure if treebank is the real term or I just made that up.  In a normal suburban neighborhood that has sidewalks.  First you have the road, then a little strip of land that the city owns, but you take care of.  The city plants trees on it.   Then there is the sidewalk, and then there is our lot.

around here, that little strip of grass (with or without trees) is called a parking strip.  They're more common in older neighborhoods.

Maybe a row of thorn bushes along the edge of your yard by the sidewalk . . . . 

[mommyoffive]

8 minutes ago, Jean in Newcastle said:

Then can’t you put a fence wherever you want?  (Sorry if this is a stupid question. )

The city has rules on where, how high, and some other things we can have fences.   I don't know that you can have them in the front of your house as I haven't seen any like that in our city at all.

[fraidycat]

We call the strip of grass and trees between the sidewalk and road a boulevard strip.

[fraidycat]

1 minute ago, mommyoffive said:

The city has rules on where, how high, and some other things we can have fences.   I don't know that you can have them in the front of your house as I haven't seen any like that in our city at all.

If not a fence, can you plant a row of hedge bushes right along the front of your property?

[Jean in Newcastle]

1 minute ago, mommyoffive said:

The city has rules on where, how high, and some other things we can have fences.   I don't know that you can have them in the front of your house as I haven't seen any like that in our city at all.

Ah. Our city is a free for all. 😉. (Though I think that there is a “setback “ law that says that you can’t have a fence X feet from the street. That’s for visibility issues for drivers especially if it’s a corner lot. 

[Jean in Newcastle]

Just now, fraidycat said:

If not a fence, can you plant a row of hedge bushes right along the front of your property?

Very thorny hedge bushes!

[Faith-manor]

1 minute ago, fraidycat said:

If not a fence, can you plant a row of hedge bushes right along the front of your property?

Something with thorns, lots and lots of thorns, like blackberry bushes! 😁

[SKL]

Odd, but I'd wonder why they are so hungry.  😛

I could probably see little-kid self doing this, but at some age it would feel wrong.

Do you use the apples?

[mommyoffive]

2 minutes ago, Faith-manor said:

Something with thorns, lots and lots of thorns, like blackberry bushes! 😁

Then I would have people picking those apparently.  I see why my neighbors have their yard edged in rose bushes now. 

[fraidycat]

3 minutes ago, Faith-manor said:

Something with thorns, lots and lots of thorns, like blackberry bushes! 😁

Then they'll steal the berries. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Jean in Newcastle]

4 minutes ago, SKL said:

Odd, but I'd wonder why they are so hungry.  😛

I could probably see little-kid self doing this, but at some age it would feel wrong.

Do you use the apples?

It doesn’t matter if she gives them to the squirrels or plays croquet with them. They are her apples. On her property. 

[Faith-manor]

2 minutes ago, fraidycat said:

Then they'll steal the berries. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Probably, but the apples will be okay! 😁