I think you're crotchety but I could be wrong

Casadena · July 31

Dear Prudence,

I have four orange trees in my front yard. The trouble is, there are more than a few neighbors who think nothing of helping themselves to my oranges when they are walking by. The trees are right near my house, not close to the street, so they are definitely coming onto my property to score their ill-gotten fruit. I even put a sign out requesting that anyone who wants oranges ask first, but it’s been ignored. I would be fine sharing with them if they would just ask, but their entitled behavior has really left a bad taste in my mouth. Short of putting up a fence around my yard, is there anything I can do?

banana468 · July 31

Put up the fence.

People get really entitled to items that are growing. The signs aren't working so you're likely going to either need to be the neighbor who yells or the neighbor who has a fence with a locking gate.

It seems SO common but if it's not yours and not out with a sign saying "free" why would people come over and take your produce? But people do jerk things.

charlotte989875 · July 31

If this is a big deal you can put up the fence, pick the fruit as soon as it’s ripe (so there’s none to take), or yell at your neighbors.

They shouldn’t be walking on to your property to take fruit, but the sign isn’t working (and I wonder if the sign is actually making it worse because it makes it sound like you’re okay with people having fruit) so you have to decide how much you care about this.

Casadena · July 31

It's obvious LW cares more about the principle than the actual fruit. If that's the case, the easiest thing would be to just put out a sign that says "Take a few oranges! Enjoy!". Seems like that would get rid of most of the resentment and allow you to be generous because you want to be.

If you really just don't want people on your property, put up a fence or at least remove the sign.

flantastic · July 31

People really do think that because it's the front yard and not the back it's publicly available. I get being frustrated at that, but I agree that the sign is making it more confusing overall.

And you're allowed to choose whatever you want for your own property, but - it doesn't seem like you need the oranges? If there was any part of the letter where you were like "and I'm finding I don't have enough for my daily fresh-squeezed juice" or something like that, that would be one thing, but it sounds like LW just wants to be possessive.

If you care so much, then yeah, put up a fence, but I can't see why you care so much.

ei34 · July 31

I’m a mixed bag- I wouldn’t want people on my property but also would want them to have the fruit that would otherwise go to waste. I think I’d put up a fence but also pick oranges once a day and leave a few baskets full on the sidewalk side of the fence with a sign that said “help yourself”.

Edit spelling

MyNameIsNot · July 31

I'd put up a fence. This is probably my legal side talking, but I have no interest in dealing with a homeowners claim or lawsuit because someone tried to climb the tree and broke their wrist.

banana468 · July 31

MyNameIsNot said:

I'd put up a fence. This is probably my legal side talking, but I have no interest in dealing with a homeowners claim or lawsuit because someone tried to climb the tree and broke their wrist.

RIght. I'm more thinking of this not that a tree is the same risk as a pool but if you put up fences because it is the way to prevent people from using what is an 'attractive nuisance' and if you want to avoid the people from taking your stuff put up a fence and lock it. Cite that you say it's a safety issue and the reality is that isn't so farfetched.

levioosa · July 31

MyNameIsNot said:

I'd put up a fence. This is probably my legal side talking, but I have no interest in dealing with a homeowners claim or lawsuit because someone tried to climb the tree and broke their wrist.

I used to have a friend with an avocado tree in their (fenced in) front yard. Their neighbors still used to climb over it to pick the avocados. And they would take all of the avocados too! She would get so mad. It was a rental, so at least the liability was off of her hands, but I could not believe the gall of the neighbors. It also wasn't like she hadn't always offered them some when they were ripe either.

short+sassy · August 6

MyNameIsNot said:

I'd put up a fence. This is probably my legal side talking, but I have no interest in dealing with a homeowners claim or lawsuit because someone tried to climb the tree and broke their wrist.

This is exactly why I would never want a bunch of random people walking onto my property.

They don't even have to climb the tree. They can be clumsy idiots who trip on their own feet in a yard or on a driveway with NO tripping hazards and still sue the homeowner or their insurance for injuries.

I'd put in a fence. But I might try sprinkler systems first that are motion activated.

I think you're crotchety but I could be wrong

Re: I think you're crotchety but I could be wrong

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