Community Corner

Civic Minded: Is Front Yard Fruit Anyone's For the Picking?

Should we refrain from coveting our neighbors' fruit?

Reported by Alison Gee

A Mount Washington resident seems to have her very own Garden of Eden: Her yard is filled with fragrant trees that are heavy with apricots, lemons and avocado.

The problem: These prolific plants are in her front yard, and on several occasions the woman has come outside to find neighbors and passersby plucking fruit— edible treasure that she's worked hard to grow.

When she asked them what they were doing, many said, "Well, I didn't think you'd mind sharing."

As it turns out, this neighbor relies on her front yard bounty to make up much of her daily meals. To mark boundaries without coming off as unfriendly, she has even put up small, decorative fences around her trees, but that hasn't always stopped fruit lovers from helping themselves.

What do you think? Is front yard produce community property? Or should people refrain from coveting their neighbors fruit?

If you were this gardener, what would you do to politely communicate "hands off my fruit?"


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