Kate Fons’ original herb garden, planted in crates, was literally carted off by passers-by, despite the scissors for snipping.
Posted on 06/30/2015 11:22:51 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Kate Fons couldn't help herself.
It was Earth Day, and she was listening to public radio, to a segment describing how Earth Day originated in Wisconsin and so, by the way, did Little Free Libraries.
A guest on the program was a man who had combined these two, installing a Little Free Library in his front yard specifically for cookbooks and planting herbs around the base. What a cool idea, Fons thought.
There already was a Little Library a few blocks away from her south side home, so Fons zeroed in on the herb garden idea. She ordered a colorful custom sign online, assembled a few wooden crates and herb plants and set to work.
~snip~
Customers came...and customers took. That is to say, they took not just what they needed for that night's soup or salad but the entire plant. Or a whole crate.
Never mind the very visible scissors intended for snipping. Never mind the instruction on the sign: "Need an herb for that new recipe? Pick some, we'll grow more."
Down but not out, Fons added another sign asking folks to just snip what they need. "Then you can enjoy herbs all season!"
What she really wanted to say was "Stop it — you're stealing."
Soon after, that sign disappeared, along with the rest of the crates (even the empty ones).
Fons said she was "mad for a day," but then decided to build a new garden, this time with plants placed directly in the lawn. "Because it's hard to steal the ground," she said
This garden, about 3½ feet in diameter and rimmed with white rocks, holds small but thriving plants of mint, basil, parsley, cilantro, thyme, tarragon and chives. (They aren't labeled but will be soon, she said.)
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
Kate Fons’ original herb garden, planted in crates, was literally carted off by passers-by, despite the scissors for snipping.
ping to the garden list
She needed to plant some Winter Aconite labeled “Mint”.
no one stole the scissors?
I’m shocked!
It DOES say “Free Herb Garden”...
Neighbors off with whole herb garden planted for their pleasure and use. Reminds me of one of my grandsons when he was 2 and an older cousin swiped the little one’s birthday cupcake off of his plate and stuffed it right in his mouth. The little one teared up, pointed, and said, “Mama, doesn’t share!
Luckily the moms there had provided back up cupcakes and his tears were soon dried.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
Feel-goodism meets human reality. Unfortunately, reality wins.
MOst HOAs here in Florida have read about this,and are already drafting rules to prevent it..
Winter Aconite is not poisonous. Wolf's Bane can kill you in a minute (if you eat enough). Even picking the leaves can poison you, since the neurotoxin is absorbed easily through the skin.
Bad, bad stuff.
Lady Bender never got into various fresh herbs except for Chives and Parsely ~
Should have had a crate full of Obama-phones alongside the garden.
Sweet basil and rosemary are 2 to add to her list. They are easy to grow and easy to use. Fresh rosemary on all things Italian and sweet basil onfresh tomatoes and mozzarella chese with balsamic dressing. Mmmmmm-good. Tomato Caprise.
You can buy a small rosemary plant and a small sweet basil plant for $1 each and have seasoning all summer. Just cut judiciously and allow to replenish.
In California, the rosemary grows into a shrub in a protected, sunny spot that lasts for several years. I don’t know about sweet basil because I never grew it in CA. It dies in the fall around here, but so does everything else.
Aconitum (Wolf’s Bane) is a favorite murdeer weapon in English movies, if you watch PBS.
She has Basil, rosemary and Oregano
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