Bold "neighbours"

LisaInN.Idaho · #21 07/27/11, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatrat

While it is wrong here and it should be, I wouldn't be surprised if that is acceptable and even expected in Slovakia. Given their age they may not have or may never assimilate to our customs. I was visiting friends in a foreign country where the concept of trespassing on farm land is non existent. Anyone and everyone can cross onto your farm land there without any explanation or permission and the farmer wouldn't ever question it. That's just the way it's done. If one is short on cash and food one day then taking what you need to eat that day from a field which doesn't belong to oneself has been common practice and legal in some cultures for thousands of years. However don't dare try to sell it as then it becomes stealing. What you experienced may be just a cultural misunderstanding. I'd just politely explain that it is not considered polite in this culture and they should always ask and offer to pay for anything picked in a neighbors field or garden. I'd bet almost anything that what they did is considered acceptable where they came from. Cut them some slack and explain the local customs.

Not much of an excuse really. When you move to another country there is an expectation to assimilate to the local culture. If a guy from Kyrgyzstan moves here, should we cut him some slack if he kidnaps himself a local girl as a bride.

FarmboyBill · #22 07/27/11, 03:33 PM

I was born raised up in Kan/Mo. I nEVER heard of people growing sweet corn in their corn fields so people could get some. Matter of fact. I didnt know sweet corn exisited till I left home. We would take a big ole 58 Buick with everything out of the trunk and mom and me and bro would drive up to the corn field and pick the Buick PLUMB FULL inside and in the trunk and come home and process it for sweet corn. Mom would do that several times in a day. Tasted good to us. Dad didnt have any teeth. He said we looked like a buncha hogs.

FarmboyBill · #23 07/27/11, 03:34 PM

Hey Lisza. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Wonder if ive been here too long to try to get away with that lol

FarmboyBill · #24 07/27/11, 03:36 PM

It always amazes me that people come here nowadays from all over wanting to get away from the ole country wherever that is, But they insist nearly that we accept the customs that they came with outa the old country.

Alice In TX/MO · #25 07/27/11, 03:41 PM

There are a LOT of assumptions being made about this topic.

LisaInN.Idaho · #26 07/27/11, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

There are a LOT of assumptions being made about this topic.

Like what?

FarmboyBill · #27 07/27/11, 03:51 PM

like who?

Laura Zone 10 · #28 07/27/11, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleK

Had an interesting conversation with my brother in law this weekend. He works with a fellow who lives beside one of my fields. This is a couple in their late 50s or early 60s who came here from Slovakia about 20 years ago.

Guy was telling my BIL that he hopes my corn is better this year. Huh? Turns out last summer they had a big family reunion ( I remember all the cars in the yard). They thought they'd turn it into a corn roast so they took several dozen out of the field and boiled them up for the occasion, then found out they didn't taste very good and it kinda ruined the reunion.

OK first thing is I don't grow sweet corn. Second, how bold do you have to be to complain about something you stole?

I'd mail him a bill.

Vickie44 · #29 07/27/11, 03:59 PM

I know of some who planted the roadside rows in field corn with the sweet corn inside so as not to encourage marauders but never the opposite

sammyd · #30 07/27/11, 04:42 PM

we had a neighbor that planted the outside rows in sweet corn but don't recall ever picking any without permission

Parttimefarmer · #31 07/27/11, 04:48 PM

Our neighbors think we plant berries for their kids, I understand.

FarmboyBill · #32 07/27/11, 04:58 PM

I hate to ask the ignorant question Sammy, But, If u lived in the country, Why should you be picking the neighbors corn, permission or not, instead of your own??

Elsbet · #33 07/27/11, 04:59 PM

I get it, too. When we were in Maine we had a beautiful woodlot, and I had marked a tree for our Christmas tree one year. When we went to cut it, we found someone else already had. *sigh.*
I like the idea of opening fields up to gleaning to help others out in our community, but there are just too many people who abuse that. There's a local orchard I had asked last year about picking up apple drops from- and buying them- to feed our animals with, and he said he wouldn't do that anymore because people would go in and shake the trees, often damaging them, or just pick and demand the drops price.

When people steal, whatever the excuse, it just ruins things for everyone else. There are no good excuses for theft, ever. There's always help if you need it, somewhere. If they'd been starving, no doubt if they'd asked you'd have given them all they wanted, but to have them take without asking (and serve it at a party... that's not starvation behavior), and then you later hear COMPLAINTS about the quality of the corn? Ergh.

City Bound · #34 07/27/11, 05:00 PM

Those neighbors in the OP need a slap in the face.

City Bound · #35 07/27/11, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elsbet

I get it, too. When we were in Maine we had a beautiful woodlot, and I had marked a tree for our Christmas tree one year. When we went to cut it, we found someone else already had. *sigh.*
I like the idea of opening fields up to gleaning to help others out in our community, but there are just too many people who abuse that. There's a local orchard I had asked last year about picking up apple drops from- and buying them- to feed our animals with, and he said he wouldn't do that anymore because people would go in and shake the trees, often damaging them, or just pick and demand the drops price.

When people steal, whatever the excuse, it just ruins things for everyone else. There are no good excuses for theft, ever. There's always help if you need it, somewhere. If they'd been starving, no doubt if they'd asked you'd have given them all they wanted, but to have them take without asking (and serve it at a party... that's not starvation behavior), and then you later hear COMPLAINTS about the quality of the corn? Ergh.

That is why god invented guns, so if you find someone stealing your christmas tree you can shoot them. If they survive, then maybe they will have learned not to steal anymore.

The guy from the orchard is right, why let thoughtless people damage next years crop by damaging fruit baring branches.

The older I get the more and more wisdom I see in private ownership and high fences.

Farmerwilly2 · #36 07/27/11, 05:11 PM

Might also pass along that should they be in this part of the world, that 'just helping yourself to a little' since I obviously have so much extra and won't miss it is good enough reason for a roll in the dirt asp whippin. Good luck finding a jury to convict.

City Bound · #37 07/27/11, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parttimefarmer

Our neighbors think we plant berries for their kids, I understand.

I don't think you should be the one to understand, i think They need to be the ones to understand, especially if they are old enough to have kids.

There use to be a thing called respect, it seems to be on the decline. People think we are being grumpy if we disagree with their "anything goes" lifestyle.

bignugly · #38 07/27/11, 05:14 PM

I don't care where someone is from, stealing is stealing. You will never convince me that they didn't know what they did was wrong. Let's say part of our way of life is to steal cars, do you think they would say it is okay because where we are from?

City Bound · #39 07/27/11, 05:24 PM

There is an old picture of a rural victory garden and in the garden there is a massive wood sign and painted in bold black paint it reads: "POACHERS WILL BE SHOT." I agree with that sign. They are stealing food out of your mouth and money from your pocket, and they are stealing your hard work, and they are stealing your time.

I like the idea of sending him a bill.

A sign with the commandment "Thou shall no steal" painted on it beside a picture of jesus, might scare some low lifes off.

Chief Cook · #40 07/27/11, 05:34 PM

Argh! Just thinking about thieves makes me mad. My In Laws passed away and we are trying to sell their dw and land in the country to pay off their bills and you won't believe what was stolen from thier place. Both, sets of steps, front door and back door. There is a chain over the cattle guard so we know how they got in. I couldn't believe the brass. And no my other half will not allow me to put up a "hot wire" fence. I was hoping for 220 or so. Good luck with your corn. I wonder if they could have outrun a couple of big dogs?