This is not my picture and I don't know who to credit it to, but it spoke to me on this subject.

Ok, this is a HOT topic so let me start this post with some disclaimers . . .

1. This is MY OPINION — not affiliated with anyone, not advertising for anyone.
2. I am PRO CHOICE and therefore I am PRO LIFE (I’ll explain this later.)
3. I am not a medical professional and I did not go read a bunch of other people’s opinions to base mine on, this is what resonates in my heart.
4. I am not here to judge anyone but of course, I hope to sway others who may be facing such a hard choice.

Every woman has choices, lots of choices. And one of the most important choices is who and when she gives herself away (has sex.) The fact of the matter is millions and millions, maybe even billions, of people have sex every single day, possibly every single hour. God created sex to be pleasurable AND to pro-create.  All you have to do is read Song of Solomon or Song of Sons depending on what your Bible calls it and you will know this. (Now if you don’t believe in the Bible, that’s a whole other matter that I am not getting into today.)

Back to my point, millions or billions of people are having sex at any given time, and a pregnancy is not guaranteed.  It is not by chance either.  Just ask those people who have tried literally for YEARS to have a baby, doing everything humanly possible with no results.  Then one day, viola, pregnancy.  Know what this tells me . . . it was pre-ordained.  God knew when, where and who were to become pregnant.  He KNOWS every single one of his children and calls them by name before our parents even know our sex.

I am not going to argue when life begins.  I am not a scientist, but all you have to do is look at early sonograms and you will see facial features, heartbeats and can even get responses to sound or movement.  I believe life begins at inception.

So keeping this short and sweet. A woman chooses to have sex (or not in the horrible incidents of rape,) God has pre-ordained when of these physical encounters will produce one of His children, and within days that baby begins to become a recognizable BABY. Abortion kills a child, there is no subtle way to put it. 

Now we come to the choices and I will completely agree, that the thought of abortion would cross my mind in certain circumstances, anyone who tells you it doesn’t or won’t is lying.

First scenario:

I grew up in a SUPER strict, conservative home. If I had made the CHOICE to have sex back then and subsequently had gotten pregnant, you bet your bottom dollar, abortion would have been the VERY FIRST thing that came to my mind.  Now I don’t know that I would have followed through because my thoughts of killing children haven’t changed so much, but I would have done just about anything before facing my parents with this complete failure on my part . . . Now here’s the moral to that story.  This does not speak to a failure on God’s part or my baby’s part.  It speaks to my failures and those of my parents (sorry, mom and dad, I love you, but….) I would have made the choice to break God’s commandment to have sex outside the confines of marriage, and not being able to face my parents, well that speaks volumes doesn’t it?  Not just about how my family operated but how Christians continue to operate with our judgments and superior attitudes.  Hey, I’m a Christian and I get it all the time, think of how the non-Christians see us.  Just think…

Second scenario:

After my daughter was born, I was THRILLED, which was big, because I was the girl that for the first almost 30 years of my life said I would not marry or have bio kids.  When we found out 4 months later that I was pregnant again, I was THRILLED, but I knew that was it for me.  I think it was my first doctor’s appointment for my second pregnancy that I said, “can you tie my tubes when this one is born?”  I have never regretted that decision. I did not and do not want to have any more bio babies.  My two are FABULOUS and the lights of my life, but they were all the “baby” I was made to handle. So fast forward a few years, and my friends and family members who started have babies before me…started having more babies.  I was happy for them but flabbergasted.  I mean, their kids were practically grown, out of diapers, out of potty training, out of “mommy, mommy” constantly (all that I was still going through) and here they were, starting all over.  I mean, they were getting their lives back, their freedom back, their sleep back and they were CHOOSING to do it again.

Absolutely CRAZY in my book! I know that sounds judgmental and maybe it is a little bit, but really it just really wasn’t for me and I knew it.  I LOVE being a mom, and I LOVE my munchkins, but the thought of having to do babies again would scare the be-jeezus out of me.  BUT if I were to have gotten or get pregnant since that time, the thought of abortion would have gone through my head.  It would obviously have been for a completely different reason.  I am at a totally different place in life. Have nothing to be ashamed of, but whoa, that thought is one of the scariest I can imagine.

Third scenario:

What is your scenario? Be honest.  Even the healthiest, wholest person I know has a scenario where the thought would cross their mind.  Rape, birth defects, age, money, single parenthood?  All of these things factor into a woman’s choice…

So now instead of talking about government and politicians, maybe we should focus on 1) THE CHOICE, that’s where it begins, right? and 2) the hard life factors that make the thought of having a baby so hard to stomach for so many whatever their life circumstances.  Let’s stop judging and start surrounding girls, teens, women with love, support and knowledge.  In the end, it doesn’t matter one bit what the government does, the bottom line is what that one woman’s CHOICE is…every single time.  And that ONE WOMAN has to live with the consequences for the REST of her life.

My parents were great, although I certainly didn’t think it at the time, while I was growing up. They were always there, always available for us to have friends over or drive us somewhere. We saw the country, experienced lessons in an abundance of activities trying to find our niche, had plenty of food, clothes and heated and air conditioned house, and aside from the occasional grounding or spanking which we well deserved, had a very charmed up-bringing. Now granted this in hindsight, going through it, well, not so charmed at all.

But my point is, this upbringing and seeing my parents relate to others and give to others, while maintaining our family, has influenced me. I want to serve my family. Yes, I realize that my family definition varies greatly from other peoples, but it is what it is. This is my mission field as a missionary would say. Some people give money, some people give their lives in the military, some people travel to foreign countries and learn languages, some go and build houses or teach school in impoverished neighborhoods.

My mission, my heart, is raising children to be the absolute best person they can be, and just maybe be able to give back to their heart’s mission. Now you would say. . . so what, every mother does that. And yes, I have the two most fabulous biological children in the world, you’ve seen or heard about them in my previous writings. But those aren’t the only children I’m referring too. I am talking about the foster kids who have flitted in and out of our lives the last two years, the children who no one else wants or has time for, the children who have been trampled on . . . those are my children. THOSE ARE MY CHILDREN TOO!

This isn’t something new. Before I married, I had begun the process of becoming a foster parent. My dream has always been a home full of teenagers. Now I am on the cusp of realizing that dream. But there are lots of road blocks: size of my house, number of rooms in my house, income or lack thereof to support a larger family as a single mom, etc. These are not insurmountable and for the first time in years, I am waking up every morning with the same prayer: “You know my heart, You know my vote on whether these kids can come to me, Your will be done, I am leaving it in your hands because I cannot do it.”

I am ready for the next challenge, I welcome it. And this IS my heart’s desire.

The Glamorous Miss Hatty with Us

Talk about a blast from the past.  Two years ago, the kids and I were fortunate enough to find ourselves in the company of greatness.  You know one of those people who is so full of energy and joy that you just glow from being around them.  Well, that was Miss Hatty to us.  She was an exchange student at William & Mary from the UK and she took the time out of her crazy school schedule to spend time with us.  Play with the kids at Kidsburg, fix me English tea (ick!) and teach the kids very naughty versions of Patty Cake, including a 10 feet bra.  She made our lives brighter.  Her energy and joy was contagious and my kids are definitely better people for having had her in their lives for those short months.

As much as I tried to bribe her, she returned to Nottingham, graduated and is pursuing additional training now.  But not a single week goes by that we haven’t wished for her joy and smile in our lives again.  Today, we were blessed with a visit from her.  We met her at the park where we initially met her and it was like deja vu.  Here comes this pale red head prancing across the field, all smiles and fun just poring from her.  Now it did take the kids a little while to warm up, but it wasn’t long til they were running around screaming, dancing and giggling like the last two years of separation hadn’t happened. There is nothing that warms a mom’s heart more than seeing that much joy and fun on her kids’ faces.

Now, Miss Hatty took more video of the kids and some of you on Facebook will remember some of her other “infamous” footage of my kids and I hope she will post today’s footage of the crazy dancing and giggling.  But in the meantime, for posterity’s sake, I had to post these images of my kids in their Miss Hatty accessories!

My Playboy touting the latest Miss Hatty accessories!Stike a Post - Miss Hatty Style

Stike a Post - Miss Hatty Style

So if you are lucky enough to have a Miss Hatty in your life . . . take the time to let her know just how much she means to you. Even if she is across a big pond and you only see her every couple of years! WE LOVE YOU MISS HATTY!

So that’s my two cents.  I am working really hard every day to lose weight, get in shape and get to a place where I am proud of my appearance.  Can we just get a song that says something a little bit more empowering . . .

Face Wound - Day 1

My daughter is strong, graceful, caring and lots of fun to be with.  She lights up my life with her love and affection and I am so proud of her compassion and care for others.  But on this day in March .  . . well, you can see the results.  Evidently she was running in the street and decided to dive onto the pavement face first.  I wasn’t home.  The sitter, who I trust implicitly with my children, called and said Hannah fell down and was fine but resting in my room with an ice pack on her face.  Ok, no problem.

I certainly wasn’t expecting to find have her face covered in scrapes when I returned.  I broke into tears.  How could I not be hear to protect her, take care of her?

Face Wound - Day 3

As moms, especially of young children, we coddle them, do everything we can to protect them from physical as well as emotional harm and take the best care of them that we know how to and possibly can.  But sometimes, things happen – behind our backs, behind closed doors, even outside in our front drive.  We can’t always be there, we can’t always protect them.  The bubble boy proved that to us.  It doesn’t make it any easier.  And it doesn’t make us feel any less guilty even it was ABSOLUTELY not our fault or even in our control.

Face Wound - Day 4

So what do we do?  Well, my take on it is that kids need to be prepared for the real world, without constant parental supervision.  Meaning, we can’t wrap them in a bubble or even be with them all the time.  We have to let them make their own mistakes, starting early and be there to help them cope, repair and overcome.  I know this is a corny example, but it’s a visual.  My daughter’s face healed completely.  But for a week, she wore her hair (or tried to) over the right side of her face so no one would see.  She was embarrassed, thought she was “ugly” and had a hard time dealing with the results of this fall.

Hannah - 7 Years Old Photo by CRitchie

My daughter is perfect in my eyes, even when she falls and skins up her face.  Even when she is mean, even when she sasses me (I dread the teenager on the horizon.)  She has my heart and I would do absolutely anything for her.  But I will teach her to stand up for herself, to be proud of herself and to overcome the trials that life will certainly hand her.  And I hope to teach her to do all that with the inner beauty she already possesses – compassion, love for others and strength.

This is what I thought my family would look like.  I got married.  I had a girl, I had a boy.  And voila, this was supposed to be us . . . We would live in a house with a picket fence, visit family on the holidays and be completely content with one another and our children.  He would take care of the yard, take out the trash and I would take care of the house and the children.

We would take family vacations, snuggle at night and talk about our days and spend weekends doing family activities.  Isn’t this what you pictured when you started out?  Isn’t this just an extension of “every little girl’s dream?”  Ok, I never played wedding or really dress up, so maybe I’m not like every girl, but I have a strong suspicion that these dreams are not that far off from most people’s or at least most women’s when they were younger.

But now reality has set in and it’s nothing like a I pictured.  In fact, very little if any of those “dreams” listed above even became a part of my reality.

Instead our family looks like this . . .

There’s way more kids than I ever planned. There’s kids with no attachments, whole other families completely integrated with ours and then those just on the outskirts. Can you relate to this?

On our way home from VBS today, my son and I had an interesting conversation that got me thinking along this line.  Cade asked “Who lives with J?”  Umm, Mr. J, Mrs. M, R and M, of course.  “No, Mom, at his other home.  Does Mr. J or Mrs. M live with him there?”  You see, J lives in Spain with his mom, but he comes here and stays with his dad in the summers.  His dad has remarried and has two step children.  A true example of a blended family.  Boy, that’s hard to explain to a 6 year old.  I mean, we are certainly not a traditional family any more since their dad and I split, but so far, there are no step parents, half siblings or step siblings.

My brother’s son also causes them confusion as my brother and his “baby” momma for lack of a better term never married, and had him.  Now his mom is remarried and therefore my kids are convinced that my brother is no longer his dad, the mom’s new husband is his dad.  But he, calls the new husband his best friend . . . OMG, this just confuses them more.  (And even me a little.)  Now there’s a new baby in the family and they want to know if she is their cousin too.  How do I even begin to explain this?!?

So I have decided to stop trying and choose a new way of thinking of family (and it’s been a long time coming,) and here it is:

I was never the one with lots of friends growing up.  We moved every couple of years and I had/have a really hard time attaching to people, and am often told I am cold because of how easy it is for me to walk away sometimes.  But things have changed for me now.  I am one of 4 siblings who are not all that close.  My extended family lives states away.  And my parents are busy with their own lives.  My ex lives one town over, but well, you know how that goes.  So it’s me and the kids, and that seemed to be okay for a while.  Okay and even really good for a while, I might say.

But things have changed.  And changed intentionally for the most part, no one has forced this change but us.  Here’s how our family has grown and finally has started to feel complete and whole and healthy even though it is not traditional at all and there is really no way to explain to anyone (although I am obviously trying here:)

1. We went through the training, background checks and home visits to become a foster family.  We have since met and established relationships with several foster kids locally.  My kids call them their pretend brothers and sisters . . . and I love that.  Hope to eventually have a couple that will stay long term.  So our kid count has grown.
2. I have met and bonded with a core group of women, mostly all married, mothers and non-mothers.  Professionals and SAHMs.  And because of this bond we now have constant play dates, dinner invites and even adult time when it’s just us girls hanging out and being girls . . . ok, maybe we still only talk kids, men and work, but it’s still a lot of fun!  So we’ve completely integrated 4 other families with our own and really feel like they are our family.
3. We moved into this wonderful neighborhood where I feel confident and safe in letting the kids have some freedoms outside and roam around with the other 1,000,000 kids who live on our street (ok, maybe a little exaggeration there.) Now these people are mostly on the outskirts of our family . . . but more often than not, one or two or a dozen are hanging around, eating a snack or just goofing of with us.
4. Our latest addition has been to apply to host a FAF child for the summer and hope to get two next year and every year afterwards.  My hope is that this child(ren) will become more “pretend” brothers and sisters to the kids and they will grow up with a close bond despite the distance most of the year.

So what does your family look like?  Does it look like the old fashioned family trees with the generic parents, children and extended family?  Or does it look more like ours where the family tree limbs twist in all sorts of directions, hold hands with other trees and just make your life complete like perhaps you never thought it would be??

I LOVE MY CHOSEN FAMILY and am SO HAPPY to have them in my life!

You always hear that a picture is worth a thousand words . . . and this one spoke to my heart!

We were visiting my Grandmother in small town Georgia and this is a locally sponsored park in honor of Paul Armstrong and the kids LOVE to visit and play on the beautifully maintained grass, hover over the fountain or swing on the bench swing.  Ok, maybe I love all that too.  You just don’t find these types of small, beautiful nooks in communities too often.

Now, back to my picture.  I don’t know how I got this particular shot.  I am not a photographer with enough talent to have intentionally done the focus thing that really makes this image pop to me.  You can just feel the beauty, the contentment and the joy without even seeing a smile or flower in focus.

I hope your day is filled with beauty and joy.  And remember even the unintentional ‘fuzziness’ can serve a purpose.

It was a sad day indeed for my pride when my independent spirit realized that I needed a coach to help keep me on track. How awful it was to realize my mother, dare I say it… she who had been studying and working with persons with my condition for years, and obviously has way more experience than me in this field…was right…logic would dictate that she should be, as she was the one who gave me all the books I glanced through in the first place.

The advice was initially given in a book that I cannot recall the name of and again my adored mom e-mailed me links to several web sites. Did I listen to it then? Not really, it wasn’t until I was cleaning out my office in expectation of my sister visiting that it hit me. I was showing off my progress to a girlfriend, patting myself on my back. She looked around at my multitude of partially finished projects lying around (some having been started as far back as 5 years ago), and said “Wow, how neat. How long does something like this take you to make?…and what about this?” Then the sneaky hag of a wonderful friend said “So, you should be able to finish one project a week and knock this pile out by the end of the year huh?” To which I looked dumbstruck and replied hesitantly “Um, I guess so, but,” She promptly interrupted me and said, “Great, what’s the dead line for this one then?” By the end of the afternoon I had sticky notes attached to every project as well as an occasional note with the steps and/or materials needed to finish it as well. She also extracted a promise that I would shop at home before going to the store to get the items required to check the projects off. Since then she has asked at least once a week how the latest project is going, the result, I am actually getting things done!

I have had a few setbacks. Apparently I cannot be trusted to go into a fabric or craft store without a buddy or I come out with a more materials and supplies than I need and ideas for more projects that I don’t have time to do yet. I also need to plan to finish only one project a week, even if I feel that I can get more done. I learned that it is absolutely imperative that I finish one before starting on the next or neither gets done. So far I have been able get one project done a week for the last 5 weeks! I’ve finished 2 quilts, made a doll dress, finished some pillowcases, and finished a piñata. I did not complete all of the tasks I had wanted, but I got a lot more done had I not started…

In hope that they will be a good fit for someone else, Here are some of  the resources passed on to me…

The Everything Health Guide to Adult ADD/ADHD

ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life

Skoach

Attention Deficit Disorder Student Handbook

Adult ADD: Time Management, Career & Relationships

Kay Grossman

Time Management Tips

Thrive With ADD

HelpGuide.org

Maria Montessori created a program in which children set the pace of their education. The children are treated as capable individuals. The teachers give lessons on how to do things properly then allow the children to master the task at their own pace, lending assistance on a as needed basis only. The goal is to allow them to figure out how things work through trial and error and to use their problem solving skills to come up with solutions. Even as toddlers they are given chores in the classroom, giving them ownership of the space and a since of responsibility. They are expected and encouraged to be productive members of the class, cleaning the room, taking care of class plants and pets, and providing assistance to fellow classmates. Each class has three grades in one room, the first years are taken under the wings of the older students who show them the ropes and the result is very nurturing. The older students are proud to be able to show all they have learned and inadvertently model proper behavior and good work habits to the younger students.

The Montessori method teaches:
*Reading phonetically and uses a movable alphabet for spelling. Mistakes are corrected before they put pencil to paper taking away the stress of rewrites for early and emerging readers.
*Their method of teaching math is extremely logical, using color to help reinforce number values and hands-on materials to teach and solidify concepts rather than rote memorization.
*Science and Social Sciences are taught in a circular method, the concepts are introduced at each level gradually getting more detailed and complicated as understanding improves.

Students are encouraged to further explore topics they find particularly interesting and share their discoveries with the rest of the class. By the time they reach High school they have most of their basic skills down, and are college ready. They spend the three years putting their knowledge to practical use in community projects, doing internships, and working on long term research projects on more specialized topics. They are prepared for LIFE, not just the next level of education.

As much as I love the Montessori method, it is not for everyone anymore than the current public education system is. Like any phonics-based curriculum it is a challenge for those who have auditory processing issues. It relies heavily on parental involvement, if you do not reinforce the rules and training at home they won’t stick. This could be said for any form of education. Finally, most are not public schools so costs money; you have to really want it for your children. When we moved I searched for a new Montessori school, the cost was so high I would have been strictly working for my kids to go to school and not have any money for them to enjoy extracurricular activities. We chose instead to home school and employ the basics of the Montessori method to the best of our abilities. There are several books that were helpful in the beginning that I still use and I am extremely grateful to the teachers at that little school who continue to give me wonderful advice and guidance.

Helpful Books and Information

Teaching Montessori in the Home: Pre-School Years: The Pre-School Yearsby Elizabeth G. Hainstock

Teaching Montessori in the Home: The School Years by Elizabeth G. Hainstock

Modern Montessori at Home II: A Creative Teaching Guide for Parents of Children 10 Through 12 Years of Ageby Heidi Anne Spietz

Dr. Montessori’s Own Handbook by Maria Montessori

The best way to learn how to teach using the Montessori method is to go through their training program, which includes classroom training. However, if you are only interested in teaching your own children and would like to have more formal training and technical guidelines, NAMC offers an online program that is perfectly acceptable in addition to selling materials for classroom use.

Farmer’s Markets are a great option for those of us who don’t have the time (or gift of growing). It is a great way to socialize, support your local growers, and stimulate the economy. They usually meet one day a week for a 4 to 5 hour block, check your local papers for times and locations. Most of the time the participants only take cash, however, some will take checks, so you will want to be prepared for this. It might not be a bad idea to bring some reusable shopping bags or baskets with you as well.

For the more adventurous a Food Co-op is an excellent option. Here you usually buy a ‘share’ of a garden from a local grower and pick up your selection of vegetables. While you miss out on the socialization aspect of the market, the other benefits hold true. These are slightly more difficult to find, some advertise in the local paper or you can try Local Harvest, coopdirectory.org, or Google for a list of local groups. Most Co-ops require a contract, payments schedules vary from group to group. Growers usually have a list of the items they will be growing for the season and you will get a selection of everything harvested for the week. While this can complicate advanced menu planning, it can be a great adventure and lead you to trying new flavors and expanding your pallet.

If you are fortunate enough to have the time but lack space, a small indoor garden, like the one made by AeroGarden, or patio garden is an option. However, if you prefer a more traditional garden then Community Gardens are great choices. Like homeowners’ associations there are rules about maintaining your plot and bylaws vary from group to group. The nice thing about a Community Garden is that you are in control of what you plant, thus what you bring to your table. The key is to choose a location near your home or work; otherwise it becomes complicated to find time to tend your garden. Local schools, churches, national parks or recreational departments, and even some office buildings in major cities will provide garden spaces. These are some websites that can help you locate one near you: http://communitygarden.org/ http://www.localharvest.org/ http://commgardens.meetup.com/.

If you cannot find a Community Garden near you, you can always start one or just encourage your local school or church to start one. After finding a location and starting a committee with friends or neighbors, start digging! Here is a list of items to consider when discussing your bylaws that will help eliminate any unnecessary complications:

1. The Garden. Decide what charge for a plot and how (flat rate, monthly fee, requiring x many community service hours on central plot).

• Are there conditions for membership (residence, dues, agreement with rules)?
• How will plots be assigned (by family size, by residency, by need, by group– i.e., youth, elderly, etc.)?
• How large should plots be (or should there be several sizes based on family size or other factors?
• How should plots be laid out?
• If the group charges dues, how will the money be used? What services, if any, will be provided to gardeners in return?
• Will the group do certain things cooperatively (such as turning in soil in the spring, planting cover crops, or composting)?
• When someone leaves a plot, how will the next tenant be chosen?
• How will the group deal with possible vandalism?
• Will there be a children’s plot?
• Will the gardeners meet regularly? If so, how often and for what purposes?
• Will gardeners share tools, hoses, and other such items?
• How will minimum maintenance (especially weeding) be handled both inside plots and in common areas (such as along fences, in flower beds, and in sitting areas)?
• Will there be a set of written rules which gardeners are expected to uphold? If so, how will they be enforced?
• Should your group incorporate and consider eventually owning your garden site?

2.The contract. Some may be more relevant to vegetable gardens than to community flower gardens or parks. Pick and choose what best fits your situation.

• I will pay a fee of $___ to help cover garden expenses.
• I will have something planted in the garden by (date) and keep it planted all summer long.
• If I must abandon my plot for any reason, I will notify the garden leadership.
• I will keep weeds at a minimum and maintain the areas immediately surrounding my plot if any.
• If my plot becomes unkempt, I understand I will be given 1 week’s notice to clean it up. At that time, it will be re-assigned or tilled in.
• I will keep trash and litter out of the plot, as well as from adjacent pathways and fences.
• I will participate in the fall cleanup of the garden.
• I will plant tall crops where they will not shade neighboring plots.
• I will pick only my own crops unless given permission by another plot user.
• I will not use fertilizers, insecticides or weed repellents that will in any way affect other plots.
• I agree to volunteer hours toward community gardening efforts.(include a list of volunteer tasks which your garden needs).
• I will not bring pets to the garden.
• I understand that neither the garden group nor owners of the land are responsible for my actions. I THEREFORE AGREE TO HOLD HARMLESS THE GARDEN GROUP AND OWNERS OF THE LAND FOR ANY LIABILITY, DAMAGE, LOSS OR CLAIM THAT OCCURS IN CONNECTION WITH USE OF THE GARDEN BY ME OR ANY OF MY GUESTS.

3. Vandalism is a common fear among community gardeners. However, the fear tends to be much greater than the actual incidence. Try these proven methods to deter vandalism:

• Make a sign for the garden. Let people know to whom the garden belongs and that it is a neighborhood project.
• Fences can be of almost any material. They serve as much to mark possession of a property as to prevent entry, since nothing short of razor-wire and land mines will keep a determined vandal from getting in. Short picket fences or turkey wire will keep out dogs and honest people.
• Create a shady meeting area in the garden and spend time there.
• Invite everyone in the neighborhood to participate from the very beginning. Persons excluded from the garden are potential vandals.
• Involve the neighborhood children in learning gardens. They can be the garden’s best protectors. (see below.)
• Plant raspberries, roses or other thorny plants along the fence as a barrier to fence climbers.
• Make friends with neighbors whose windows overlook the garden. Trade them flowers and vegetables for a protective eye.
• Harvest all ripe fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. Red tomatoes falling from the vines invite trouble.
• Plant potatoes, other root crops or a less popular vegetable such as kohlrabi along the side walk or fence.
• Plant the purple varieties of cauliflower and beans or the white eggplant to confuse a vandal.
• Plant a “vandal’s garden” at the entrance. Mark it with a sign: “If you must take food, please take it from here.