Random guy in the yard today

[Halcyon Daze]

An African dude asking to pick some leaves of my tree to make some cultural tea.

No major probs so far, but then he mentioned he'd come in a couple times already, and then he nearly broke a frangipanni to reach the young tips.

I'm digging it out tomorrow. He can have the bloody thing, just stay the hell outta my sanctuary bro...

[Kykeion]

Not cool. I seem to recall someone else here having a similar problem and having to cut down the trees to solve it

[theuserformallyknownasd00d]

He woulda been pinned down by the fkn neck if I found him in my yard halcyon, your way too nice.

[MountainGoat]

what was the tree? maybe he knows something....

[2XB]

what was the tree? maybe he knows something....

read between the lines???

[-RC-]

I seem to recall reading about a similar thing involving khat and peoples of countries where it is used...

Edited April 29, 2015 by Responsible Choice

[Sallubrious]

Front yard or back ?

I'd get rid of it too, you can be sure some of his mates know about it too.

He might have come just for the leaf but if he's cunning enough to sneak into your yard who knows what him or his mates will do while they're there next time. If they are willing to sneak in & steal one thing then what's to say they won't steal anything else that gets their attention.

[upside]

If he comes back take his pic and if anything goes missing ur hunting him down!

I'd say if u remove they'll be looking in ur yard for another?!

[Halcyon Daze]

I'd say if u remove they'll be looking in ur yard for another?!

Yeah, that's what really shits me.

I remember another similar thread, maybe it's the same sorta thing.

He must have bloody good eye sight because it's only just visible behind another tree, and half covered in vines. What ever he wants it for, I can always put more on the other block.

I just hope the dogs don't get let out of the yard or anything. They're like part of the family to us.

[endorfinder]

Dig it out and *give it to him*, stress that it's the only one you've got and wish him well growing his own... :/

Then buy a cheap wireless infrared video cam and record time lapse or motion sensed so you can find out if you need to move to razor wire..

[FancyPants]

^^^ that's exactly what I was going to suggest.

Give him the opportunity to make an interesting cultural friend/acquaintance, or set his thieving ass on fire, his choice how he wants to proceed...

Edited April 30, 2015 by FancyPants

[Psiphi]

People have gardens with plants to attract birds, I wonder if I could plant one that attracts people of different nationalities. Sounds like a great way to make international friends without having to leave the house.

[zed240]

People have gardens with plants to attract birds, I wonder if I could plant one that attracts people of different nationalities. Sounds like a great way to make international friends without having to leave the house.

Start growing weed. You'll have all sorts of bogans and law enforcement people to chat to in no time. ;)

[Psiphi]

Start growing weed. You'll have all sorts of bogans and law enforcement people to chat to in no time. ;)

haha "I just wanted to make some friends, Your Honour. Also, I'm going to go grab some lunch after this, wanna join me?"

[zelly]

I just hope the dogs don't get let out of the yard or anything. They're like part of the family to us.

you need dogs that'll rip a trespasser to shreds or scare 'em enough to stay off your property.

Or set up some sprinklers to motion detectors & wet trespassers down good

years ago dad posted his farm land with No Hunting signs that also said Violators Will Be Shot At

[Strontium Dawg]

Make a perimeter fence out of cuzcos and TerscheckiI!

[DiscoStu]

wrap it in barb wire

the parents of an old high school friend used to put some sort of thorned bush in their weed to deter pests,

[gerbil]

People have gardens with plants to attract birds, I wonder if I could plant one that attracts people of different nationalities. Sounds like a great way to make international friends without having to leave the house.

Of course, it occurs constantly. You can even tweak it to attract cultural groups within broader nationalities. We are nature, no different to birds.

Khat attracts interested Africans/Arabs

Curry plant attracts interested Asian/Indians

Oniony mustardy greens interested Asians

Tomatoes/peppers/eggplant/olive/fennel attracts interested Europeans

Nuts/Fruits -Europeans, Arabs, older English/Australian Europeans.

The list goes on and on, plants connect with people and if a plant occurs where you do, or if you put it there, chances are you will encounter the people with connection to the plants. Some cultures have a higher number of people with connections, and some cultures have the same plants but different connections.

Some cultures may be pushier than others, some may be sneakier, mostly it's the individuals personality and their understanding and respect of cultural law/values, time living within a given new society is also an influence. Some do it deliberately, some aren't aware it's rude to behave the way they do, some are on the same wavelength and no worries.

[etherealdrifter]

oh hd, unfortunately i reckon from my previous experiences is that you are now marked.

rear gard less of chains, mongrel dogs, barbed pasta, electric trip wires, potholes with upright spikes, nails through stems, chilli pepper on the stems attached to wires attached to bells, attack trained cats, sleepless nights camping with one eye open, shotguns filled with salt, the list goes on......

theyb know you a source now.

if i was renting i'd pull up stumps . most dudes culturally speaking as ^gerbilsays would and will pay you respect but even if you blatantly show that you have removed whateverkhata - they will always think you are hiding something somewhere. fucking thieves shit me the most - no respect for the gardener.

[incognito]

Mattock to the forehead.

Or chain eth to your tree.

Edited April 30, 2015 by incognito

[-RC-]

Spose it's a matter of sifting through the grey and working out if it is a cultural thing, in which case it's a "Yeah OK, but still mate, don't go walking into my yard like it's a community garden, and if my dogs get out I'd be devastated" type talk.

If it's the other then I spose it's a "Yeah, if it happens again, or I see you in my yard, you're straight fucked son!" (end tough guy rant)

[Halcyon Daze]

The dogs do go psycho, that's why I worry they might eventually get fucked with or go missing. They're the best dogs we've ever had, so gentle and full of personality, everybody loves them. But boy do they make a racket when they see someone like the meter-man come in.

Some people wouldn't give a f about hurting a dog. My partner's dogs were chopped down by a gang ofdrunken wankers wielding machetes (on their way to take revenge on some other bunch of drunken wankers), but that was in PNG (poor bloody dogs).

[FancyPants]

Did the guy seemed personable enough? He may have just been unsure how to go about asking in the first place? Maybe ask if you could see how his people use it traditionally? Use your intuition and best judgement, but it may be a genuine opportunity. I saw a doco recently on qat in the UK, and how the OTHER down-the-line end processes have made the plant illegal there too. The need for freshness of new leaf made the countries of origin (bugger me if I can't remember... Sudan? Oman?) suffer for it, and the expats back in the UK have to risk "illegal" activities to sit around with their mates chewing quids (and likely bitching about the missus' like regular guys do lol) all subversively. Of course then they're labelled refugee scum etc etc "how dare they disobey our laws blah blah blibbedy blah"...

I'd sure as shit hate to be in a country that I otherwised loved, but unable to drink a cuppa tea, or coffee.

Either way, whatever you do, get security cameras that can be streamed to your mobile and recorded to hard drive. They're cheap as piss and better quality than they used to be. It should also help with your home/contents insurance as a bonus. And make sure your doggies are safe, there's no redeeming a person who would maliciously harm an animal.

Edited April 30, 2015 by FancyPants

[mauve]

Spraying neem oil on the young, tender and chewable leaves has some benefits...

[migraineur]

There is never any good that comes from having catha edulis in your front yard. I've known a couple of people who had issues with this and heard stories about more.

I had the same trouble with Indians when there was a curry tree in the front yard. They'd come at night and try to sneakily steal it but then I'd wake up thinking someone was breaking in. I'd open the front window and they'd race back to their car and drive off. They'd fuck up the tree by snapping branches off it too. My friend is having a similar problem but it's a mango tree instead of a curry tree. It sucks when people come to your home and start stealing stuff.