The pest that is hardest to stop from destroying

This morning, I went to the community garden where I am the captain of that sinking ship.  It is several hundred square feet of raised bed with all the Mel's Mix ingredients plus others.  Different parts have been filled with different things.  I think there is perlite in some of the raised bed, and there are parts that are basically all compost.  Somebody has added this product made of rock dust.

I doubt if the parents were actually watching it would have been any different. Lots of discipline, courtesy, and just plain old fashioned manners seem to be a thing of the past.
I don't blame the kids. I think most kids are good by nature. Sure, they can be little stinkers sometimes, but it all starts with the parents IMO!

Was it an organized event or neighbors kids? I would try to contact whoever was in charge if that can be determined and have a peaceful talk with them.

Nothing is ever organized with this community garden and the greater playground area that surrounds it.  The same kids and parents are there all the time.

These parents need the discipline for sure.  They are grown up spoiled brats, and they appease their children by letting them do whatever, eat unlimited amounts of junk food and candy, throwing their bubble gum in the garden.  When the kids throw a tantrum, they tell them that if they will be quiet, they will go buy them some Sweet Cici's (frozen yogurt) or Ben and Jerry's Ice cream.

Many of these same people joined up to be part of the community garden, but then all they have done is partake in the harvest.

I will say that the members that belong to the two churches and the one synagogue are well-behaved.  They and their children respect the space for what it is and contribute financially and with muscle and sweat.

Here are two things thriving already--Mint and Parsley

There's a church close to me that offers space in their community garden. I thought about doing that. Some people in the neighborhood talked about starting one in the backyard of a house that was flooded a while back with the owner's permission. I'm leary of that one. I'll just keep mine in my back yard for now. Your mint and parsley look good. I didn't know what your gardening situation was so I made the suggestion.

My lame next door neighbors often let their dog roam the neighborhood. The dog ambled into my veggie beds and proceeded to tromp through the beds. I yelled over the fence to my clueless neighbor that his dog was in my veggie garden and he yelled back. "Don't worry he won't harm anything, he's a carnivore- dogs don't like vegetables"! 

that sucks and I feel your pain...in our private community garden I often find footprints right through newly seeded areas.  hours of hard work can be ruined in an instant so I feel your pain.  I have kids and make it a priority that they are well mannered (as much as possible) and respect other people's hard work.

Yardslave wrote:My lame next door neighbors often let their dog roam the neighborhood. The dog ambled into my veggie beds and proceeded to tromp through the beds. I yelled over the fence to my clueless neighbor that his dog was in my veggie garden and he yelled back. "Don't worry he won't harm anything, he's a carnivore- dogs don't like vegetables"! 

Should have yelled back "so am I".

Yardslave wrote:My lame next door neighbors often let their dog roam the neighborhood. The dog ambled into my veggie beds and proceeded to tromp through the beds. I yelled over the fence to my clueless neighbor that his dog was in my veggie garden and he yelled back. "Don't worry he won't harm anything, he's a carnivore- dogs don't like vegetables"! 

 Sounds like time to feed their mutt raw sausages ............filled with  a fair bit of ...... liquid paraffin

Yardslave wrote:My lame next door neighbors often let their dog roam the neighborhood. The dog ambled into my veggie beds and proceeded to tromp through the beds. I yelled over the fence to my clueless neighbor that his dog was in my veggie garden and he yelled back. "Don't worry he won't harm anything, he's a carnivore- dogs don't like vegetables"! 

He'd have one warning from me. Next, I'd call the humane society, or local sheriff if out of city limits. I couldn't hurt a dog, but I have no problem with the owner having to pay a hefty fine (that goes up on each offense) for his pet running wild.

I'd never hurt the dog either. It's just a dog being a dog. I might ask the owner if he has any recipes for dog just to see his expression.

Our community garden seems to be lucky in one respect--there doesn't seem to be any 4-legged pests of any kind there.  I guess having blacktop parking on one side and a wall on the other side has kept any wildlife or tame life from finding the garden.

As of today, no more footprints had been made, but about 5 feet by 2 feet of crops were trampled.

I wish our home garden was invisible to the mammals.  No person ever steps on the growing media, but there are a variety of species of wildlife here, and they all seem to know when it is planting time.

We have so many deer now that they have made a path in our yard.  The trail commences at the top of our backyard steps and traverses the embankment into our woods.  They walk right past the compost pile but do not seem to care about it.  I caught one of them pushing the regular door between our two garage doors open.

Yardslave wrote:My lame next door neighbors often let their dog roam the neighborhood. The dog ambled into my veggie beds and proceeded to tromp through the beds. I yelled over the fence to my clueless neighbor that his dog was in my veggie garden and he yelled back. "Don't worry he won't harm anything, he's a carnivore- dogs don't like vegetables"! 

And he's incorrect. Dogs DO like veggies! My Nicholas would eat raw zukes all day long if I allowed him too.

I agree with calling animal control &/or the sheriff.... Or can you put up electric fencing?

Kids or dogs, here is my solution, however rudimentary....

My neighbors who I really like and get along with fine, have a big ole yellow lab.  He and my dog are run-buddies.  After a couple times of the big doggie stepping into my old beds freshly planted, I dug out of the trash about 4 broken tomato stakes, the plastic coated metal ones that became overcome with a couple Oxhearts first year.  I jammed those babies strategically into the corners and among the sides of my beds, and Viola!  No more dog/soccer kids in my beds.  Just a visual physical reminder...

Not sure how it would work with. The soccer kids, but if you have some old broken stakes around, try it.  Worked for me.