Just watched my gardening head start and portable go bye-bye. Some woman in a rattle trap Skylark broke traction coming into the curve here at my house, came 30 feet into my yard and through my SFG and portable greenhouse. Rutted out my garden and yard getting back on the rain slick road and just kept on going. She destroyed 30 days of work on my part and $40 worth of frame and plastic in less than 20 seconds and didn't even stop and I was right on the porch. I guess I must be the last redneck that actually takes responsibility for my screwups around here. This is the fourth reckless redneck (no tag on the car, but she had a rebel flag bumper sticker) to rut my yard in the last year. Maybe I need a koi pond in front of the garden to catch cars in :>)

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2002

Answers

No lack of sorry people in this world that's for sure.

Have you considered decorative boulders in your fence line? Seems like a lot of homes that I've seen do this when they're on bad curves or at T-intersections. Not in the right of way of the road but just on or inside the fence line.

No chance that you got the tag number was there?

........Alan.

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2002

she had no tag on her car. All I can do is replant and try to reconstruct the greenhouse. The sheriffs dept said since she had no tag, chances are she had no insurance and that was why she didn't stop.

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2002

Gosh, Jay; I'm sorry for your misfortune - all that time and hard work shot to heck. D'ya need any seeds or anything to get you back up and going? What can we do to help?

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2002

That really sucks Jay. Any chance you could file a claim on your homeowners insurance?

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2002

That's terrible Jay. I like the decorative boulder idea. I know some people that live on a busy corner and it definitely stopped the cars from taking a shortcut through their yard.

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2002

Wouldn't be worth claiming against homeowners. I was able to salvage most of the pieces of the greenhouse thanks to bungee cord construction. Another $10 worth of plastic and It'll be back up. I'm more pissed at the lost seedlings and harvest head start, but I started new ones today to replace the lost ones. I guess I can use the house longer at the end of season to get the most in. I guess what really rips me is people like that probably figure a garden as a hobby , while I use it as my main food source.

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2002

Geesh...that's a real bummer, Jay!! All that work in your seedlings...pooched! Could you salvage any seedings? I think the pond is a good idea...or maybe quicksand!!!

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2002

I'm all for the decorative border and my favorite decorative border is made out of huge boulders. Or how about a moat. At least that would cause her to stop.

Wishing you enough.

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2002

She mangled seven out of 12 squares. If it was just tearing up a garden I could maybe say she didn't see it or realize she damaged something, but when you drive through a 40 foot plastic tent, you know you screwed up :>)

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2002

Jay I am so sorry your hard work had to go that way. How about digging a DEEP trench about two feet from the road to trap and hold those cars. Then you can nab the owner as they emerge stunned from their car. You could make a moat type of trap too, just deep enough to trap the hood end of their car. I bet if they don't have insurance you could sell the car for scrap. Position is 9/10 of the law!!!!! Jay think of this as another of your money ventures (LOL).

Susan

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2002

I am always amazed by people. I truly believe that there are people out there that will only go out in bad weather. The pace around their houses waiting until it's wet so they can go out and cause accidents. I bet if they did a study on it, it would be true.

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2002

The problem with cyber freinds is is its hard to get to em when things happen! Darn if you were close I'd be over to help you whip things back together. Real sorry Jay!.....kirk

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

wow Jay, bummer!!! Wish we could help like Kirk said.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Jay, my gosh!!! I am so sorry for you man! Sometimes life is just plain unfair, sure we were all closer so we could help you clean up and restart :-).

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Greenhouse rack is ten feet shorter, but its up. Salvaged some of the plastic sheeting by seaming it with MEK, so I only have to buy one $3 roll. The four squares in the open can be used for corn.

Am considering a four foot deep, eight foot wide, Twenty foot long fish pond for garden water . Just have to check with my insurance agent first:>)

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

GRRRRRRRRR. That is insane. After being pretty angry, I guess the only consolation would be that that woman has to spend the rest of her life being *her*! If she's as much of an idiot as she sounds like, that must be a significant punishment for this deed (and no doubt others, if she lives so irresponsibly).

I wish I could load some tools in the truck and drive right down there to help you. But it would take me just a week to do the drive. GRRRRRR.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Its just about over now except for landscaping the yard back level. I actually improved on the design some too. Soon as I get to town to get a roll of sheeting to finish the cover, I'll be good to go and "this dawg will have his day soon" . Like I said before, I'm a redneck too :>)

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

What a drag, but Alan is right, Ts and curves are more prone to have 'uninvited guests' drop in and make a new drive thru. Things could be worse; the car could have hit your house or even you.

My wife's cousin actually had a drunk driver go through a chain link fence, cross a yard and drove into their house, the spot being one of their children's bedrooms. Luckily, it was early afternoon (and the guy was ALREADY drunk!), and no one was in the house when it happened. The guy tried to back up and drive away, but the house foundation caught on is underside and prevented tire contact with the ground.

I nominate the driver for the Rowan-Martin 'Fickle Finger' award, modified for the occasion. Sorry for your troubles guy; I hope they improve.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 2002

Jay...you are a far better person than I.A week of fuming and cussin would be a start before I could repair anything.That is one of the nastiest things I have ever heard of...a mans garden is holy ground.I'm glad you are okay.I agree with the moat idea.There sure is no shortage of weird happenings on this forum !!No one could accuse us of being boring!!!!I'm still in shock over Kirks cabin!!!

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

teri,

What good would I had gotten from cussing and fuming? Its just me and the "kids" here :>). I just thought it funny how here I was on the porch with a cup of coffee in my favorite antique cup my mother gave me when I was six (damn I'm old :>), thinking how I finally had a handle on things, then I see just how "portable" that rack is. I actually had rework under way when I posted the original thread and of course, one day I will get my "redneck revenge" someday.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

What can I say ...I think fuming is far more interesting than pouting which is something I left in my twenties......damn I'm getting old with ya JAy!!!!

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Jay boy, I hate to hear that some idiot tried to wipe you out, think she was trying for you and just missed?

The koi pond might work but be careful what kinda barriers you put up. It's amazing that, even though it's your property, you can't legally protect it if it will cause harm to others. I say we're just cleaning the gene pool but the law doesn't seem to think that way. Never made sense to me why I couldn't set booby traps for crooks or put up tank barriers to protect my property or rig explosive charges in mail boxes to.....

Wildman, (dreaming)

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002