as when I went to the allotment this morning someone had rustled a cabbage and 2 lettuces I spoke to my gardening partner and he said what he would do with a spade if he caught the thief !! I would give veg away rather than someone steal it .
I used to wander around my local allotments just enjoying the gardens, seeing the crops people were growing, and with nary a thought of nicking anything. I can't go there now, the gates are locked and there is barbed wire everywhere. It's just the way things are going.
My local allotments once had a small shop selling compost, seeds, etc. You could wander round and chat to people, generally enjoy the sight of vegetables growing.
Today, you see a car draw up at the high gates, unlock a huge padlock, drive in, and re-padlock the gates afterwards. It's great. People will actually steal VEGETABLES???
Nothing worse than working your whatnames off in an allotment ,than for scumbags to nick what you have grown.
All true gardeners will willingly give stuff away because they always have more than they can use.On my allotments we sell some cheaply through the allotment shop, or the local fruit and veg shop, but we do give masses to neighbours , 1 parent families and the elderly .'It goes without saying in my neck of the woods that that is what you do.And it gives you tremendous pleasure to do it.