FRUIT THIEF!

[@LoanNguyen-dh1bx]

Totally understand your frustration. We used to grow sugar canes on the side of our house. Beautiful dark purple skin sugar canes from a cane that I snuck into my suitcase from Maui. (Don't tell Custom.) Anyway, we always get people asking us to spare one or two and some did not even ask. We got angry whenever that happened but then we calmed down because we felt we could spare. But, the final straw was when our largest cane that we were saving because it was larger than any sugar cane we ever saw -- It was almost 3-in in diameter. Someone took one chop to the base of the plant and took it. My husband got really angry and so did I. But, the angry got the best of him and he chopped off all the canes. We were going to grow the canes in another location but when we were both busy and now we don't have sugar canes anymore. : ( Just hate those fruit thefts!

[@wendiland]

There was a thief in the garden! >

[@jonathanmacias2911]

Wendi Phan don't let them Jew you down it's a quote from American Horror story 😂

[@jetspray3]

Being nice to people in whatever you do in life is the worst thing ever, in the end people would used that against you and from my understanding its very hard to detect those individuals who would used your kindness against you and those that would be kind towards your kindness.Dealing with people should be generalized in a way of being respectable but not nice to them.Also never let anyone know what you have neither invite them to your garden.

[@jz6532]

I totally feel your pain. I had a similar experience in White Rock Canada. We brought a Fuyu persimmon tree and planted in our front yard. We waited patiently for it to settle and it finally produced fruits this year. We had only three fruits, but it’s perfect because we can have one for each family member. We check everyday for them to become ripen so we can pick. Then someone came into our front yard and stole them. She picked them all, even the one that is not ready. We saw her in our security camera footage. I’m so angry. Completely heart broken. Some of people say it’s not a big deal, just a few fruits, but I’m so furious.

[@t9t9t9t9t9]

Its only fruit, why u have to be mad

[@onlyonegardenkitchen6781]

Once someone was in the garden, asking about the radishes. Surely enough, that night he had picked the unready radishes... I was so angry since radishes are some of my favorite vegetables to eat and grow.

[@tyliful]

a person jumped over a six-foot wall to steal my longan tree in a 15 gallons container. sad sad.

[@DelicacyJ]

Tylor G that's terrible. must be more than one person doing it.

[@kevhlub120xyooj]

This is why you never let stranger get inside your house. Wendi, next time you should put up a sign say "No Trespasses, Keep Out!" So stranger wouldn't come up to your house and steal your precious plants. This happen a lot to me too and after putting up sign I finally have no worries. 👍✌️👊👌😉

[@smokeydabeecharlescoleman8365]

Just from a safety point of view, why not set up a game camera? It has a motion sensor and batteries can be used in it. Stolen fruit is one thing, but criminals often return. Be safe, please.

[@kyleyoung5333]

I'm so sorry that happened to you. I hope you can continue to grow your amazing Papayas and hope you find your fruit thief.

[@Macktube]

Did you ever find that guy who took your papaya?

[@etag9852]

Felt your anger while watching this. You're right. What decent person would grab the best from the batch? Stealing was bad enough. You were so nice to even give him some in the first place. What a jerk. He could have offered to pay or make some sort of trade. Anyways, I'm glad you were able to meet some really awesome people with big hearts who gave you not only their best fruit but a nice warm memory of their kindness instead of dwelling on the jerk theif. Aloha.

[@wendiland]

Aloha! I am very thankful to meet the nice man. He was extremely kind. I'm letting the papaya go now. Haha just talking about it and getting all the comfort from you guys makes me feel better. :)

[@tokyotech]

I only grow fruit in my backyard, which is protected by a 7 foot tall fence. I don't dare grow anything in my front yard because anyone can just snatch the fruit. It's such a pity, because I'm running out of space in my back yard and would like to plant more exotic tropical trees.

[@helema23]

tokyotech put up a nice picket fence with a no tresspassers an dbeware of dog sign on it....

[@baldieman64]

Short papayas are easy. Pinch out the growing tip and the plant will split and create several trunks. These trunks can then be air layered and cut off once they establish roots. The cuttings will produce fruit much lower down than trees grown from seed - and if you start with a tree that you know produces tasty fruit, the clones will also produce identical quality fruits.

[@gardeninginthenortheast6220]

totally love your story. that is my biggest fear living in a close knit neighborhood. i can relate to your emotional response. we work so hard to enjoy the fruits of our labor. so glad you were able to replace it with a favorite fruit. that person is so sweet to have shared.

[@TABULOUS1]

I'm not susceptible to these types of things. I avoid entertaining humans (whose character I've not assessed) with smalltalk. I'm furious *for* you tho' (as I would be for most of my loved ones who are credited with being friendlier than I). But I'm actually MORE furious that you went into the garden with him. That would EASILY be interpreted as an "invitation" of sorts. I'm just glad that YOU'RE okay.

[@wendiland]

I know to be more cautious now. >< I'm generally friendly and loves sharing with others, but people like him really make us not want to be friendly towards others...that's sad...He said "I didn't want to just walk in and take in so I knocked to ask first." I told him how I appreciate him asking. Soon after that...well you know what happened. Thank you for listening. Have a great weekend!

[@greenhousefun3235]

I know how you feel. I caught someone stealing my collard greens the day before Thanksgiving. This was also someone I let get a closer look at my garden. wtf. I was so proud. I nurtured and waited patiently to feed my family from garden directly to the table. People can be the worse.

[@wendiland]

That's terrible! Sorry to hear. How disappointing for your whole family. What did you make as alternative on Thanksgiving? People behaving like that....is the reason why we have fewer nice people around.

[@greenhousefun3235]

I made her give them back. I then felt sorry and shared some.

[@GM_____]

tameka moseleyhartley You had nothing to feel bad about she was stealing! By sharing the greens she stole you validated her behavior. She shouldn’t have gotten anything but a free trip to jail.

[@rosannagreene6263]

I feel you...my papaya fruits were also stolen not only once but thrice. Ridiculous isn't it? I m living in a deed restricted subdivision here in Florida where our house is surrounded by a golf course...holy cow don't tell me that the golfers did it, I'm not sure they did but my neighbors are mostly old people who don't really the capacity to go around the yard...huh I really feel disappointed. I would love to share if they have asked. ..after all I'm just giving a lot to whoever wants it because I have lije a dozen papaya plants around the house.

[@martinmcdonald6708]

First time I had papaya planted, I made sure the first large one was poisoned. Never had a thief steal my papayas since....

[@stephanies9071]

How?

[@500night]

It's time to have a Bull Dog

[@joelbalde728]

Thief everywhere

[@joelbalde728]

Huhuhu

[@julliana2ify]

It the same in my country in the Caribbean, it is called praedial larceny and we have praedial larceny squads (PLS)...people will get fined and even locked up if they are caught steal agriculture i.e. be it private home owner or large agricultural items that are stolen. Nice story and yes karma is real.

[@wendiland]

Maybe it's because I live in an urban area so they don't take agriculture seriously. Thank you for sharing about your beautiful country.

[@CutieforBeauty]

Wow that sucks but karma will get him

[@helenlouie2176]

I just started watching some of your videos and I fell in love with Wendi. I love eating fruit, especially exotic fruit so I'm so grateful for all the information Wendi shares about her garden and all her wonderful tasting experiences. Thank you for making these videos.

[@edgeofthelawngarden3496]

I was so sorry to hear that, it is like you said- who the hell steals fruits from someone elses garden? As one I felt very ashamed to know he was of Israeli origin and I hope he chokes on the seeds. I also had a thief who came and stole the single biggest most desired Mango fruit from my parents tree, so I can totaly relate to your anger. Hope the Guanabana was tasty. cheers.

[@hgils]

Jeeze... Boy I can relate. Had people rip my pineapple, bananas, tomatoes. But the worst was when they picked my kale .. I'm glad you had s good experience afterwards :-) . plus big ripe sour sup is a great gift.....

[@wendiland]

awww man, that's terrible! Pineapple takes 2 years to fruit!! That is really sad. I think we need cameras in the garden, or an alarm....The soursop was good. Mmm... :)

[@helema23]

Wendi Phan yup and some varieties take 5-6 years to grow!! heck if you lived near by i would of given you some of my wild berries (grown in my back yard no chemicals) and some gooseberry plants or seeds!!

[@millieatcentralcagarden9764]

Hi Wendi, I just found your channel viewing your segment on purple sweet potato harvest and also the edible flowers. I finished watching your episode on meeting that fellow who offered you to come to his backyard to pick a soursop fruit and I was thinking, how nice was that and so "genuine". I loved your excitement. I would be the same way! It certainly is "karma" what you had just experienced. When you put all that love, effort and time to growing wonderful fruit and plants and you are willing to share it for anyone that ask, you have a genuine heart. For someone to steal from you and the anguish you felt over it, you will be rewarded even more. It's Karma!!! As for the thief, if he picked a Papaya that was not ready to be picked, who knows, maybe he got a stomach ache eating it. Don't worry, you had a lot more fruit on that tree that I'm sure will be wonderful. I just planted 2 santa rosa plums in my front (nice and sunny spot) but my husband plans on installing security cameras in our front. The reality us gardeners have to tolerate and deal with. Keep smiling!!! Happy Gardening!

[@LaBucci]

Aw that sucks, but isn't it illegal here in California too? I thought it was I'd be mad if someone stole our fruits from our yard and just steal our hard work and time we waited for that fruit, we're kind of having the same situation in my backyard but it isn't a human thief it's a squirrel eating all of our avocados >:( our family loves avocados and our tree produces many big high quality avocados 😐

[@MIgardener]

Gahhhh Bummer! But if it means anything I think soursop is better than papaya, so you got a better deal ;) haha just my opinion though.. I don't care much for papayas, so if I grow one (when I grow one) I will let you come and pick them ALL!!! Maybe leave one for sindy. Deal? hehe Hope your day is better, and hope you are well.

[@wendiland]

***** hahaha It's a deal! But I'll be generous, I'll leave more than one for Sindy. Do you like papaya shake!? It's so creamy! Soursop was definitely a better deal since I can't get them here. Hope you are having a great day too!

[@knowallcity]

That's the problem with this hobby and city's. We keep our valuables outside. I've had people in the middle of the night chop my Agave leaves.

[@wendiland]

***** haha now that's an idea

[@MaliaLovessquishies]

Man, this stinks! I remember when I lived in Hawaii and had papaya trees in our backyard. One day when I was harvesting some of the fruit, I went inside to do something (I don't remember exactly what, lol)but when I came back out and the bag previously filled with fruit was missing. I never filed a report or anything, but it made me very angry to think someone took all the hard work I took to grow the papaya and just took it without asking. I hope does not happen to you again!

[@wendiland]

Malia Loves squishies Uh that does stink! I guess there's dishonest people everywhere. I guess your experience was worst than mine. :( I think we should all have a cameras in the garden. Are you growing any fruits where you are living now?

[@MaliaLovessquishies]

Wendi Phan that's a good idea! I don't think mine was much worse, anything that gets stolen is a big loss to whoever invested time and money into growing or buying the product. we actually do have a few fruit trees in our yard here in Washington state, plums, cherries and apples to be exact! we recently moved, so im not quite sure what type of fruit (for example, rainier cherries or Fuji apples) the trees produce. We are working on a fruit and veggie garden right now! i would love to have a few exotic plants, but I don't think they would grow too well here. lets hope nothing else gets stolen. :)

[@gewgulkansuhckitt9086]

My parents were convinced that people were sneaking onto their property at night and stealing peaches. The tree was loaded with peaches, some ripe and some green and then the next day they were all gone. Later I discovered a horde of peach pits in an area where chipmunks had their lair. So maybe it wasn't the man that came back for your 15 pound papaya, but a highly motivated chipmunk.

[@Rinsuki]

Sure....I've had people open my gate and take our squashes. They of course weren't ready either. It made me mad because I would have given them if they had asked instead they stomped on my other plants in the process that were planted closer. Left the gate open. We never leave the gate open because of the rabbits!

[@absurdnerd7624]

Wow. I am sorry that happened to you. I can see that you are still visibly upset. I hope you can feel better soon. I have an Asian pear tree. For a variety of reasons this year I did not get any fruit. In years past I had neighbors steal fruit from it. I remember one year i came home from work and nearly the entire tree had been stripped of fruit. The only fruit remaining were at the very top. I am short and have mobility issues so using a ladder to get that half dozen was not an option. Anyway, yeah. It is upsetting. Best wishes to you.

[@mreisma]

im from hawaii, there's a law that makes it illegal to steal someones fruit UNLESS its hanging over your property.

[@wendiland]

mreisma Hi! It's nice to know how much respect Hawaii has for fruits and their growers. :D

[@Gigi96916]

Wow I am so sry. I hate how pole take kindness and just crap on it. Glad that other we're kind enough to share their fruit with you.

[@wendiland]

ilma9609 Yes, there's all kinds of people around...I found a quote that I really like, thought I'd share, "Forgive the person and their actions, never give in to hate, let it go, set it free, and karma will take care of what is meant to be." I feel really lucky to have met a kind man who was kind enough to share his fruit of labor and love. :D

[@SkylarHayes]

Not sure how i got this 9 year later :) but coincidentally i have built my front-yard garden to completely share with my community. I did this to share in the love of gardening but also so i wouldn't feel upset when people take the fruit/veggies. I have still had a few watermelons get taken on my side yard...In response, what i did was grow Fig-leaf(Shark fin) melons(they look exactly the same as watermelon) and placed them in my front yard....they were taken within a few days....but I will get the last laugh since that will be the most tasteless watermelon they have ever tasted :P

[@toddviv]

yes definitely, we reap what we sow. Its just like gardening- we can't avoid the process. However, i am careful of judging others because we are sometimes wrong ourselves . It all works out i guess

[@wendiland]

toddviv I think so! I've had multiple people who gave me fruits since then. I feel very fortunate. :)

[@toddviv]

did you try the tumeric mate, that stuff is right up your alley

[@toddviv]

very cheap from indian shops beautiful orange colour-can repair brain networks apparently

[@contadinaK]

I'm enjoying making my way through your videos. I love your enthusiasm for fresh, homegrown unique fruits. And you have the most adorable personality that shines in your videos. When I saw this title, I thought it was going to be about rats, which Are stealing our fruits right now haha! Glad you got to experience new fruit in Hawaii.

[@jamesgretsch4894]

Funny enough many of the fruit I grow I don't like. I do it because I can. Basically it's a challenge, it makes the garden look good, and I can give the fruit to friends and relatives. I enjoy growing chili 🌶 of various variety. Love growing Ghost Peppers. I grow diff Peppers then dry them out and make chili powder that taste even better than store bought.

[@helema23]

here in fl many people have nice orange trees in their yards. well growing up when we were living at the lake house a bunch of kids came by our house and asked for a few oranges. no big deal i gave them a bag as my dad said ot do and they left. the next day i came home with a hankering for a nice swamp grapefruit an da couple navel oranges. (the guy next door let me eat his swamp grapefruit its not as pungent as rubies) and low n behold ALL of the oranges on my faverite tree (one that had gone sour) were GONE and most of the sweet oranges were gone along with all but one tiny little grapefruit!! latter on we found ou tthey took the ones off of the elderly mans orange trees too and SOLD them!! when they came back the next year my dad refused to let them have the oranges and they did sneak up at night with a flashlight to steal them but he actually ran out there and hollered at them about trespassing and how much trouble they can get into for stealing even a leaf off of someones property. the guy next door started watching his trees too and had help (he wa s95) but its still a bad feeling to have that done to you. on the flipside when i told my dad about the swamp grapefruit i wanted he actually went in th ewoods to one he knew where was (the property owner said we could go in there to dig and have anything else ie fruit or baby trees we wanted) and came back out with a shirt load!! can we say happy girl happy girl!! :D he also would help me get the sour ones off the top of the tree and hand them to me from the ladder!!

[@maddyjohnson6133]

Sorry that happened to you 😭 I would have cried. But so glad you got your fav fruit in Hawaii!

[@wendiland]

Oh I was furious. But someone wonderful showed and offered me better. Glad there's also some wonderful people in this world too!

[@tingsgwan]

I love how passionate you are about plants. I also loooove guanabana or sour sop specially in a milkshake

[@wendiland]

tingsgwan Guanabana millkshake is one of my faves!!!

[@henerylalli3891]

No, I believe in forgiveness ----------- punishment, if any, will not be by the offended but by our heavenly Father. In your heart, forgive the thief and wish him well but let him know that any further intrusions upon your property are not welcomed. If he would have been an honest person and simply been thankful he would be reaping more generosity of your friendly nature. Shame on him ------------- maybe one day he will grow up as you have.

[@shelakroes990]

you should put cctv on your garden!!

[@Stanlee99]

Awesome story 👍 I really enjoyed it 😀

[@janiceb4679]

Aww. Love ya girl. Your sweet and positive disposition still shines, even when your steamed. lol. It is so rare that I hear someone uses the term "karma" to describe a positive experience. I guess the lesson here is, you have to have an empty hand in order to receive. Bless you!

[@wendiland]

+Janice B Very true! Good thoughts bring good karma. Sending good wishes your way!

[@janiceb4679]

:)

[@tracymaczka9614]

What a turd! After you were so generous with him; he stole from you. This made me 😠!

[@AzureKite191]

Cherimoyas are more sweeter than soursops.

[@fatwombat2611]

Sorry this happened to you. I have Kangaroos jumping the fence and eating my citrus trees, this is amnoying. If people did this though it would be disappointing. Hello from Australia.

[@yanmuikam6160]

my dear just forgive and you will feel better!

[@Andy-np1bk]

Just stumbled with your channel and fell in love with it! here in mexico we have a lot of those fruits we call your favorite one Annona and make it into a milkshake :D

[@wendiland]

Andy Thank You! And I love, love, love Annona in a milkshake. They do the same in Vietnam! I thought Annona is what you called the sweet one?

[@mingsong]

I also get emotional with u

[@ferrari4sale563]

Its ok don't be sad, just a fruit.

[@juels508]

Que niño malo. (What a bad guy)

[@goddessluve]

awww!! So sorry!!

[@differentmethods8385]

That would actually be darma. Hehe

[@candismorton]

It's a felony in California.

[@arnieevangel1994]

Stolen papaya??? 😀😁😂😋😊😁😀

[@vinceminshin6970]

Cos they know u uploading at KZbin..

[@happycatface1]

I had someone steal my strawberry s from my garden

[@wendiland]

happycatface- Works ooooh that sucks! Especially when you don't have that many, and you are looking forward to tasting it from your garden but notice it gone. >:(

[@happycatface1]

Ya

[@Julizabatz9891]

Oh no 🤦‍♂️

[@amandalin6109]

Omg that's horrible!!!

[@702cadi]

Wow people do crazy stuff. Like ur blonde in ur hair. I’m Mark

[@liammcevoy2775]

U should try Vlogging, I think you would be a really good Vlogger :).

[@wendiland]

Liam Mcevoy haha thanks! I did a little bit of vlogging on my trip to Hawaii. Stay tuned! But my normal life here isn't too interesting for vlog viewers probably. :)

[@SolidCoreBlack]

U crying? 😪

[@wendiland]

haaa It was painful for sure. But I know many growers that had worse experience than me.

[@SolidCoreBlack]

@Wendi Phan all mango from our 2 tree is stolen, bad part is our relatives is one among those thief. my trust completely gone. I decided to remove all mango flowers next year so no one can have mango. 😕

[@wendiland]

ooh no!! My friend’s dad wrote “I stole this fruit” on every fruit the following year after their neighbors stole all the fruits previous year. At least they can’t sell them...sucks when people do things like that it discourages people to grow.

[@johncoffey5093]

sharing is caring

[@vinceminshin6970]

Ohhh..pity u..haha

[@jllovit]

Israeli... what do you expect?

[@onlyonegardenkitchen6781]

Sorry, but, that's a little racist...

[@mingsong]

It is such a coincident, jason mace the vegan athlete also said an isarealian woman took 4 kids to steal his oranges in the front yard.

[@mikeramos5709]

Ming Song Ikr.

[@adnanchinisi7871]

they're used to taking things that don't belong to them

[@LeChristEstRoi]

Judaism is racist and supremacist. Take a look at the Thora and at the Talmud and you'll understand.

[@bigj7321]

XD XD XD XD XD XD XD