My neighbors think I am in the wrong.......
By snoopy04
@snoopy04 (718)
United States
April 11, 2008 10:24am CST
Why do people make a big deal out of nothing? I think that my neighbors are making a mountain out of mole hill but I would like your opinion. I have started a garden in my back yard and my neighbors want me to till it back up and let the grass grow back. They told me that I am getting their shed wet and when they put their clothes outside to dry that my water is ruining their clothes. I told them that they need to use a dryer like normal people and that their shed wont melt. My kids and I go outside and water the garden ourselves or I use the sprinklers my husband just bought. Their isnt a wooden fence but a chain link fence instead. The garden is long and some of the seeds we planted is by their fence but isnt right next to it. Yes their shed gets a little wet but nothing major. When I water I try to keep water from getting in their yard. As far as their clothes go, their clothesline is close to their house and the water doesnt spray that far. They told me this weekend that I needed to pay for a wooden fence because I wasnt being considerate or a good neighbor and that I was needlessly watering their property. Well I dont have the money right now to pay for a wooden fence and I dont believe I am damaging their property. I am not going to stop gardening just because I get a few drops of water on their shed.
But they are so condasending because Monday morning they asked me if I would share some of my vegetables with them.Can you believe it, they want me to put up a fence that will keep my sprinkles off of their yard but they want me to share my vegetables with them.
Did I do something so terrible,I am not really sure. I will put a fence up but right now we have to put a new roof on so a fence will have to wait.
The neighbors have lived in this home for about six months now and they have been very friendly and helped my kids with thier fundraisers for school. So this just seems pretty shocking when we have always gotton along.
Would you make a big deal about your neighbors garden or would you try to work out some sort of compromise?
Have I been a bad neighbor?
8 people like this
27 responses
@elshaddai123 (3981)
• Kottayam, India
11 Apr 08
compromise is always good and a neighbour is better than your relations.
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
11 Apr 08
They're upset because your wattering their lawn?! Most people would welcome it unless your overdoing it. Just turn the pressure down or adjust the spray of the sprinkler where it doesn't go so far, that'll take care of the problem, unless they're just wanting to build them a privacy fence & this is the excuse. They're just being...well.. I don't know a proper word for it other than foolish.
3 people like this
@angelface23 (2494)
• United States
11 Apr 08
yeah they need to stop being such cry babies about it. It's only water. If they want a wooden fence then they need to pay for it not you. Some people just like to hear themselves talk. I would just ignore them.
2 people like this
@ayumitakashi (4462)
• United States
11 Apr 08
I mean it's just water and like you said the shed is not going to melt. I would not have a problem because it's not causing me any harm. It's not killing me and it's not affecting me in any way. I would not reach a compromise to tell you the truth because you have not done anything wrong. If you said that the vegetables are not even next to it then what is the problem? Planting a garden is not considered being a bad neighbor, so you should not even think that. They just need a reality check. You keep on growing your delicious vegetables and not worry about that.
3 people like this
@jasonwallace (71)
• United States
11 Apr 08
Get a cheap plastic sheet tie it between 2 poles and when you do water it can catch the water and not get your neighbors shed etc wet easily taken down and rolled up when finished watering probably do it for less than $10.00 and that is worth dealing with a neighbors drama
2 people like this
@tessah (6617)
• United States
11 Apr 08
its an easy enough compromise on this. dont use the sprinklers, or set them up in such a way that they dont get the shed wet. when watering by hand.. dont spray the shed, then theyve got nothing to whine about. as far as them getting a peice of your hard work? personally, that option wouldve flown out the window the first time they told me to destroy my garden.
3 people like this
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
12 Apr 08
You said they were friendly people so why don't you compromise and preserve good relations with your neighbours. It is not pleasant to live with unfriendly neighbours. I see you apologized for the dryer remark. A lot of normal people like to hang their laundry on the line. It seems to me your neighbours are friendly to the environment. They save electricity and don't want to see water wasted. Why don't you get a soaker hose. You can lay this hose along your vegetable beds. It has little holes in it and when connected it only waters the areas that you want watered. Sprinklers waste an awful lot of water. This would also solve the problem of getting their shed wet. I know it gets wet in the rain but that cannot be helped and they cannot blame you for that. As far as vegetables are concerned, wait and see how much your garden produces. I used to have a garden and sometimes I did not know what to do with all the tomatoes and zucchini and was happy to share them.
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
11 Apr 08
I would think that they are just complaining to be complaining. Did you ask them why they would want some vegetable out of the garden that they don't want you to have? I cannot imagine that you could be hurting anything and I would not bother with the fence either.
2 people like this
@idowrite72 (2213)
• United States
21 Apr 08
I don't think you've been a bad neighbor at all and for them to make the requests they've made is being bad neighbors. Doesn't the shed get wet when it rain? The water from your watering the garden will not hurt it any more and if you are not near their clothes, then they have no complaint there. (I like hanging my clothes out and wish I could at times) But for them to complain so much and then ask for your vegetables is too much. Tell them to come and help tend the garden and you'll think about it! Maybe they could come and pull the weeds for you??!! I haven't figured out what they have to complain about so I don't know what kind of compromise needs to be made.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
26 Apr 08
I don't think you are being a bad neighbor. How on earth are you supposed to keep your water from going where it will with a sprinkler asthe wind would carry it anyways and a little water would not hurt their shed. I know how expensive wooden fences can be.so they want you to give them veggie but just not water them? how silly. Since yo u are not sprinkling your garden all day why the heck could not the woman of the house watch and put stuff up on her clothes line when you are not sprinkling. thats a easy solution to that problem..I would not make a big deal out that kind of problem as I would much rather my neighbor being growing a garden than some other things they might do instead.
1 person likes this
@s2a2n2 (1732)
• India
20 Apr 08
Unless you are out of their place, there should be no problem. when we do anything, it should not affect others directly. If it makes other place dirt and we are doing directly then its an issue. In this case, I don't think any wrong on your side. But these things happen when no understanding is there between neighbors. Cheers and let them pass by...
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
12 Apr 08
i think they just wanted some attention. i also have neighbor whose been asking me if i already have a husband and i ask them why. they said that it is because my bf that time (which is now my ex) slept in our house. why did they have to make it a big issue? my ex lives more than 20kms that's why he just stayed for about a night
1 person likes this
@Mythion (188)
• Israel
11 Apr 08
You have every right to have a garden in you back yard but if the water you sprinkle on your flowers makes their clothes wet, then i think you need to find a solution together(with the neighbours), you can't just tell them get a dryer like normal people, I would have found that very offensive if I were in their position.
2 people like this
@traengle (144)
• United States
26 Apr 08
How is water ruining their clothes...what do they wash them in??? I don't think you did anything wrong, I wouldn't put up a wooden fence for them they will prob find something else to complain about with that too. And the shed , doesn't it get wet when it rains. I def would not give them any veggies...good luck!
1 person likes this
@getnbuy (1312)
• United States
12 Apr 08
There are a lot of ways to look at this, but in order to keep your neighbors friendly and to avoid a major feud, I would try some compromises. You could offer to split the cost of a fence. Since they want a fence they should be willing to pay for half of it. Or, you could take a tarp and some clothes pins and drape the tarp over the area of the existing fince that they consider offensive. Or, you could use a water drip sort of watering method. they are being somewhat nit picky, but you need to take their feelings into consideration, too. Above all, keep the peace!
1 person likes this
@asheshpatel (178)
• India
12 Apr 08
some neighbours r not good so u need to believe in ur self so do wat u want to do
1 person likes this
@ldybgsgma99 (798)
• United States
11 Apr 08
Soounds to me like they are just trying their best to pick a fight. I don't see anything wrong with you having a garden and watering it. If you get their lawn wet, oh well. That is just a little less that they will have to water. As for the clothes, if your sprinkler doesn't reach that far, their clothes are not your problem. They need to compromise. And if they don't, don't share your vegies with them.
1 person likes this
@phillygirl606 (1112)
• United States
12 Apr 08
They may be making a big deal about nothing but keep in mind they re your neighbors. You have to live right next store to these people and there could be alot of tension if you's start argueing. My solution until you are able to get a fence up would be to use a watering can. This will avoid their things getting wet.They do have some nerve asking for some of your vegetables after they have just made a fuss about your garden. Just bite your tongue for now, be the bigger person. Unless things get worse, you may just have to put them in their place.
1 person likes this
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
12 Apr 08
I think they are just being difficult. Do they ask Mother Nature to just stop raining on their property when their is a rainstorm? All your sprinkler or hose might be doing is keeping their grass alive.
I would suggest confronting them and asking them what the deal is. I can't imagine being so brazen as to tell you to move your garden, which by the way, as long as your garden doesn't grow on their property, they have no right to complain, and then asking for you to share your veggies. They have no right!
So, if you are brave enough, maybe sit down and have a conversation about it.
1 person likes this
@jamie08 (430)
• United States
11 Apr 08
you have not been a bad neighbor. they are just looking for something to complain about. omg water like its really going to hurt you! keep your garden. honestly i wouldnt put up a fence. its your yard. Are they the owners of your house or a landlord. No they are neighbors. they should at least compromise with you. if i had a neighbor that had a garden i would admire it not tell them to till it back up just bc water is getting on my shed or because i am old fashion and hang my clothes outside!
1 person likes this
