06/14/2026
Friends and followers of 4th street farms: it feels really crummy to report this (and we’ve resisted doing so for over a month now) but we are unfortunately having some serious issues with vandalism in the garden. Numerous large branches, loaded with fruit, have been torn from our very special mulberry tree and thrown throughout the garden. Beds have been trampled, large holes have been dug, and tomato cages have been pulled up and tossed into the rows. Sometime last night, our very productive strawberry bed was basically destroyed - completely trampled with many of the plants ripped up and tossed into the tomato beds. We are heartbroken over this ongoing destruction, and kind of at our wits end.
We are a community-run — and communal — space. A very small number of volunteers work very hard to keep it running so that we can provide fresh grown produce to anyone who needs it. These spaces are rare, and as hopefully anyone who is reading this knows, more critically important now than ever. They must be protected.
So, what can you do? Get involved - volunteer with us, or someplace similar in your neighborhood. Start walking your dog through the garden, stop by in the evening to grab herbs for dinner, or bring your kids to pick berries. The more people in the garden, the better protected it will be. If your kids need a summer project, have them make signs about taking care of the garden. Or just talk to your friends and family about the importance of caring for and protecting our green spaces, our trees, and our community.