“entitlement mentality”

[Scythe13]

My parents live in a gated community.

We always just assumed it was because it looked pretty. Dad said something as a joke, he said, I guess it's a way to keep the rif-raf out. It really was as a joke, because dad used to help at charity events, welcome people into church, and things like that.

There are people on the estate, however, that take the view that the gates are there to keep the lower levels of society out. Weird how so many people can be so narrow minded.

[bigpaul]

there is such a place 13 miles up the road from us, in the next town.

[NorthernRaider]

They are sprouting up right across the countryside.

[Scythe13]

(5 March 2012, 12:37)NorthernRaider Wrote: They are sprouting up right across the countryside.

I guess now would be a good time to be a gate manufacturer haha

[Skean Dhude]

(5 March 2012, 11:47)Scythe13 Wrote: Dad said something as a joke, he said, I guess it's a way to keep the rif-raf out. It really was as a joke, because dad used to help at charity events, welcome people into church, and things like that.

Many true things are said as jest although I see that as being truthfull.

He lived in the gated community to keep the riff raff out. Although his morals made him help in other ways his priority was clearly his family. Gated communities are expensive.

Celebrities help at Charity but their bodygaurds will still get rid of you.

[mikebratcher69]

I'm currently "gating" my house and garden with rose bushes etc...

[grumpy old man]

this has always been my point at the time of an event security is your no1 protect what you have then as time goes on you then need other people we can't do it all by are selfs?
we like to think that but it wont work?
we can read books all day long but some things just can't be learnt like that dealing with aggressive or violent people can't be learned out of a book if you make a mistake your dead?
the same with other trades
i think with all the prepping in the world by all the good people on this site we will find the mistakes when it's too late.

[TOF]

(5 March 2012, 14:20)mikebratcher69 Wrote: I'm currently "gating" my house and garden with rose bushes etc...

Try Rosa Rugosa, it's nasty! and you can make excellent rosehip syrup from it. The shrub Berberis Thunbergii is best of all.

[NorthernRaider]

Natural Protection/Defensive Planting



Using naturally vicious plants to protect your garden perimeter is one of the best low maintenance long term projects you can adopt as a prepper, even apartment dwellers can train thorny plants around the edge of the balcony if you have a balcony of course.

A barrier of prickly hedge may be all the protection you need around your property. Here are some suggestions for plants to use.
o Creeping Juniper Juniperis horizontalis 'Wiltonii' - Also known as 'Blue Rug' because it has long branches and its prostrate shape forms a flattened blue carpet. It has a thorny stem and foliage.
o Blue Spruce Picea pungens 'Globosa' - Rigid branches, irregular dense blue, spiky needles. Height 1-1.25m x 75cm - 1 m. Slow growing. Moist rich soil.
o Common Holly Ilex agulfolium - Large evergreen shrub, dark green spiked leaves. Large red berries on female plants only. Any well drained soil. Plant with garden compost and bone-meal.
o Giant Rhubarb Gunnera manicata - Giant rhubarb-like leaves on erect stems, abrasive foliage. Can grow up to 2.5m high. Plant by water-side for effect.
o Golden Bamboo Phyllostachys aurea - Very graceful, forming thick clumps of up to 3.5m high. Less invasive than other bamboos. Hardy. Young shoots in spring.
o Chinese Jujube Zizyphus sativa - Medium sized tree with very spiny pendulous branches. Leaves glossy bright green. Bears clusters of small yellow flowers.
o Firethorn Pyracantha 'Orange Glow' - Flowers white in June, with bright orange-red berries. Thorny stem. Height 10-15ft. Suitable for north or east-facing wall or as impenetrable hedging.
o Shrub Rose Rosa 'Frau Dagmar Hastrup' - Excellent ground cover, pale pink flowers, very thorny stem. May to September. Plant with garden compost and bone-meal.
o Pencil Christmas Tree Picea abias 'Cupressina' - Medium-sized tree of columnar habit, with ascending spiky branches. Attractive form with dense growth. Avoid dry chalky soils.
o Juniper Juniperus x media 'Old Gold' - Evergreen. Golden-tipped foliage. Prickly foliage. Height 2ft. Spread 6ft. Low growing. Excellent ground cover.
o Purple Berberis Berberis thunbergil 'Atropurpurea' - Rich purple foliage. Thorny stem. Medium-sized deciduous. Any soil sunny position.
o Mountain Pine Pinus mugo 'Mughus' - A very hardy, large shrub or small tree, with long sharp needles, of dense, bushy habit. Leaves in pairs, 3 - 4cm long, rigid and curved, dark green, cone.
o Blue Pine Picea pungens 'Hoopsii' - Small to medium-sized tree, spiky needled stem, densely conical habit, with vividly glaucous blue leaves. Likes moist, rich soil.
o Oleaster Elaeagnus angustifolia - Small deciduous tree, about 4.5 to 6 m (15 to 20 feet) high. Smooth, dark brown branches that often bear spines and narrow, light green leaves that are silvery on the undersides. The flowers are small, greenish, fragrant, and silvery-scaled on the outside, as are the edible, olive-shaped, yellowish fruits, which are sweet but mealy. Hardy, wind resistant, tolerant of poor, dry sites, and thus useful in windbreak hedges.
o Blackthorn Prunus spinosa - Also called Sloe; spiny shrub. Usually grows less than 3.6 metres (12 feet) tall and has numerous, small leaves. Its dense growth makes it suitable for hedges. White flowers. Bluish-black fruit is used to flavour sloe gin.
In addition, the following thorny plants can also be considered:
Aralia, Chaenomeles, Colletia, Crataegus (including hawthorn/may), Hippophae (sea buckthorn), Maclura, Mahonia, Oplopanax, Osmanthus, Poncirus, Rhamnus, Rosa (climbing & shrub roses), Rubus (bramble), Smilax, Prickly ash(Zanthoxylum).
Although they will take some time to grow in the end you will have a very tough self repairing vicious perimeter defence

Narrative is by NR, plant list from a crime prevention leaflet I had laying around for years.