Crop farmers on St. Croix face a lot of natural challenges – like too much or too little rain, bugs and blight – but one challenge they shouldn’t have to face is their own kind damaging and stealing equipment, supplies and ripe produce.
Over the last seven years, award-winning farmer Grantley Samuel has managed to become successful at growing plants and vegetables of all sorts and supplying local grocery stores with fresh local produce. He knows and understands how to deal with nature but he said he can’t understand how his own kind can hurt his business.
“It’s like I take one step up and 10 steps back,” Samuel said. “I can’t keep working just to replace things.”
Samuel said the theft and destruction has been going on for three years on his five acres at the Department of Agriculture Community Gardens in Lower Love. He has been hit more than 10 different times, three times this year.
“It hurts to have my community – my own kind – do this to me,” Samuel said. “Others treat me better and my community crucifies me. I can’t see anyone doing this to us and why?” He added it could be just out of spite or jealousy. He said the old folks say, “Your own lice bite you the hardest.”
“When one does well, we all do well and benefit,” Samuel said. “Some people don’t appreciate and recognize the importance of farming.”
Samuel has a shed he stores and tries to secure equipment in. He had cameras on the shed but the cameras have been taken and the perpetrators keep destroying the shed. He said he has had to reinforce the shed and recently he installed security lights. He also has dogs on the farm. He and other farmers have started to sleep overnight on their plots to protect their equipment and plants.
Samuel had three weed eaters taken, a power saw, chainsaw and a Sawzall, a tool that cuts through metal and wood. Someone has taken 200 feet of drip irrigation hose and 113 10-gallon size nursery pots. A mist blower, used to spread organic pest control, and two five-gallon containers full of gasoline have been pilfered. Samuel has also had major damage done to his tractor and an air tank used to fix flat tires was stolen. For identification of his equipment he has painted G.L.G., the name of his business, in large letters on his tools. Samuel said he started sleeping there about three weeks ago.
“This has been worth a good bit of dollars over time,” Samuel said. “I can’t keep investing in supplies and equipment.” He added he really appreciates Reliable Rental for offering him discounts and opening a credit account for him.
Reinardo Vasquez, farming at the gardens for 10 years, said he has had five tractor batteries and a lot of tools taken over the years. He understands the police can only check so much in the large garden. He is sleeping overnight on his plot and ultimately he would like to see arrangements made to live there.
“I call the police,” Samuel said. “They come and take pictures, get fingerprints and nothing happens. I can safely say they don’t do anything.” He added there is a fee every time he files a police report.
Samuel said one female farmer pulverized a thief when she caught him stealing produceand he never came back. He said people steal produce and then sell it to roadside vendors, who actually know the seller didn’t grow it.
Commissioner of Agriculture Carlos Robles said his department has given a lot of thought about what to do about the problems at the gardens. He said it is a difficult situation because the theft is generally done under the cover of night. And the size of the gardens prohibits the use of security guards.
Robles said Agriculture will have conversations with the roadside vendors about where their produce comes from and who they buy it from. He said there has been a spate of break-ins at the Department of Agriculture Fairgrounds too. He added to protect crops and equipment the farmers are permitted to sleep overnight in small mobile structures.
The Department of Agriculture held a meeting for livestock farmers Monday evening with St. Croix Police Chief Winsbut McFarlande because there has been a spate of theft of livestock.
“We share the vision of the farmers and know the potential they have to increase earnings and feed the community,” Robles said.
Samuel said ultimately his goal is to get his own place, fence it and call the shots doing what he wants.
“I’ll never give up,” Samuel said. “I was meant to be a farmer. People must realize farming is essential. Everybody eats.”
