Gray Henon wrote:Vacant does not necessarily mean abandoned. Be sure to make every effort to contact the owner to ask for permission. Use GIS services, tax records, google, whatever you can. If you do get a hold of the owner and they are agreeable, a long term dollar (or more) lease would be ideal. There may be abandonded property laws on the books, but if you choose to operate under one of these laws be absolutely sure you have a right to the property. If you choose to go guerrilla, be aware the owner could show up at any time and charge you with trespassing, vandalism, and block your access to the soil and perennials you have carefully cared for over years.
There are several accounts of people building wondrous gardens on “abandoned” private and public property, just to be kicked off when the owner decides they don’t want them there for whatever reason. Don’t make that mistake.
I'm not one to try guerrilla gardening, I was going to contact the owner about a lease. Even if he declines, there are some other places that have been vacant for even longer. And I've heard people complain about all these vacant, unkempt properties, so I really think it's beneficial to put them to some kind of use.
