> We were recently surveying a 50+ acre tract and kept noticing fertilizer bags, miracle grow boxes, peat moss cups, etc. All the accessories for a secluded garden. We didn't see the plants but know we were close. We run into this sort of thing every once in a while. Our general policy is to notify the land owner/client and do whatever they ask us to. Most of the time, they want us to call the sheriff's office, tell them or show them where we found the "patch". In this case, the client (buyer) said he'd take care of it. I know this client and know that he has nothing to do with it and will turn it in. We have had some clients that asked us not to say anything. That makes me a little nervous. Is it a crime to NOT report this sort of thing?
Let's see...on a 50+ acre, apparently private tract of land, my survey crew notes they found gardening materials.
Not that unsusual around Florida.
These days, "survival" gardens are becoming more popular as "grow your own food" sells like gold, food insurance, ID theft, etc.
Of course, it's easy to speculate as to what's being grown in a "secluded" garden, but the safety of the general public on this client's private land wouldn't cross my mind.
I'd handle the situation by possibly mentioning it to my client.
I wouldn't call the police...and I've never been mistaken for a rat.
