Vandals destroyed local garden, owner looking for help

By Barbara Brown
Vandals have struck in the Kost Dam area several times this summer, leaving behind them a trail of mess on various properties, but few other clues.
One resident who is tired of feeling vulnerable and taken advantage of is Maureen Brennan, who keeps an expansive garden of vegetables and flowers on her parents vacation cabin property adjacent to Kost Dam Park.
Brennan, an organic gardener who lives in the St. Paul area, comes to the property several times a week during the growing season to tend and harvest her crops.
She sells produce including carrots, corn, raspberries, leafy green vegetables, flowers and apples at Minnesota Farmers Markets and to Marshal Fields Catering.
Brennan said she arrived at the house July 31 to check her garden. She left at noon for a short time ñ about six hours ñ and when she returned, she was greeted with a yard full of half-eaten apples strewn around the yard.
Brennan said upon further inspection, she found footprints in the moist plots of dirt in the fenced garden area.
A corn stalk was pushed over, carrots had been pulled out of the ground and her asparagus was trampled.
ìWhat these kids didnít understand is that they were messing with someoneís business,î Brennan said. ìThey are destroying my livelihood.î
Brennan said she called the Chisago County Sheriffís Office and a deputy responded, assuring her that he or other deputies would make occasional checks on the home and property.
The Brennan family had not had any incidents for the past 30 years, Maureen Brennan said.
She said her parents have owned the house and property for 45 years.
About 30 years ago, former neighborsí children broke into the house on the property, stole items and vandalized the property.
Those neighbors had since moved from the area.
Brennan said other property owners in the area had told her their homes or possessions had been damaged and vandalized.
Brennan hopes someone in the area would have a clue about who may have committed the crimes and that they would go to police with the information.
She said one clue could be the health of the culprits around July 31 or Aug. 1.
Brennan said the apples they ate were very immature and could have made the vandals sick to their stomachs.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com