A frustrated homesteader took to Reddit to claim a power company chemically sprayed a swath of their property they use for foraging without warning, killing berry bushes and cherry trees.
What happened?
Writing in a post on the r/homestead forum, the original poster said, "We forage most of our land and the power company treats it all as weeds and sprays it and kills things. No signs or warnings."
The original poster said the company "sprayed a 50' line of my berry bushes and two of my cherry trees," destroying a food-producing area.
The poster also raised a safety concern, writing, "They could have put us in the hospital."
Although many understood their frustration, several commenters under the post said the dispute may involve a utility easement, which often gives power companies the ability to control vegetation beneath power lines.
Why does it matter?
Losing berry bushes and fruit trees can be a serious setback for people who grow food at home, not just a cosmetic problem. Beyond the appearance of the property, it can erase years of work, cut into a household's food supply, and leave owners feeling they have little say over what happens on their land.
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Commenters also said the effects may go beyond the crops themselves.
"Spraying destroys much more than just the plants under the lines. It also destroys native insect, bird, frog populations," one commenter warned. "We had noticeable drops in butterfly and firefly populations last time they did it."
What can I do?
Before planting trees, shrubs, or edible perennials near power lines, it may help to identify exactly where a utility easement runs and learn the company's clearance requirements.
People in the thread also shared a few tactics they said had worked for them.
"My neighbors and I have tall red Do Not Spray stakes along our electric line easement," one commenter wrote. "I had to sign paperwork with my electric cooperative that states that I take responsibility for keeping the easement free of shrubs and trees that would interfere with the power line. As long as I maintain it, they will leave it alone."
Another commenter suggested placing signs that say, "organic fruit production—no spray" near brambles and fruit trees so crews can more easily spot sensitive areas.
Some commenters also said that, depending on local rules or company policy, landowners may be able to ask for hand clearing instead of herbicide spraying.
As one commenter put it, "You can demand the power company not spray."
Even when a utility has easement rights, commenters said that marking important plantings, reviewing service agreements, and contacting the company directly may help reduce the risk of similar damage.
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