I'm seeing a lot of discussion about people being unhappy with how their public spaces and offerings are being utilized. I think there are some things that will help visitors understand the ways you would prefer they interact with your street/tower.
Note poles are your friend :)
1. "But no one reads them!" Well, here's the thing--if your note pole's subject line says "PLEASE READ" or "IMPORTANT" or, worst of all, is blank (?!), that's not an effective way to communicate. Maximize your note pole's message by stating your intent as much as possible in the SUBJECT LINE. So if your preference is for someone to only plant one type of crop or herb, put in the subject line, "Please only plant Gandlevery here :)"
2. The Please and :) are friendly and welcoming,. Sometimes when I see a sign where it's all caps and grumpy and ends in !!, it seems hostile and bossy. Most people react to hostile and bossy with defiance (even if it's internal, silent defiance).
3. For the message body, you could explain *why* you prefer this. People are happier to comply with requests if they know the purpose behind it (and feel it's a good reason). It's also an opportunity to teach someone a neat thing about the game mechanics.
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Gnomes! :)
Place a gnome by each resource for which you want to establish guidelines. Have them state those guidelines. Don't give a single gnome four important pieces of information, since he will only say one item at a time. Use more gnomes. You have four things you NEED people to know? Four gnomes.
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Teamwork!
If you're tired of having your street gardens harvested and then left a mess, have someone check in and tend them. You could:
1. Ask a friend to do it, and reciprocate with looking after her street.
2. Hire someone to do it if you don't have time to reciprocate
3. Form a garden care group where people can build up a schedule of clients, or wait for someone else to form it so you can hire them :)
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Backyard sharing/co-op
If you really really want a garden you can control, but it won't suit your theme, exchange keys with someone who doesn't like to garden much (or isn't online a lot) and use THEIR back yard gardens.
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A final word
I see a lot of people getting really upset about how their public spaces are used. Unless you want to spend a lot of time policing your "Who Visited" log and blocking people, you probably would be happier, in the long run, if you accept that it's public, and that people "misusing" your public space are very, very unlikely to be doing so out of malice or greed.
If someone comes through and harvests your garden without even cleaning plots, send them an IM and say something like, "Hey, you were probably in a hurry and stuff, but would you be willing to clean the plots when you harvest here next?" That way, if they're simply clueless/oblivious, they get SOMEone communicating to them what the generally socially acceptable protocols are. Some people are lazy, some are having a bad day, some are unaware of the effect on others. These can be teachable moments--and if someone turns out to truly be a dick about it, then block 'em and move on.
Good luck and happy streetwalking ;)