Hefker for herbs and vegetables growing on an open-sky balcony

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Question

Hi! Are all these rules exactly the same for a mirpeset open to the sky? How do I make plants on my mirpeset hefker?

Rabbi Moshe Bloom

Yes, shemitah laws apply miderabanan on a balcony open to the sky.

They have kedushat shevi'it, are exempt from terumot and ma'aserot, and should be declared ownerless.

Tell your neighbors that you have vegetables and herbs they can take. They should knock before going through your house. 🙂

You can send info in a local WhatsApp group or a note at the entrance to the building.

Flowers don't need to be hefker and fruit only at the end of winter. Check out our shemitah calendars for exact dates: https://en.toraland.org.il/beit-midrash/articles/shemitah/shemitah-calendars/