Can you blame someone for putting vegetable beds in their front yard after it was torn up for sewer repairs? I wouldn't, but the city of Oak Park, Michigan, seems to think that's an appropriate action to take against a mother of six who refused to remove her garden. Julie Bass has now been ticketed, charged with a misdemeanour, and may face up to 93 days in jail if a jury finds her guilty on July 26th.
The five raised beds she uses to grow corn, squash, tomatoes, other veggies, and even some law-abiding flowers can be seen in a photo embedded in this article from Treehugger. Frankly, that garden looks tidier than many front lawns I've seen, but apparently Oak Park City Planners take offence at how unsuitable edible plants are for a front yard. It would seem "suitable" means "common", and if you want to keep up with the Jones' you plant grass, trees, and flowers, but no veggies - regardless of how well or poorly they are maintained. I guess small-minded city bureaucrats like the proverb about the nail that sticks out getting hammered down.
But we don't have to let this happen without putting up a fight. Here's what you can do:
- Call Oak Park city officials. Check out Julie's blog to find contact information for the Mayor, City Manager, and other officials. Remember that one phone call is worth about a dozen e-mails, so please call if you can.
- "Like" the Oak Park Hates Veggies Facebook page.
- Tell your Twitter followers and Facebook friends about this in the weeks leading up to the trial. There are many reasons to support Julie, not the least of which is outrage that a cash-strapped city would spend so much money on investigating, charging, and prosecuting such a harmless act. If it can happen in Oak Park, it can happen where you live. I wouldn't want my taxes to be wasted on something like this!
Imagine you move into a house with better growing conditions in the front yard than the back (due to differences in size, exposure to sunlight, soil drainage, etc.). Would you consider planting veggies out front rather than out back? Would you fight the City if they disapproved of your "unsuitable" choice of plants?
Photo used under Creative Commons from Scorpions and Centaurs (flickr).
You know, I've never had much of a green thumb... but the fact that somebody would actually CARE what you plant in your front lawn (as long as it's not cocaine) just boggles my mind.
ReplyDeleteThree cheers for small minds... boo.
A similar issue cropped up in Toronto last year, and thankfully the regulations will be changed to allow for front yard vegetable gardening, provided the beds are neat and well maintained.
ReplyDeleteWhat I don't get is how the City can allow people to dig up their front yards - and I'm not talking about the people living in houses with no driveway who get a permit to pave over part of their lawn, I'm talking about the people who pour cement over it because don't want to have to mow a 10' x 10' patch of grass. How can that be okay and vegetable gardens not?
Wow. This is an example of governments taking their (perceived) power a little too far. Hopefully this person will win her fight to grow her vegetables in her front yard. This definitely goes in the "WTF!?!" category. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteYes, maybe I should start a new theme for this blog where I post something in the "WTF!?" category every so often. There is too much where that comes from. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for spreading the word, I will definitely call! This is infuriating. Our government + society is absolutely ridiculous. I like the WTF!? category :) I approve
ReplyDeleteHaha, great! I'm going to add that as a label to this post right now. :)
ReplyDeleteBackwards thinking in a backwards world. Childhood obesity epidemic? Subsidize corn derived sugar! Skyrocketing heart disease? Subsidize corn feed for beef, increasing the fat content dramatically! Grow fresh vegetables in your garden to feed your children? Crime! This is a symptom of our times people, a symptom of our times... WTF indeed!
ReplyDeleteMaybe instead of "Good News Fridays", you can have "What The... Friday". WTF...
ReplyDeleteAnd Good News Mondays... I mean, while I agree that ending the week on a good note is nice, maybe starting the week on a good one will make things seem less bleak and horrible?
I like how you put that, Sherry. It's bad enough that Western governments allow these industries to do so much harm. It's much worse to consider our taxes help to subsidize their dirty work.
ReplyDeleteMarc - you make a valid point. Lift everyone's spirit at the start of the week to be able to get through the rest of the week? :)
ReplyDeleteMy general attitude about life won't let me do that, though. In the same way that I don't play first and work later, I can't make everyone happy first and miserable later. I'd rather reward my readers with good news after toughing it out with me and exploring the darker side of what's going on in the world.
Double WTF? When I first read about this ridiculous situation I thought it really should be a SNL skit. What a waste of time, energy and resources on such a silly issue. I'm with Marc-why would anyone care???
ReplyDeleteI don't know, Lori. I guess even city planners want their 15 minutes of fame. :)
ReplyDelete