This is a story I’ve been wanting to share with you when it first began several weeks ago – particularly as it is happening to one of my regular blog readers and commenters, who we’ve had the pleasure of hosting for a holiday meal and whose daughter visited dd16 a few weeks ago. I’m embarrassed that it’s taken me until now to share about it with you, but with all that’s going on around here, everything is taking me longer than usual to get to it. 🙂
Julie is a homeschooling mom of 6 who decided to grow some vegetables in her front yard after her yard was ripped up as a result of sewer repair. She had raised beds built, and mulched the paths around – it’s an attractive and tidy looking garden. So what’s the big deal? That what she’s growing in those raised beds are vegetables, not flowers. When I told my kids about this, they couldn’t understand what the big deal was – when I told her she is going to fight this in court and faces more than 90 days in jail as a result of growing vegetables on her own property, within the legal guidelines of her city, they were horrified. As we should all be.
Here’s a recent news report – this story is getting bigger by the minute and I expect to hear the major talk show hosts talking about it in the coming week. To read more details, visit her blog at http://oakparkhatesveggies.wordpress.com/ and see what you can do to lend your support.
It’s a travesty that our government wastes tax payer dollars persecuting people doing good things, when there are cities filled with criminals and major issues needing to be dealt with. Kudos to Julie for not giving up and not giving in! It takes a lot of moral strength to stand up for your rights; people are very quick to give in and give up on what is theirs and say it’s not worth fighting for. I hope the city representatives back down and see what an embarrassment they’ve created for themselves – after all, the President’s wife planted vegetables in the front yard of the White House! And now they want to prosecute someone for doing the same thing somewhere else in the country? Absolutely ridiculous.
Avivah
I agree. Worth fighting city hall.
When we recently sold our home, we had to divulge if we had “crops” on the property (meaning a garden). Makes one believe in conspiracy theories. While we think we “own” our homes here, hefty property taxes (renting from the govt.) and stories like this show otherwise. I hope she wins in court. Very happy to be a renter now.
Yes ridiculous!!! I have been following this story too and am glad it is gaining media by the minute and I hope it makes all the talk shows etc;!!!! We live in an hoa so legally a little different. we have all kinds of rules ( which are ridiculous too!!!) I had to get rid of a butterfly garden we had in the front yard since it was too messy in their opinion…. I now have a relatively tidy herb garden in a beautiful raised stone bed, next to a little pond that dh built and no complaints so far. We do have raised beds , veggies and lots of weeds in our back yard!! I think that someone should bring this to the attention of the first lady……..if it’s good for the white house front lawn, so it is for all americans!!!!Yes, makes you wonder about those conspiracy theories lol. Today in America, your child goes missing, you don’t bother reporting her missing for a month and then she is found murdered and you get to walk away, not guilty of even neglect?????!!!!!!!!!, but woaaa, if you grow carrots in your front lawn, beware of going to jail!!!!
My husband and I have been following this. I want to say it is Unbelievable, but sadly it is not. Our freedoms become narrowed once they are outside the “guidance” of government. I pray this gets the support it needs to bury this case, and that freedom, and rights prevail!