Michigan Woman Faces 93 Days in Jail for Planting a Vegetable Garden : TreeHugger
93 Days in Jail :: Veggie Tales
Retrieved by Pat Darnell | July 9, 2011 | Bryan TX
This is a really great article about our lives in the neighborhoods. I have thought of planting veggies and herbs in my front yard because it is the only place we get sufficient sunshine year round. Why not?
EXCERPT | " ... This is not some gated community with HOA regulations. This is an ordinary, working class neighborhood in Oakland County, Michigan. Like nearly every other city in my home state right now, Oak Park is facing financial issues. Here at home, people are amazed that a cash-strapped city has the resources to investigate, charge, and prosecute a resident for something as innocuous as planting a vegetable garden. (Vanderlinden, Colleen. 7/08/2011. LINK) ..."
Oak Park, MI, city planner Kevin Rulkowski could only repeat what is common to front yards is acceptable. "... He said suitable means "common:" lawn, nice shrubs, and flowers. ..." The city ordinance is not specific though, as to what plants are in those categories. Ninety-three days in jail, hearing on July 26th, creates a Go to Jail Card from the Monopoly Game, for planting the "wrong" plants.
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http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/07/michigan_woman_faces_jail_planting_veggie_garden.php?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150253469533550_17522158_10150253773193550
How to Help
If you want to help support a gardener's right to grow food for her family (even if it is -- gasp -- in the front yard!) there are several things you can do:
1. Email or call officials for the city of Oak Park. Mrs. Bass has listed contact information for the mayor, city manager, and other city officials in the sidebar of her blog.What do you think? Should a front yard vegetable garden be a crime?
2. "Like" the Oak Park Hates Veggies Facebook Page.
3. Spread the word via Facebook and Twitter. By gaining attention to this particular issue, with this particular homeowner, the hope is that other cities will reconsider before they harass another homeowner for something like this.
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