MI: Homeowner charged with crime for planting garden

[seamusTX]

In Oak Park, Michigan (Detroit suburb), a woman planted vegetable garden beds in her front yard after the property was ripped up for sewer repairs.

The city charged her with violating an ordinance that requires "suitable" plants to be planted in front of houses. She could face three months in the clink (admittedly unlikely).

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/07 ... garden.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

People all over the U.S. are increasingly planting vegetable gardens for a range of reasons, including better quality fresh food and less dependence on the industrialized food economy. We would be guilty of exactly what this woman is charged with.

- Jim

[RottenApple]

I've got a neighbor who has corn planted in their front yard. It's lined up rather neatly and looks good. You wouldn't even know it was corn unless you already knew what corn looked like and/or it reaches full height. Kind of interesting how "decorative" it is.

As for my wife and I, we're building a raised garden in the back yard.

[seamusTX]

Someone who can get corn to grow in this climate deserves a prize. We gave up after the first few years.

- Jim

[jimandyen]

I was wondering why my CHL background check has been taking so long....

My wife and I allegedly have several gardens in our yard...

[Purplehood]

I love vague laws. They are great revenue-generators.

[Middle Age Russ]

It's all about control from the city's side, I am sure. Vegetable gardening and edible landscaping are not new ideas, and in this economy are an excellent idea for any homeowner. This is simply another example that illustrates the concern I have for our country. The voters keep putting people in office that promulgate heavy-handed control of everything they can get away with.

Vote them out, raise a stink, and take back our country.

[Keith B]

Had a friend arrested years ago for gardening. However, it was not the vegetable plants he had in there that were the issue.

[Keith B]

In Oak Park, Michigan (Detroit suburb), a woman planted vegetable garden beds in her front yard after the property was ripped up for sewer repairs.

If they failed to properly repair the lines, her gardens might have a built in fertilzer supply.

[Scott in Houston]

As someone who hates vegetables, I fully support the state on this one.

[SQLGeek]

As for my wife and I, we're building a raised garden in the back yard.

I have the lumber sitting in my garage to do the same. It's on honey do list.

[chasfm11]

As someone who hates vegetables, I fully support the state on this one.

You obviously are not aware of the new "eat our peas" campaign.

It is obvious that if the existing laws and ordnance are stretched to extremes, all of us are guilty of infractions every day. It would be hard to convince me that isn't by design.

[The Annoyed Man]

As for my wife and I, we're building a raised garden in the back yard.

I have the lumber sitting in my garage to do the same. It's on honey do list.

Just curious..... why does it have to be raised? Or is that simply a decorative decision

[SQLGeek]

As for my wife and I, we're building a raised garden in the back yard.

I have the lumber sitting in my garage to do the same. It's on honey do list.

Just curious..... why does it have to be raised? Or is that simply a decorative decision

Just a design decision. We can control the soil quality better with a raised garden than in ground but each has it's own benefits. We're also not 100% sure where we want the garden yet so at least this way, it is somewhat less permanent (minus the grass we'll kill).

[RPB]

Anyone old enough to know the term "Victory Garden"

Hey, she was just trying to "eat her peas"

All we are saying is give peas a chance

Support whirled peas

Elvis sang "Ther'll be peas in the valley" ...

ok, sorry

Let them eat cake.

[RottenApple]

As for my wife and I, we're building a raised garden in the back yard.

I have the lumber sitting in my garage to do the same. It's on honey do list.

Just curious..... why does it have to be raised? Or is that simply a decorative decision

Just a design decision. We can control the soil quality better with a raised garden than in ground but each has it's own benefits. We're also not 100% sure where we want the garden yet so at least this way, it is somewhat less permanent (minus the grass we'll kill).

Ditto that. Additionally, we can put down weed cloth to keep weeds out and a small rock layer to help with drainage. Raised beds are also useful so you don't have to go digging in the soil.