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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/201...able-gardening
"In tropical South Florida, it's growing season. Temperatures are in the 80s, there's lots of sun and good rain, and normally, Hermine Ricketts' plants would already be in the ground. "By now, this should be probably Red Sails lettuce, which is a beautiful color lettuce, or purple mizuna, which is a beautiful filigreed purple leaf," she says. But this year, Ricketts' vegetable planting has been derailed by a legal fight over what she can plant and where she can plant it. Her garden is in the front yard of her home in Miami Shores, because that's where the sun is - her house faces south and her backyard is mostly in the shade. A retired architect, originally from Jamaica, Ricketts says she gardens for the food and for the peace it brings her. "This is a peach tree that I put in, and around it, I had kale, and in between the kales, I had some Chinese cabbage," she says. "And I also had Swiss chard, yellow Swiss chard." There are lots of things planted in Ricketts' front yard: a pomegranate tree, a blueberry bush, papaya, strawberries, pineapples, flowers and green plants. But noticeably absent is anything considered by Miami Shores to be a vegetable. That's because earlier this year, after tending her garden for 17 years with nothing from the neighbors but compliments, Ricketts was ordered to dig up her veggies. She says she was surprised several months ago when a zoning inspector stopped by. "He told me I was not allowed to have vegetables in the front yard," she says. Under a zoning ordinance tightened last spring, residents in Miami Shores are not allowed to have vegetable gardens in their front yards. In August, Ricketts went before the town's code enforcement board to protest, but board chairman Robert Vickers was less than sympathetic. The board ruled the vegetables must go. The zoning inspector told Ricketts which plants she had to pull up. She complied, but wasn't done with her fight. She contacted the Institute for Justice, a national advocacy group that has fought numerous legal battles over the years on property rights issues. Last month, the group against Miami Shores. A lawyer with the group, Ari Bargill, says the ban on front-yard gardens violates a state-guaranteed right to use and enjoy property. It's a right that he says can only be restricted for very good reasons. "And that is not the case with a ban on vegetables. You can plant fruit, you can have flowers, you can adorn your property with pink flamingos - but you cannot have vegetables," Bargill says. "That is almost the definition of irrationality." Town officials say they responded to a complaint they received about Ricketts' garden and that the law is clear. The town's lawyer says he's confident the ordinance will stand up in court. But that may be almost beside the point. Since filing her lawsuit, Ricketts has drawn lots of media attention, both in South Florida and across the country. Town officials say they've received death threats - including an email in which someone penciled Hitler mustaches and swastikas on photos of village council members. Last year, the city of Orlando was involved in a similar dispute with a home gardener there. After months of coverage that generated protests from gardeners around the country, Orlando relented. It's now to allow vegetable gardens even in the front yard. |
#2
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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
But noticeably absent is anything considered by Miami Shores to be a vegetable. That's because earlier this year, after tending her garden for 17 years with nothing from the neighbors but compliments, Ricketts was ordered to dig up her veggies. She says she was surprised several months ago when a zoning inspector stopped by. "He told me I was not allowed to have vegetables in the front yard," she says. Under a zoning ordinance tightened last spring, residents in Miami Shores are not allowed to have vegetable gardens in their front yards. In August, Ricketts went before the town's code enforcement board to protest, but board chairman Robert Vickers was less than sympathetic. The board ruled the vegetables must go. The zoning inspector told Ricketts which plants she had to pull up. She complied, but wasn't done with her fight. Home of the brave, land of the free....... D |
#3
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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
"David Hare-Scott" wrote:
But noticeably absent is anything considered by Miami Shores to be a vegetable. That's because earlier this year, after tending her garden for 17 years with nothing from the neighbors but compliments, Ricketts was ordered to dig up her veggies. She says she was surprised several months ago when a zoning inspector stopped by. "He told me I was not allowed to have vegetables in the front yard," she says. Under a zoning ordinance tightened last spring, residents in Miami Shores are not allowed to have vegetable gardens in their front yards. In August, Ricketts went before the town's code enforcement board to protest, but board chairman Robert Vickers was less than sympathetic. The board ruled the vegetables must go. The zoning inspector told Ricketts which plants she had to pull up. She complied, but wasn't done with her fight. Home of the brave, land of the free... Where rules are established to serve the majority. Miami Shores is an association with many rulz... if you don't like rulz don't live there, couldn't be simpler. There are plenty of places to live where one may plant crops in their front yard. And in fact Miami Shores permits vegetable gardens in rear yards... search gardening: http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=11252 |
#4
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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
David Hare-Scott wrote:
Gus wrote: .... The board ruled the vegetables must go. The zoning inspector told Ricketts which plants she had to pull up. She complied, but wasn't done with her fight. Home of the brave, land of the free....... when you live in a city or any other type of more formal community you end up having to live within some limits. the problem i have with many lawn regulations is that they are selectively enforced and as the article states are usually done in response to complaints being filed and not in a uniform manner across the community. that makes them too easy to be abused. there was a similar article in the paper a while ago about a lady who went through her entire yard and made sure it was documented that each plant was edible or medicinal/herbal and the city still sent people to rip up her gardens even in spite of the fact that she was following the regulations to the letter. bullying doesn't just happen in schools... now imagine in the other direction, in a community where water is scarce and everyone but one person's yard has been converted to xerascaping, do you think that one remaining person isn't going to get some grief? songbird |
#5
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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
On Tuesday, December 17, 2013 1:30:30 AM UTC-5, David Hare-Scott wrote:
But noticeably absent is anything considered by Miami Shores to be a vegetable. That's because earlier this year, after tending her garden for 17 years with nothing from the neighbors but compliments, Ricketts was ordered to dig up her veggies. She says she was surprised several months ago when a zoning inspector stopped by. "He told me I was not allowed to have vegetables in the front yard," she says. Under a zoning ordinance tightened last spring, residents in Miami Shores are not allowed to have vegetable gardens in their front yards. In August, Ricketts went before the town's code enforcement board to protest, but board chairman Robert Vickers was less than sympathetic. The board ruled the vegetables must go. The zoning inspector told Ricketts which plants she had to pull up. She complied, but wasn't done with her fight. Home of the brave, land of the free....... D My gardens are in the front yard. Never even thought it would be a problem. I live in a community with covenants and all that too. Maybe I should check although I won't change anything. MJ |
#6
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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
"mj" wrote in message
... My gardens are in the front yard. Never even thought it would be a problem. I live in a community with covenants and all that too. Maybe I should check although I won't change anything. MJ I see an occasional front yard garden here, not very often. When I see one, I think: good for that person! They are making good use of the space instead of having some unnaturally deep green chemically treated lawn. |
#7
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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
On Tue, 17 Dec 2013 13:11:04 -0500, "Gus"
wrote: "mj" wrote in message ... My gardens are in the front yard. Never even thought it would be a problem. I live in a community with covenants and all that too. Maybe I should check although I won't change anything. MJ I see an occasional front yard garden here, not very often. When I see one, I think: good for that person! They are making good use of the space instead of having some unnaturally deep green chemically treated lawn. Most HOAs employ a landscaping service that mows, fertilizes, treats for weeds, maintains the automatic sprinkler system, and the shrubs/trees... everyone pays for this in their association dues and everyone is made aware of the rulz before they buy. Some associations are more strict than others and some residents are more slovenly than others. Most don't want to see someones junkyard vegetable garden right out front, and I've seen plenty in front yards of private homes that were actually a hidious weed patch, and that is why HOAs have rulz. Most HOAs don't mind if a residant plants a few vegetables amongst the foundation shrubury but they won't permit digging up the front yard. Many HOAs maintain very nice community gardens for the residents. The thing is before buying an HOA carefully read and understand the bylaws, it may not be for you, I know it's not for me... and that's why I live on many acres in a very rural area... I can grow as many veggies as I like anywhere on my property (my 2,500 sqft veggie garden is actually too big for me), I can keep livestock too; poultry, cattle, horses, sheep, goats, even llamas and many of my neighbors do. And still there are zoning ordinances as to how many of each kind of animal per acre and how they are to be housed. No matter where one lives there are rulz. Bottom line is without seeing the vegetable garden in question it's impossible to make other than wild speculations... but the rulz clearly state "No vegetable gardens in the front yard". I'd speculate it's an eyesore or no one would have complained. |
#8
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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
On 12/17/2013 1:11 PM, Gus wrote:
"mj" wrote in message ... My gardens are in the front yard. Never even thought it would be a problem. I live in a community with covenants and all that too. Maybe I should check although I won't change anything. MJ I see an occasional front yard garden here, not very often. When I see one, I think: good for that person! They are making good use of the space instead of having some unnaturally deep green chemically treated lawn. Making use of partially buried old tires is gauche. |
#9
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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
"Brooklyn1" wrote in message
... ...I'd speculate it's an eyesore or no one would have complained. In the story, she said she has had one for 17 years, and got compliments on it. Until this year. There was a pic in the original story online that showed it looked well kept. The best tomato plant I had this year was on the front side of my house amongst some small holly bushes, basically the front yard. The ones in the back were pitiful this year.. The one near the front of the house grew like a beanstalk and produced some great heirloom tomatoes, which the squirrel enjoyed. But I did get a dozen or so for myself too... There was a perfect tomato that I was all excited about and watched a few days. It was big and round and looked juicy and bright red. I picked it, and as I did I felt a gaping hole in the back, and when I turned it around and looked at it there was a squirrel sized mouthful missing. |
#10
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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
Brooklyn1 wrote:
"David Hare-Scott" wrote: But noticeably absent is anything considered by Miami Shores to be a vegetable. That's because earlier this year, after tending her garden for 17 years with nothing from the neighbors but compliments, Ricketts was ordered to dig up her veggies. She says she was surprised several months ago when a zoning inspector stopped by. "He told me I was not allowed to have vegetables in the front yard," she says. Under a zoning ordinance tightened last spring, residents in Miami Shores are not allowed to have vegetable gardens in their front yards. In August, Ricketts went before the town's code enforcement board to protest, but board chairman Robert Vickers was less than sympathetic. The board ruled the vegetables must go. The zoning inspector told Ricketts which plants she had to pull up. She complied, but wasn't done with her fight. Home of the brave, land of the free... Where rules are established to serve the majority. Miami Shores is an association with many rulz... if you don't like rulz don't live there, couldn't be simpler. There are plenty of places to live where one may plant crops in their front yard. And in fact Miami Shores permits vegetable gardens in rear yards... search gardening: http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=11252 The principle that society is entitled to make rules for its collective betterment that may disadvantage some individuals is not in dispute. The point that you have missed is the ridiculous scope and impossibility of clear definition of the rules that some people believe they are entitled to foist on to others. There are some rules that should not be made because the test that the betterment of society exceeds the loss of individual freedom is not met. There are some that should not be made because defining them unambiguously and enforcing them equitably is not possible. This one is both. For a country whose public mythos features freedom of the individual very strongly there seem a great many who are ready to declare that you may be as free as you like as long as you agree with *their* way of life and *their* view of right conduct. This is a good recipe for a conformist authoritarian society which those same people spend their energy railing against. How do they justify such illogical behaviour? Simple. They are right and the rest are wrong so everybody shut up and do as you told. Or as you put it, if you don't like it move away. D |
#11
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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
... The principle that society is entitled to make rules for its collective betterment that may disadvantage some individuals is not in dispute. The point that you have missed is the ridiculous scope and impossibility of clear definition of the rules that some people believe they are entitled to foist on to others. There are some rules that should not be made because the test that the betterment of society exceeds the loss of individual freedom is not met. There are some that should not be made because defining them unambiguously and enforcing them equitably is not possible. This one is both. For a country whose public mythos features freedom of the individual very strongly there seem a great many who are ready to declare that you may be as free as you like as long as you agree with *their* way of life and *their* view of right conduct. This is a good recipe for a conformist authoritarian society which those same people spend their energy railing against. How do they justify such illogical behaviour? Simple. They are right and the rest are wrong so everybody shut up and do as you told. Or as you put it, if you don't like it move away. D I wish you were one of my senators. Lucky me is "represented" by Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul. |
#12
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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
On Wed, 18 Dec 2013 09:07:38 +1100, "David Hare-Scott"
wrote: Brooklyn1 wrote: "David Hare-Scott" wrote: But noticeably absent is anything considered by Miami Shores to be a vegetable. That's because earlier this year, after tending her garden for 17 years with nothing from the neighbors but compliments, Ricketts was ordered to dig up her veggies. She says she was surprised several months ago when a zoning inspector stopped by. "He told me I was not allowed to have vegetables in the front yard," she says. Under a zoning ordinance tightened last spring, residents in Miami Shores are not allowed to have vegetable gardens in their front yards. In August, Ricketts went before the town's code enforcement board to protest, but board chairman Robert Vickers was less than sympathetic. The board ruled the vegetables must go. The zoning inspector told Ricketts which plants she had to pull up. She complied, but wasn't done with her fight. Home of the brave, land of the free... Where rules are established to serve the majority. Miami Shores is an association with many rulz... if you don't like rulz don't live there, couldn't be simpler. There are plenty of places to live where one may plant crops in their front yard. And in fact Miami Shores permits vegetable gardens in rear yards... search gardening: http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=11252 The principle that society is entitled to make rules for its collective betterment that may disadvantage some individuals is not in dispute. The point that you have missed is the ridiculous scope and impossibility of clear definition of the rules that some people believe they are entitled to foist on to others. There are some rules that should not be made because the test that the betterment of society exceeds the loss of individual freedom is not met. There are some that should not be made because defining them unambiguously and enforcing them equitably is not possible. This one is both. For a country whose public mythos features freedom of the individual very strongly there seem a great many who are ready to declare that you may be as free as you like as long as you agree with *their* way of life and *their* view of right conduct. This is a good recipe for a conformist authoritarian society which those same people spend their energy railing against. How do they justify such illogical behaviour? Simple. They are right and the rest are wrong so everybody shut up and do as you told. Or as you put it, if you don't like it move away. You sound like a moron, which is what you are. |
#13
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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
Brooklyn1 wrote:
The principle that society is entitled to make rules for its collective betterment that may disadvantage some individuals is not in dispute. The point that you have missed is the ridiculous scope and impossibility of clear definition of the rules that some people believe they are entitled to foist on to others. There are some rules that should not be made because the test that the betterment of society exceeds the loss of individual freedom is not met. There are some that should not be made because defining them unambiguously and enforcing them equitably is not possible. This one is both. For a country whose public mythos features freedom of the individual very strongly there seem a great many who are ready to declare that you may be as free as you like as long as you agree with *their* way of life and *their* view of right conduct. This is a good recipe for a conformist authoritarian society which those same people spend their energy railing against. How do they justify such illogical behaviour? Simple. They are right and the rest are wrong so everybody shut up and do as you told. Or as you put it, if you don't like it move away. You sound like a moron, which is what you are. Why is it that whenever somebody disagrees with you the first thing you do is offer insult and the last thing is rebuttal? It seems that you are not capable of producing a reasoned argument or stating any facts in support. But it's your right to make yourself a horse's arse internationally. D |
#14
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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
... Brooklyn1 wrote: Why is it that whenever somebody disagrees with you the first thing you do is offer insult and the last thing is rebuttal? It seems that you are not capable of producing a reasoned argument or stating any facts in support. But it's your right to make yourself a horse's arse internationally. D I think he comes from the same school of "comedy/entertainer" as Rush Limbaugh. |
#15
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Turf War Blooms Over Front-Yard Vegetable Gardening
Brooklyn1 wrote:
Home of the brave, land of the free... Where rules are established to serve the majority. Miami Shores is an association with many rulz... if you don't like rulz don't live there, couldn't be simpler. There are plenty of places to live where one may plant crops in their front yard. And in fact Miami Shores permits vegetable gardens in rear yards... search gardening: http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=11252 Or, use every right you have to fight stupid HOA rules. Sueing them seems like the right thing to do in this case. Well maintained front yard vegetable gardens are a delight to see in my neighborhood. What could be more American - People feeding themselves? |
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