The Government Is Now The Emperor Of Your Front Lawn?
The government shouldn't get to tell you how attractive a lawn you need to have. But, that's exactly what's happening in Orlando, Florida. Kristin Giannas writes at ClickOrlando.com that the city of Orlando has ordered Jason Helvingston to dig up the edible garden in his front yard, and Helvingston has refused:
"I said, 'You'll take my house before you take my vegetable garden,'" he said. "There's nothing wrong here, there's nothing poisonous here. This is a sustainable plot of land."City code requires ground covers to be planted in a way that gives off a finished appearance so neighborhood lawns are clean, and inviting -- keeping property values up.
Helvingston has decided not to listen to the city. Instead, he's trying to petition the code to allow for veggie gardens in the front yard.
He's gathered more than 200 signatures, including one from his neighbor, Shelly Snow.
"(I'm) definitely not bothered by it. As a matter of fact, we love it," she said.
Helvingston hopes the city will reconsider the code when he meets with a code board in December.
"This is another example of the government telling us what we can do with our own property -- that should never happen," he said. "In any economic downturn in the past history of the United States, the government has always encouraged the people to grow their own food, and so we want to continue with that movement."
Video at the link.
via @mpetrie98
Except if you live in city limits or with an HOA, you are darn good and aware what is and isn't allowed when you buy. Want to go self-sufficient on your food? Don't live in suburbia. Problem solved.
You can do gardens that don't "look" like gardens yet produce highly. This seems like someone wanting attention.
momo4 at November 9, 2012 11:40 PM
As M4 points out, it's a devil-in-the-details thing: you can make a vegetable garden that looks neat and finished, or you can make one that looks unkempt. The problem with asserting rights in a neighborhood of any kind is that the effects of your actions don't always end at your property line; if you do something really horrific with your house, that impacts your neighbors' property values. Fist, swing, nose, etc. The hard part is determining where the limits ought to be. But everyone involved has to acknowledge that there are limits.
Some years ago I lived in a neighborhood of starter homes built on pretty small lots. The houses were close to the street and the front yards were small, and there was an HOA. One person decided to do an unconventional treatment with their yard, with an arrangement of tropical-type plants, and cut and painted pieces of PVC pipe that served as both borders between areas and as irrigation. Someone raised a stink with the HOA and they decided to have a neighborhood vote. I voted to let the neighbor keep it; although it wasn't something that I'd want for my own yard, it was actually kind of cool and it added variety to the rather cookie-cutter look of the neighborhood. The keep-it votes carried the day.
If the same was happening in Orlando, I'd probably vote to let the guy keep the garden, provided that he keeps it neat and organized and weeded, and he isn't growing anything that attracts pests. Having said that, I do wonder why he can't grow his garden in the back yard.
Cousin Dave at November 10, 2012 6:00 AM
Except if you live in city limits or with an HOA, you are darn good and aware what is and isn't allowed when you buy. Want to go self-sufficient on your food? Don't live in suburbia. Problem solved.
HOA, yes, but city government no. There is nothing like raising the spectre of property values to bring out everyone's inner Mrs. Kravitz.
Astra at November 10, 2012 7:03 AM
In the video they mention he has three chickens in the back yard.
So I'm questioning how far to let it go. I'm more on the side of his property, his rights. An HOA does have an enforcement right, because you usually buy the HOA with the property. A city government should have less rights on a property owner. From a city it should be true blight, health, or safety and sanitation.
Jim P. at November 10, 2012 7:18 AM
"This is another example of the government telling us what we can do with our own property"
I'm sorry, what? you silly rabbit, you don't actually own that property. You rent it from the government.
If you don't believe me, try not paying your property taxes for a few years...
Also, if you want to live the rugged life, you should relocate to Liberty County, Florida. It is the least populated county, and you probably can pick up 20 acres for next to nothing and put a house or a trailer in the middle of it, and grow as much food stuffs as your heart desires. You're still renting the property from the county, but the rent is so much less...
I R A Darth Aggie at November 10, 2012 8:23 AM
Well, I guess it is a good thing that Michelle Obama keeps the White House garden in the backyard then.
Charles at November 10, 2012 4:54 PM
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