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appleannie1

(5,482 posts)

107. Here is a more thorough link

Reply to littlemissmartypants (Original post)

Wed Jan 9, 2013, 03:52 PM

Jan 2013

Jason and Jennifer Helvenston feel the code violates their right to grow food on their property. In response to the garden fine, the couple have launched “Plant a Seed, Change the Law.” The initiative aims to bring attention to the city code they feel is unfair.

Jennifer Helvenston explained:

“The greatest freedom you can give someone is the freedom to know they will not go hungry. Our Patriot Garden pays for all of its costs in healthy food and lifestyle while having the lowest possible carbon footprint. It supplies valuable food while being attractive. I really do not understand why there is even a discussion. They will take our house before they take our Patriot Garden.”

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/474839/couple-fined-for-having-garden-growing-vegetables-will-cost-500-a-day/#ILfTsYRo8qG2JAti.99

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Couple to be fined $500 a day for having a garden [View all] littlemissmartypants Jan 2013 OP

Florida . . . BainsBane Jan 2013 #1

I've seen the same thing in Oakland CA, and in Canada. Sirveri Jan 2013 #121

Looks 'finished' to me. HappyMe Jan 2013 #2

I'm guessing it really means... "Perfectly flat, perfectly green, perfectly manicured grass"... tridim Jan 2013 #14

Yeah. I used to do landscaping. HappyMe Jan 2013 #15

With flowers conforming to the approved palette. nt tsuki Jan 2013 #94

Yes, I've seen this video game quality landscape installed in woodland areas. Out of staters move in freshwest Jan 2013 #95

Thanks freshwest... defacto7 Jan 2013 #127

Agreed. In an area such as where I live, where nature abounds in diversity from native plants, they freshwest Jan 2013 #128

what isn't "finished" about it? looks fine to me niyad Jan 2013 #3

Looks finished to me. nt rrneck Jan 2013 #4

That is very pretty and very well-maintained obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #5

It is a lovely garden! robinlynne Jan 2013 #6

Not only should they be allowed to keep their garden... LancetChick Jan 2013 #7

There is no HOA obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #13

that shocks me. barbtries Jan 2013 #24

Orlando, whose nickname is ironically called.... Tommy_Carcetti Jan 2013 #30

From comments, it sounds like because the garden can be eaten obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #32

it's got to be barbtries Jan 2013 #33

I think they would win this obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #36

Maybe the internet publicity will lead to widespread financial support to fight tblue37 Jan 2013 #85

The real estate industry controls us. Baitball Blogger Jan 2013 #8

that is insightful Kolesar Jan 2013 #93

OFFS progressoid Jan 2013 #9

Take my neighbors--please! Demeter Jan 2013 #18

Only read a few of the comments, but they... TreasonousBastard Jan 2013 #10

well, I'm a gardener and I would say that NJCher Jan 2013 #27

"Finished garden" is an oxymoron. Hope they fight these stupid fines. Scuba Jan 2013 #11

So true, as every gardener knows. The only "finished" garden is a plastic one! SunSeeker Jan 2013 #92

This is a testament to just how fucked up our system is PurpleEngineer Jan 2013 #12

it's okay dlwickham Jan 2013 #16

"Property values" is the usual talking point Recursion Jan 2013 #25

It should be illegal for realtors to consider anything other than the value of the actual property Occulus Jan 2013 #111

Orlando is America's favorite tourist trap jmowreader Jan 2013 #115

Maybe they mean 'fenced in' or comparmentalized? randome Jan 2013 #17

Conform....CONFORM!!! Jeff In Milwaukee Jan 2013 #19

The solution is obviously more guns Orrex Jan 2013 #20

More guns seems to be the correct answer to everything else, so why not? RC Jan 2013 #26

They'll take my azaleas from my cold, dead hands!!! Ikonoklast Jan 2013 #86

LOL! Melissa G Jan 2013 #123

Because the city is doing this, I can tell you exactly what is happening... Javaman Jan 2013 #21

Yes. You have it exactly right. MineralMan Jan 2013 #28

I have some knowledge of how this works, too NJCher Jan 2013 #29

The BTK serial killer (here in Kansas) used his job as a code enforcer tblue37 Jan 2013 #84

Thy are the Authoritarian Follower personality type as defined by Altemeyer Occulus Jan 2013 #112

I lived in Clifton for a while, and they had... TreasonousBastard Jan 2013 #125

I agree.This looks like a shitty neighbor job SummerSnow Jan 2013 #37

at least with HOA sabbat hunter Jan 2013 #40

Exactly obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #41

I address that mentality in post #112. Occulus Jan 2013 #113

The couple says they don't understand what the problem is. randome Jan 2013 #42

Or maybe no one can adequately explain exactly what the problem is Fumesucker Jan 2013 #72

I agree Renew Deal Jan 2013 #57

it's a lovely garden. barbtries Jan 2013 #22

They can win if they fight this, but it will take MineralMan Jan 2013 #23

At $500 a day its a big gamble. former9thward Jan 2013 #45

It is a gamble. MineralMan Jan 2013 #53

Internet publicity can help, not only by tblue37 Jan 2013 #88

This reminds me of when a couple of friends of mine.. SummerSnow Jan 2013 #31

You know what the HOA allows when you buy a place obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #38

They walked into this eyes wide open... SummerSnow Jan 2013 #48

But changes can be made anytime owners vote for something, right?.. Little Star Jan 2013 #52

It depends on the state obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #67

Simple Solution bvar22 Jan 2013 #87

Not beating on your friends, kiva Jan 2013 #122

are they planting edibles? if so, if I were a neighbor, I would be supernice to them, offer niyad Jan 2013 #34

Yes, they are edibles obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #39

They should place some garden gnomes and really piss them off SummerSnow Jan 2013 #35

LOL Oilwellian Jan 2013 #99

A long line of littlemissmartypants Jan 2013 #116

since it's Florida, how about a nice stand of AR-15s? 0rganism Jan 2013 #119

"Finished appearance" is subjective, therefore a majority of opinions (letters) Ian_rd Jan 2013 #43

Their garden looks finished to me. Guess having three SUV's parked in front is better...n/t AndyA Jan 2013 #44

No borders. No fences to keep children or pets out. randome Jan 2013 #47

It probably is something stupid like that. AndyA Jan 2013 #51

No garden is ever 'finished'... DreamGypsy Jan 2013 #46

heh, I think it takes seven years to a decade to realize the mature growth of many shrubs and plants bigtree Jan 2013 #49

It's beautiful! HappyMe Jan 2013 #55

why, thank you! bigtree Jan 2013 #77

Very, very nice Oilwellian Jan 2013 #103

I had a nice patch of green there bigtree Jan 2013 #104

Nice yard! geardaddy Jan 2013 #71

and, thank you bigtree Jan 2013 #79

Lovely! nt tblue37 Jan 2013 #89

I'll send you my address IDemo Jan 2013 #80

no prob - free-of-charge, of course bigtree Jan 2013 #83

Looks way better than my garden would NBachers Jan 2013 #50

Go to Google Maps 106 E Orlando st, Orlando FL, Street view See what yard looked like before Fla Dem Jan 2013 #54

How does one do that? tblue37 Jan 2013 #90

Photo of yard before garden...................... Fla Dem Jan 2013 #91

Wow. That couple should be given an award! Thanks for the help, btw! nt tblue37 Jan 2013 #96

Note, the next door neighbor has a car parked IN their front yard TexasBushwhacker Jan 2013 #106

The garden looks like a mess Renew Deal Jan 2013 #56

Good grief! HappyMe Jan 2013 #61

It is a very orderly and well-maintained garden obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #69

I'm sorry, that's an eyesore... Earth_First Jan 2013 #58

I was too timid to come out and say that but I agree. randome Jan 2013 #65

Those homeowners paid HappyMe Jan 2013 #66

Why would you be so sure that someone paid to have those installed? Earth_First Jan 2013 #70

Those are professional shoots LeftInTX Jan 2013 #98

You don't know what you are talking about....... BronxBoy Jan 2013 #102

Eyesore... SilveryMoon Jan 2013 #120

Earth_First? Really??? hunter Jan 2013 #124

Shesh, it won't be finished until they eat everything. Historic NY Jan 2013 #59

I love their "unfinished" garden Liberal_in_LA Jan 2013 #60

WTH? It's friggin adorable! Wait Wut Jan 2013 #62

Lesson here is? former-republican Jan 2013 #63

This wouldn't be happening if these people had a gun tularetom Jan 2013 #64

Legistating style. McCamy Taylor Jan 2013 #68

There's no 'style' there whatsoever... Earth_First Jan 2013 #75

I would love to have a neighbor with a garden like that! Brigid Jan 2013 #73

Someone's pissed... Puha Ekapi Jan 2013 #74

Doubt it. n/t Earth_First Jan 2013 #76

This is Absolutely Ridiculous! supercats Jan 2013 #78

Would that be the neighborly thing to do? randome Jan 2013 #82

In our town (Lawrence, Kansas), tblue37 Jan 2013 #81

And, of course, reading the comments to the article located here: ChisolmTrailDem Jan 2013 #97

Yes, the comments are fascinating... in a staring at a train wreck sort of way. Silent3 Jan 2013 #101

Hooray for misleading headlines! hughee99 Jan 2013 #100

Obviously they left out the gnomes and flamingoes. Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2013 #105

Here is a more thorough link appleannie1 Jan 2013 #107

Um, did anyone say they wanted to 'take' their garden? Or their house? I don't think so. randome Jan 2013 #109

As I understand fines like this, HeiressofBickworth Jan 2013 #126

The reporting is all a bit confused... DreamGypsy Jan 2013 #110

Garden beauty is in the eye of the beholder DreamGypsy Jan 2013 #108

Just put a fence around it and call it finished. Flying Squirrel Jan 2013 #114

I like their 'pot' garden Mimosa Jan 2013 #117

As far as I'm concerned, any garden is a good garden. smirkymonkey Jan 2013 #118