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Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)

68. This urbanite and backyard gardener knows that code violations happen

Sat Oct 11, 2014, 01:23 PM

Oct 2014

and that like it or not, it's my responsibility to address them to the county's satisfaction. I am allowed to raise chickens here, but not roosters (in Chicago roosters are fine but that's really unusual for an urban area.) I can't create a nuisance for neighbors by having an unkempt coop or birds running outside of an enclosed area. I may think that my coop is perfect and that my birds are free ranging and happy, but if a neighbor complains about odors or birds coming over the fence into their yards, the county would inspect.

Much of my untilled garden area sports weeds in the rainy season. Left alone they'll get to be as tall as five feet. County doesn't care about that. What they do care about is that this weedy growth is removed before the start of fire season. If it's not, I'd be fined. We used to pay a neighbor to rototill the dead weeds in the Spring. Now we just keep them mowed down to an acceptable height.

I also can't have a pile of rotting wood and branches in my yard without risk of citation because it attracts rodents. I'm not sure that I could convince a county inspector that a raised bed framed in scrap wood is hugelkultur, although I'd try.

Many of us urbanites know a lot about soil building and managing plant growth, thank you very much. We also know that neighbors and local government have far more say in our land use than they would if we live in an ag area. That's just a fact of choosing to 'farm' in an urbanized area.

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meanwhile in the real world. [View all] mopinko Oct 2014 OP

don't be sad questionseverything Oct 2014 #1

Plants that we call weeds are prolific and often choke out other plants that we find more desirable. Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #3

several of the cites were about weeds. mopinko Oct 2014 #4

why is there random junk and debris strewn on that lot? CreekDog Oct 2014 #6

If only you knew what you're talking about, this person and her project and growing things. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #39

it's shown in a local news article CreekDog Oct 2014 #50

In typical fashion, you fail on every single counter point CreekDog and you have no business griping NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #52

First: No, not all areas in Chicago drain to the combined system CreekDog Oct 2014 #57

Pure speculation and posturing. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #62

this is your defense of her? that it's ok for chicken crap to runoff because... CreekDog Oct 2014 #63

You're arguing with Cousin Eddie. LexVegas Oct 2014 #64

ah. CreekDog Oct 2014 #81

Oh shit! NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #122

Fish poop in Lake Michigan, birds do too!!!! NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #75

so it's "nature" if chicken poop ends up in Lake Michigan? CreekDog Oct 2014 #80

Yes, squirrels, too. And, human poop goes there too. What's your beef with chicken? NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #88

you're saying that chickens in a pen are wildlife, comparable to migrating birds? CreekDog Oct 2014 #97

This message was self-deleted by its author NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #121

did you tell them that runoff from chicken manure was no big deal if it went into the storm drains? CreekDog Oct 2014 #146

Let me ask my friends who know for certain and get back to you. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #150

if you aren't 100% sure that you would never say that, you should stop giving speeches CreekDog Oct 2014 #153

I'm 100% sure, I just thought you'd want some backup. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #155

I'm deleting the post above as it may have shared too much personal information. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #151

ty for sticking up for urban gardeners questionseverything Oct 2014 #79

do you use manure to fertilize crops in your "urban garden"? CreekDog Oct 2014 #83

You're welcome, me too! And chicken manure is really beneficial. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #109

in my opionion questionseverything Oct 2014 #118

i didn't ask whether chicken manure would benefit one's garden, i asked about runoff CreekDog Oct 2014 #147

The ecosystem would be unhealthy without it. California 4th grade standard. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #149

you're saying runoff from chicken manure is making Lake Michigan *healthier*??? CreekDog Oct 2014 #152

Well there you go again, putting words in my mouth. It's like you're arguing with yourself. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #154

I have THREE overturned buckets! cwydro Oct 2014 #159

<smiles> questionseverything Oct 2014 #169

I have a lot of land left to me from my dad cwydro Oct 2014 #110

I wonder sometimes.... NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #113

that's funny. in our interactions here, you were the one that responded to me, and not pleasantly CreekDog Oct 2014 #148

It's neither random nor debris, and "strewn" is a bit subjective. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #219

Been to many farms and worked on a couple CreekDog Oct 2014 #231

You're a entertaining person, CreekDog. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #233

Were the code violations for allowing them to go to seed or something else? Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #8

it is contained w logs. mopinko Oct 2014 #13

folks with ur attitude is why the questionseverything Oct 2014 #66

You might want to spread that manure some place else. Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #74

then u should be on mo's side questionseverything Oct 2014 #84

Nope, you'd lose. Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #85

i dont spread manure. mopinko Oct 2014 #89

I didn't say that you did, mo. Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #94

that is the whole point of deep litter. mopinko Oct 2014 #224

seriously questionseverything Oct 2014 #92

indeed. mopinko Oct 2014 #96

You didn't specify *native plants* in that post, just flowering weeds Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #107

when i say flowering plants, i mean those that i find covered in bees. mopinko Oct 2014 #112

u should write a book questionseverything Oct 2014 #135

thanks for that. mopinko Oct 2014 #137

one of my fav weeds questionseverything Oct 2014 #142

i was reaching out to a fellow du-er questionseverything Oct 2014 #140

yea, amazed i'm reading some of these responses on a liberal board nt cwydro Oct 2014 #158

you mean responses that are against pollution and against animal cruelty CreekDog Oct 2014 #174

To an educated and enlightened person, there is no pollution here, no cruelty. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #177

the OP owns one of the structures that you say is less environmentally benign CreekDog Oct 2014 #180

This message was self-deleted by its author NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #182

what do you do to keep 100% of your fertilizer (chicken manure) out of city storm drains? CreekDog Oct 2014 #2

It's very very rare that any run off goes into storm drains. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #53

actually you're guessing this, you don't know it CreekDog Oct 2014 #58

Soil percitation rate, slope, composition, and types of cover impact runoff. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #59

I think you're doing a great thing. Keep it up. Comrade Grumpy Oct 2014 #5

thx mopinko Oct 2014 #27

Keeping chickens in an abandoned junker is cruel. LexVegas Oct 2014 #7

^This. LeftyMom Oct 2014 #9

it isnt an abandoned junker. it is an extensively retrofitted steel coop. mopinko Oct 2014 #14

is the engine still in it? CreekDog Oct 2014 #20

What about the bird who became entrapped? LeftyMom Oct 2014 #29

nah, it is an old time practice all over the world Kali Oct 2014 #30

i didnt invent it, that's for sure. mopinko Oct 2014 #46

some great ones here! Kali Oct 2014 #76

and ya know, i have a couple store bought small coops. mopinko Oct 2014 #90

No, it's not. cwydro Oct 2014 #163

That's a sound idea. Raccoons and other critters are persistent. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #175

most of the chicken keepers i know have lost birds to predators. mopinko Oct 2014 #221

The "before" pictures on Google Earth look much nicer, it was an empty but well-tended lot. LeftyMom Oct 2014 #10

+1 CreekDog Oct 2014 #11

except that everything you just said is a lie. mopinko Oct 2014 #15

the street view photos actually show the difference before and after CreekDog Oct 2014 #18

From space? Its from the street. LexVegas Oct 2014 #24

Google shows the before and after from the street. LeftyMom Oct 2014 #28

results Go Vols Oct 2014 #40

I have no idea if this is a case of stalking or not, but I will NEVER understand people Number23 Oct 2014 #235

There are rats in every city. cwydro Oct 2014 #166

This is such a noble cause and one that is close to my heart JaneyVee Oct 2014 #12

that's wonderful. mopinko Oct 2014 #17

yes, about that nitrogen, *where* is it going? CreekDog Oct 2014 #19

this is how you respond to even gentle criticism and/or advice CreekDog Oct 2014 #16

I sent the jury results on your post. Autumn Oct 2014 #32

thank you. CreekDog Oct 2014 #37

Is this you? Rex Oct 2014 #21

that's me. mopinko Oct 2014 #22

Sounds like they are harrassing you imo. Rex Oct 2014 #23

ya know, the reason i am so pissed about this is that i know others who have had this happen. mopinko Oct 2014 #25

link to city complaints mopinko Oct 2014 #26

most urbanites have no clue about nature, much less agriculture Kali Oct 2014 #31

thanks. yes, the swarm. mopinko Oct 2014 #33

pissing and moaning about manure? CreekDog Oct 2014 #36

Junker cars, piles of junk, rusty Bobcats and trucks on the street... LexVegas Oct 2014 #47

... Kali Oct 2014 #60

please try to keep up, we're talking about runoff CreekDog Oct 2014 #61

is there any? Kali Oct 2014 #67

you make it sound like runoff needs to be proven CreekDog Oct 2014 #69

pretty funny that you brought up logic Kali Oct 2014 #82

Well you and I both know that runoff is not a "natural occurrence"; it may or may not happen. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #204

Yes, there is an accusation of animal cruelty in the thread. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #42

you dont say. i guess i have all the right people on ignore. mopinko Oct 2014 #45

actually you put everyone who asks you questions on ignore CreekDog Oct 2014 #49

It's not an either or situation, you know. Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #56

I call it the Disney effect. Kali Oct 2014 #86

Also, apparently, it's wrong to re-use detergent containers or have a leaning wooden chair outside. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #91

wow, you're saying the containers are being used? CreekDog Oct 2014 #100

regarding my cleo. mopinko Oct 2014 #102

also, i have no idea where this detergent thing came from. mopinko Oct 2014 #106

Kali logic: criticism of mopinko's farm from urbanites is wrong because they're urbanites CreekDog Oct 2014 #51

creekdog: keep posting over and over and over the same thing that you have been corrected about. Kali Oct 2014 #65

well you were the one that said urbanites were ignorant of farming practices CreekDog Oct 2014 #70

Is that part of the page before or after the "Rooseter Pelts" album? LexVegas Oct 2014 #73

I am not sure. Kali Oct 2014 #78

This urbanite and backyard gardener knows that code violations happen Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #68

I agree there are issues with codes in urban areas Kali Oct 2014 #104

actually, the bit about the fall and fire risk mopinko Oct 2014 #119

It's bone dry here for six months every year. Fire risk is a big deal. n/t Gormy Cuss Oct 2014 #125

we are a little touchy about fire here. mopinko Oct 2014 #139

This message was self-deleted by its author Autumn Oct 2014 #173

Your hideous junk car/coop is dangerous and deadly (quoting your "farm" facebook page below) LeftyMom Oct 2014 #34

Utter bullshit. You never lived on a farm, I'm guessing. I grew up on one. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #41

Chickens tend to attack each other when kept in overcrowded or otherwise poor conditions. LeftyMom Oct 2014 #43

Exactly. Birds given enough square footage of housing are happy and do not attack others. LexVegas Oct 2014 #48

People make chicken coops out of a lot of different things. Trucks, cars, campers Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #72

way cool questionseverything Oct 2014 #87

and most cities have rules against abandoned vehicles CreekDog Oct 2014 #161

I hesitate to weigh in on this one sweetapogee Oct 2014 #172

Did you say runoff and the EPA? NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #176

to be clear sweetapogee Oct 2014 #183

Those three letter agencies are often not firing on all 8 cylinders. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #201

mo has posted several times about how she is working with the city questionseverything Oct 2014 #185

the only thing I have to say about the whole mess is sweetapogee Oct 2014 #186

on that we can agree questionseverything Oct 2014 #226

Is the city citing her for that? I don't think so. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #192

Truth is that this garden has multiple benefits, no down sides. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #194

Yep. No down sides. I am blown away by the negativity. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #198

Not all the complaints are against the garden, but most are bogus and subjective harrassment. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #200

so someone has to live on a farm to have a valid thing to say about animal cruelty? CreekDog Oct 2014 #98

so you're saying that unless one grew up or lives on a farm, they can't be correct? CreekDog Oct 2014 #157

It's becoming clear to me that to you, any opinion will do sibelian Oct 2014 #95

Oh, what over the top over reaction. A chicken died in an accident. Comrade Grumpy Oct 2014 #105

link to complaints and tonights news story. mopinko Oct 2014 #35

I'm so sorry to hear about this, Mo. AverageJoe90 Oct 2014 #38

thanks. i do love it. mopinko Oct 2014 #44

+1 Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #54

It can unfortunately be just one or two people complaining and then the inspectors seeing revenue lunasun Oct 2014 #55

having kids visit the farm is one of my favorite things. mopinko Oct 2014 #93

"kids from the local shit high school." what??? CreekDog Oct 2014 #101

Yeah. What about it, CreekDog? NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #136

why didn't you challenge her for that assertion? CreekDog Oct 2014 #145

Thank you for working with kids, mopinko. It makes your garden that much more valuable. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #133

you have a point, she cares so much she tried to get her tenant to change her kids' school CreekDog Oct 2014 #156

So what? Less time in the car is more time and money for family. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #165

I know you. H2O Man Oct 2014 #71

thank you. i am proud to have you count me as a friend. mopinko Oct 2014 #99

Good luck to you, Mo. I liked you on Facebook. I hope you get the support that you need. Luminous Animal Oct 2014 #77

i am actually, totally bowled over by the support. mopinko Oct 2014 #108

The internet attracts a lot of people for whom any opinion will do sibelian Oct 2014 #103

i am completely ignoring them. mopinko Oct 2014 #115

Most welcome and good on you for making the effort to walk the walk. sibelian Oct 2014 #117

Mopinko cwydro Oct 2014 #111

i am doing me very best. mopinko Oct 2014 #126

Food webs. It's a fouth grade science standard. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #128

maybe i can get the city council to return to 4th grade. mopinko Oct 2014 #131

The other thread DU'ers were supportive but unless someone offers you blind KittyWampus Oct 2014 #114

plonk mopinko Oct 2014 #120

funny, mopinko supported code enforcement when it was against other people CreekDog Oct 2014 #184

I have no idea whether there is any validity to the city's citations/ accusations or not ... etherealtruth Oct 2014 #116

i have had some great volunteers this year. mopinko Oct 2014 #124

Good luck! etherealtruth Oct 2014 #127

there is already a movement to change the ordinance. mopinko Oct 2014 #129

We haven't lost our minds. The fact you resort to pure nastiness when anyone even remotely counters KittyWampus Oct 2014 #134

This whole thing happened because Mopino turned a mother in for child neglect KittyWampus Oct 2014 #123

It is a classic tactic used by freeloaders to blame the landlord on some bullshit thing. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #130

it wasn't a "freeloader". Mopinko entitled the thread "So I Narced Out A Tenant" KittyWampus Oct 2014 #132

I never called that tenant a freeloader. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #138

It's also not okay to violate city codes when you engage in urban gardening and when you do KittyWampus Oct 2014 #141

you just said that the tenant used a "classic freeloader tactic" CreekDog Oct 2014 #160

There are good tenants and bad tenants and there are retribution tenants that work the system. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #162

if you didn't say that kind of stuff in the first place, you wouldn't have to walk it back CreekDog Oct 2014 #164

I'm not walking back anything, dear friend. I'm responding to one of your attempts to be right. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #167

So- it's okay to invoke the rules & technicalities when it's Mopinko narcing on a tenant KittyWampus Oct 2014 #168

Do you think inspectors are always honest and right? Wow, you haven't lived. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #171

My family owns a small business. We HAVE to answer to fire and health codes. Like it or not. KittyWampus Oct 2014 #193

Bingo. Starry Messenger Oct 2014 #178

as luck would have it, mopinko posted about them, take a look CreekDog Oct 2014 #143

Your welcome to live the way you want yeoman6987 Oct 2014 #144

i'm happy to say i dont. mopinko Oct 2014 #170

Cripes! MerryBlooms Oct 2014 #179

thanks for the hug. mopinko Oct 2014 #214

You had me at "dear vegan nutballs" flvegan Oct 2014 #181

i know a lot of sane vegans. none of them would mopinko Oct 2014 #188

Wait...what? flvegan Oct 2014 #190

i keep chickens. i raise my own chicks. mopinko Oct 2014 #191

Honest question: you had 4 roosters and now have 1 CreekDog Oct 2014 #209

People have suggested that keeping chickens in this particular way is inhumane. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #195

Quit playing games. Nobody said it's inhumane to keep chickens in an urban setting CreekDog Oct 2014 #196

And with this from Creekdog, I'll refrain from posting my response. flvegan Oct 2014 #197

mopinko has a combination of enclosures for her 20 chickens. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #205

Having rescued hundreds of chickens from a battery farm flvegan Oct 2014 #206

here ya go questionseverything Oct 2014 #215

Thanks, that's a very positive and informative video clip and article. The doubters need to watch. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #216

From a purely visual standpoint her property shown in that video looks junky. JimDandy Oct 2014 #228

Modified Chevy Suburban CreekDog Oct 2014 #208

"Cruel" and "Deathrap" as used in posts 7 and 10 are the equivalent to "inhumane". NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #199

and those terms have nothing to do with being in an urban setting CreekDog Oct 2014 #202

Well I've decided to reword the subject line and remove the phrase "urban setting". NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #203

Mo, seriously cwydro Oct 2014 #239

its either ignore or find another home. mopinko Oct 2014 #241

What a weird thread. Texasgal Oct 2014 #187

sometimes it is through the looking glass. mopinko Oct 2014 #189

maybe the best thing might be to check out some other urban farms JI7 Oct 2014 #207

they are coming to me. mopinko Oct 2014 #212

the perfect book for this thread Kali Oct 2014 #210

boy howdy. mopinko Oct 2014 #211

That and "Chicken Poop for the Soul" NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #217

people dont seem to get that chicken poop is so fully digested mopinko Oct 2014 #223

i didnt put this in the original post, because mopinko Oct 2014 #213

I sense a switch in sensibilities that came with the switch in mayoral leadership. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #218

the talk is great. the walk is a little wobbly. mopinko Oct 2014 #220

"Green Efforts" that come from the top (national green ribbon schools, city efforts) favor the rich. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #222

i was really reluctant to take volunteers. mopinko Oct 2014 #225

Size and fame and scale don't matter. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #227

you already are! mopinko Oct 2014 #229

That's one common reason behind this sort of harassment. NYC_SKP Oct 2014 #230

the little bank to a huge bath with this guy. mopinko Oct 2014 #232

Hang in there Mo. cwydro Oct 2014 #234

me too mopinko Oct 2014 #236

Thanks to this I've learned about hugelkultur. herding cats Oct 2014 #237

well that is fitting. i learned about it here, too. mopinko Oct 2014 #238

You know, I just looked at the pictures on google earth Texasgal Oct 2014 #240

down the rabbit hole it is. mopinko Oct 2014 #242

Asking again, the photos on the fb page in your OP, of the rooster pelts CreekDog Oct 2014 #243

Throughout this thread you define that old saying ... 'A dog with a bone' SaveOurDemocracy Oct 2014 #244

If you're offended by the question CreekDog Oct 2014 #245

Turkeys?? ... I thought it was Roosters? ... Or was it chicken shit? ... SaveOurDemocracy Oct 2014 #246

Roosters sorry CreekDog Oct 2014 #248

how did you find the photos? TorchTheWitch Oct 2014 #247

She posted the address at the link she posted here CreekDog Oct 2014 #249

address is publicly available. mopinko Oct 2014 #250