Alabama Woman May be arrested for front yard garden

HAHAHAHA!! :)

Nicole

Yard nazism is so bad. I remember being floored as a young teen when my mom introduced me to the idea that one's neighbors could have a say in how one's lawn looked. Good lord. Now that I'm a part-homeowner rather than just a renter, I have to say that I care somewhat about what things look like but it has more to do with the fact that I live in a crime-ridden neighborhood and when things look like no one cares about them, they attract a bad element to hang out there and tag, litter, deal drugs, etc. As I said, though, anyone who cared enough to grow food in their front yard would be WELCOME. At least they care.


Love the anti-yard nazi stories.

Spidra that is so true. When my husband and I were house shopping we found a nice house that had lots and lots of add ons. Huge fish pond in the backyard, built in cabinets all over the place the owner put in. Shelving in the garage - you get the idea.

The only problem was his neighbor had an unkempt, unmowed lawn and several things just laying around outside, a wooden pallet was one I remember.

We passed. Shame too - I liked that house. :(

Nicole

Wowee! I need to see pictures of the fertilization projects!!! Sounds like a thing my neighbours would reeeeeeaaaaalllllly hate!!!

That's lovely, mrs_colla.

Oh how pretty Mrs colla! I will try and remember to take a pic of the stripes!! LOL!!

Nicole

Mrs. Colla - I wish you were my neighbor! I'd be over there helping you weed and having a cup of tea with you. It's just a peaceful oasis of beautiful living trees and flowers in a world that could use a lot more of them. Good for you!

June

My Dad lives right behind Disneyland in Anaheim, CA and actually got a TICKET for his front yard. (The truth is - he deserved it. He had been "killing the crabgrass" by letting it be raw dirt for 3 years - it was dead!) I told him that I was NOT flying in from Connecticut to bail him out of jail if he got arrested over his front yard (which could have happened) and begged him to fix it up. At that time he was putting in at least 20 hours a week at the children's garden at the Fullerton Arboretum and he was a very active Master Gardner! He had no excuse and he had plenty of money and the yard was only about 20' x 20'! He has a service now that takes care of the little bit of grass they planted and he is staying out of jail! LOL

I never did get to see a pic of Alabama woman's yard but I know I would like it. I wish there was a way to stop people interferring with folks who like a 'different' look.

I can see fining trash and junk cars but as far as what to plant that should be left up to the individual.

Does anyone know the outcome of this case???

MRS COLA, your yard is absolutely beautiful. Why does everyone's yard have to look the same? Yours looks so much better--a real work of art.

The last thing that was in the paper was Dec. 16 06. She was going to sue the city to stop them from destroying her yard. It will probably be tied up in court a long time. At least through this growing season!

http://www.al.com/birmingham/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/116626410222930.xml&coll=2

I tried to find an new link with the photo, since the earlier link no longer shows the article. Instead, I found this link with a comment by another resident. It appears that the new development across the street is the source of the problems.

http://homewood-al.org/archives/2006/12/frontyard_garden_plants_woman.html

"I live in this near this house and pass it often when out running. The yard looks fine. People are complaining because they just build new homes across the street and want the neigborhood to look like Greystone. This is Homewood, not a cookie cutter development down 280."

Homewood has always been an eclectic little suburb of Birmingham. It is true that developers are putting up mega prefab houses and plan an office complex whereas now there is a main street with lots of little shops and narrow treelined streets with homes. Many of their current houses were built in the 20's and 30s. Greystone, the neighborhood mentioned is full of McMansions that run in the 700K+ range.

I hope the individual homeowners and businesses win out here. Something tells me anticipated tax revenues are playing a big role here.

I saw the photo and it was a small attractive yard with spinach and kale and other various things which did not strike me as unusual.

Hi to everyone! I must say your front yard is very pretty Mrs. Colla... any one who thinks otherwise doesnt appreciate nature.

Im glad we dont live in a neighborhood with HOA patrol:)... i too have a plan to make something like yours ( actually , your front yard put my ideas in perspective) in my front yard but didnt know exactly what to do.. i cant draw so i cant even make a plan...

i hope the lady in Birmingham gets to keep her organic front yard

I am planning to put in a veggie garden in my front yard. But I checked with my city and they said there were no rules against it. Hopefully my neighbors won't have a fit as long as it looks attractive.

I'm about to tuck some squash and cucumber plants in behind a row of boxwoods in my front yard. All the good sun is out front; I think that these should be pretty well hidden in my relatively formal entry (well, we shall see)...

*Gasp*

I know. I know. I'm such a rebel.

Well, I wasn't going to name names, LOL.

That reminds me, is it too late to plant seeds of pumpkins and gourds? It is finally HOT here, not hot one day and cold the next. Or am I too late?

I say go for it. (but I don't really know the answer)

I'll go for it then, we rebels gotta stick together, LOL!

HOORAY!

I just got a reply from my city ( I ckecked again to make sure ), as long as my front yard is 50% living, they have no regulations against a vegetable garden in the front yard!

I am getting my inspiration from Rosalind Creasy's book The Edible Rainbow Garden!

50% living? What is the other 50% supposed to be? LOL!

I was afraid to ask, though I'm not seeing too many dead bodies in people's front yards!

Hardscape or gravel.

When I read the statute, I think they were afraid people were going to make parking lots out of their front yard so they passed this rule.