I'm being prosecuted over my food garden

[Suzu]

Never thought it would happen here in this little town, but by golly they've got me on the run.

Some sort of tie between my next-door neighbors and someone on the city council might have a role in it, but I can't verify that suspicion. In any event, it's garden-variety tyranny and it has me stressed. If I give in without a fight, it sets a precedent and opens the door to further intrusive actions by the city, not just against me but anyone who rubs any city official the wrong way over any little thing.

I wrote this article about it last night and posted it privately on a friend's blog (password: potato-patch). If it gets enough supportive comments maybe I'll print it along with the comments and give copies to the council members and perhaps embarrass them into dropping the charges.

Please read, and post any critique here. Maybe it can be improved before I "go public". I might send it to the local paper as a guest editorial if y'all think it's good enough for that.

 

[jdmyprez_deo_vindice]

I think it is good but the only complaint I have is where you say how you would have asked them for more time to do what they demanded, etc. If I were you, I would tell the Code Enforcement Office, the Mayor and Council and anyone else who has a problem with it that they can stick their rules up their ass and shit their tyranny all over someone who believes their fairy tale that they have some sort of authority over you.

 

[dannno]

Wow, never thought of bamboo as a good sound screen, but it makes a lot of sense.

In fact a lot of festivals I go to, the stages are made of bamboo which I'm now thinking has a pretty interesting effect on the music.

 

[Suzu]

I think it is good but the only complaint I have is where you say how you would have asked them for more time to do what they demanded, etc. If I were you, I would tell the Code Enforcement Office, the Mayor and Council and anyone else who has a problem with it that they can stick their rules up their ass and shit their tyranny all over someone who believes their fairy tale that they have some sort of authority over you.

That's about how I feel too but I've got to live here and if I piss them off too badly who knows what sort of reprisal might happen. Call me paranoid but I think of things like drive-by glyphosate sprayings.... firebombs tossed at my house in the dead of night.... I wouldn't put anything past a vindictive tyrant.

 

[Suzu]

Wow, never thought of bamboo as a good sound screen, but it makes a lot of sense.

I had to do something to deaden the sound coming from next door. The couple argues constantly at the top of their lungs. It doesn't help *that* much, but it's a lot better than nothing at all.

 

[Todd]

bump.

Go get em'.

 

[TaftFan]

Organize a march around downtown, culminating in a visit to city hall, complete with signs and handouts.

 

[Barrex]

Good luck.

You should delete some information. If any so called "evidence" of your infractions were removed before they came there is no reason to admit anything. I dfoubt that they took any pictures.


Keep us (royal "I") updated.

 

[RJB]

Keep fighting.

 

[James Madison]

I would avoid overly dramatic language like economic implosion, hyperinflation, etc. While serious issues, most people read that and immediately roll their eyes. Just stay focused on the absurdity of your neighbors and the city council. If they're 'environmentalists' and concerned about 'climate change', their absurdity is even easier to display.

Also, LOL @ 'private property'

Can we secede now?

 

[ItsTime]

Images would help.

 

[Suzu]

You should delete some information. If any so called "evidence" of your infractions were removed before they came there is no reason to admit anything. I dfoubt that they took any pictures.

I'm not sure what you're advising here, but they did take pictures. They're not closeups and anyone looking at them would not know what kind of plants the pictures are of. When the code inspector visited, I took him on a tour and even let him taste a few things. That's why he said there wasn't a problem.

Pictures taken by me, now, wouldn't be much help; a lot of the plants have wilted or died back or been harvested already.

 

[angelatc]

The definition of weeds is something that grows where you don't want it. I wish you luck, and I wish there was more I could offer. But the little tin pot tyrants enoy ruling over their domains with a harsh hand. Common sense gets you nowhere with those peope.

 

[69360]

I had to do something to deaden the sound coming from next door. The couple argues constantly at the top of their lungs. It doesn't help *that* much, but it's a lot better than nothing at all.

That might be your problem there. If you can see or hear neighbors, you live too close.

Doesn't seem like you did anything wrong, sorry you had so much trouble.

 

[phill4paul]

What a pisser. Another member had similar problems. I think it was Roxy. Petty tyrants abound.

 

[Suzu]

That might be your problem there. If you can see or hear neighbors, you live too close.

They didn't live there when I bought the place in '05. Believe me if I could afford to live anywhere else, I'd move in a heartbeat. It would be real hard to start a new garden, with the soil in this area, it takes years of hard work to make it good enough to grow lush crops.

 

[donnay]

"Good fences make good neighbors."

 

[tod evans]

"Good fences make good neighbors."

Fire gets rid of bad ones

 

[donnay]

Fire gets rid of bad ones

I like moats with alligators myself.

 

[Cleaner44]

Here are my initial thoughts:

• Approach this as a lawyer would
• Admit nothing
• Say the minimum and offer the minimum
• Save your arguments for court
• Don't pay their tickets
• Make the city prove any violations in court
• The burden of proof is on the city

Now off of the legal territory, I would be a bastard and start acquiring seeds of weeds that will grow very well with no effort. I would then start spreading seed all over the area, except for my yard. Again this is me being a bastard, but I would want my yard to look much better than the neighbor that started this shit. If I wanted to take that up a notch, I would throw some of that same seed in the yard of the statists that are bringing you these tickets. Let the statists reap what they sow.

Anyway, don't argue or explain to anyone that brings you tickets, save it for court. Make them prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt to your peers in the community.