I'm being prosecuted over my food garden

[phill4paul]

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.

Johhny Weed Seed.

 

[Cleaner44]

Johhny Weed Seed.

Actually if marijuana seeds were available, that would be great for spreading in the neighbors and police chief's yard.

 

[phill4paul]

Ah, spelled the name wrong. Here is Roxi's thread regarding a friend that had similar problems. http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...uld-go-to-jail-for-repurposed-flower-planters

 

[XNavyNuke]

I know that you only have until Nov 15th, but I'd FOIA the code enforcement office and PD and see if they were dumb enough to leave a paper trail. I had a similar problem many years ago when I lived down south. The former Pres of the defunct HOA was friends with a code enforcement officer. I got cited for my tomatoes and sunflower being too tall and reported as weeds.

Good luck!
XNN

 

[Suzu]

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.

It would take a whole separate article to tell the story of the neighbors who complained about me. For now I'll just say that in the last 7 years, they've done more illegal acts that have harmed me than I've ever dreamed of doing in my entire life to anyone.

I did some minor revisions in wording (as a professional editor, I'm always revising and looking for ways to say things more succinctly) and did go ahead and tone down those parts you mentioned - but only a little bit.

 

[Suzu]

I know that you only have until Nov 15th, but I'd FOIA the code enforcement office and PD and see if they were dumb enough to leave a paper trail. I had a similar problem many years ago when I lived down south. The former Pres of the defunct HOA was friends with a code enforcement officer. I got cited for my tomatoes and sunflower being too tall and reported as weeds.

Now that's a good idea but I have no clue how to do what you're suggesting. I thought FOIA only applied to federal documents...? What would I be asking for and from whom?

On a side note, I find it odd that this thread has as of this writing almost 300 views and a similar post on a liberty-oriented garden forum has had almost 100, and I belong to a private and fairly close-knit group on Facebook with almost 150 members, most of whom have seen the article. And so far, zero comments on the article page. To my mind, this confirms that I'm a crappy writer.

ETA: I stayed up late last night revising my article. I think it must have helped, because now I have one comment on it.

 

[Suzu]

As I clicked "post" after adding to the previous post, I noticed the mayor driving past the house slowly, looking into the yard with his eyes bugged out.

 

[pacelli]

So they wanted you to get rid of the valuable building materials on your porch (calling it "rubbish"), aren't houses made out of wood?

Think about planting bamboo as a living fence in front. A rhizome barrier or a chinampa/water feature would be a way to prevent it from spreading.

 

[amy31416]

It is very, very wordy. Lots of parts that hardly anyone will care about, like your bunnies.

Don't mean to be harsh, but I lost interest early in your article.

 

[2young2vote]

It is very, very wordy. Lots of parts that hardly anyone will care about, like your bunnies.

Don't mean to be harsh, but I lost interest early in your article.

I agree with this. What the article is is a story, not a potential mind-changing argument.

If I were you I would re-write it to be no more than 5 paragraphs, less would be better. This is how I would write it:

First paragraph is an opening that describes you and your yard in a positive light.

Second thru fourth paragraphs will be explaining why what you are doing is legal and does not violate the codes in your city, plus explain how it does not detract from the city. Each one of these paragraphs should be its own topic and no more than maybe 5 sentences each. Each paragraph has a beginning sentence giving an overview of its respective paragraph, with the following sentences backing the beginning sentence up.

Final paragraph will recap your first paragraph and will quickly summarize the situation.

Things to note - try to not use "Me" "my" "I" and other words referring to yourself. These people in government have two personalities, one that cares about the community and the city, and the other than only cares about themselves. You will want to appeal to THEM and the COMMUNITY, not yourself. Explain how it benefits THEM and the community to let you your keep the yard the way it is without sounding like a "save the planet, maannnnn" hippy.

Don't use strong words, don't use politically sensitive words, don't use emotional words, and don't try to make it about politics or philosophy.

It needs to be like this:

This is the situation. Here are some examples why this solution is better than the one you are proposing. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Sincerely, Suzu.

You have to be careful with this government people. If they see weakness they will take advantage of it. Make your paper strong and logical so they need to question their pre-conceived beliefs.

Anyways, that is just what I would do.

 

[dannno]

I really like the idea of getting a bunch of weed seeds and throwing them on their lawn during a prevailing wind in their direction, weeding is a bitch. Unfortunately it might cost you a little extra work around your garden, but it should be a lot worse for your neighbor. That is so horrible, I hate grass laws as well.

 

[XNavyNuke]

Now that's a good idea but I have no clue how to do what you're suggesting. I thought FOIA only applied to federal documents...? What would I be asking for and from whom?

I just did it at my county courthouse, though I believe that your issue is with city hall. I just called and found out the name of the Freedom of Information Act Officer and wrote her. There was a form on the courthouse web page, but it didn't have her name. I wanted to mail it certified with her name on it. Just ask specifically what it is you want. Something like copies of all forms, written and electronic correspondence related to your name, your address, and citation number x between date A and date B. They might try and charge you a per page photocopy fee.

Good luck!
XNN

 

[Suzu]

Thanks very much for your comments, 2young2vote. You may be too young to vote, but you're definitely old enough to know what constitutes a good piece of persuasive writing, and I agree with everything you say. However, I meant for the article to be a "story" rather than a brief, logical argument intended merely to make a point. Nor is it intended to be a letter addressing anyone in particular. I might write one of those, too, and for a different purpose. Anyhow, thanks again for your valuable input!

P.S. I was in the process of posting this some hours ago when my internet connection went down, but thanks to "autosaved content" I got it back!

 

[Suzu]

It is very, very wordy. Lots of parts that hardly anyone will care about, like your bunnies.

Don't mean to be harsh, but I lost interest early in your article.

Don't apologize, you're right. I have now cut it down to half the original length. Please take another look and let me know if you approve.

 

[Uriel999]

If things don't work out in court...build a killdozer.

 

[amy31416]

Don't apologize, you're right. I have now cut it down to half the original length. Please take another look and let me know if you approve.

I'm waiting for some coffee to kick in before I go run some errands, I should hopefully get to it this evening.

Whether it's an article or a story, I was just thinking that if you're going to be attending some sort of hearing to defend yourself, it's a good idea to have everything in your head and on paper as technical as possible--it's not about whether I approve or not, it just seems like it'd be a nightmare if you presented a defense and started to go on about upcoming financial collapse, vitamin B17, etc. It's not right, but they'd see you as a loon and make it easier to justify trying to get rid of you or hassle you.

 

[Suzu]

I'm waiting for some coffee to kick in before I go run some errands, I should hopefully get to it this evening.

Whether it's an article or a story, I was just thinking that if you're going to be attending some sort of hearing to defend yourself, it's a good idea to have everything in your head and on paper as technical as possible--it's not about whether I approve or not, it just seems like it'd be a nightmare if you presented a defense and started to go on about upcoming financial collapse, vitamin B17, etc. It's not right, but they'd see you as a loon and make it easier to justify trying to get rid of you or hassle you.

Understood. Of course I won't start ranting like that in court and will just stick to the facts. I wrote the article mainly as an exercise and to share around. If I can get it polished just right, who knows, maybe WND will want to run with it, and people will start calling our mayor and telling him to back off.

 

[amy31416]

The only thing I can think of that can make this a better narrative to encourage calls to pressure your local gov't is photographs of your garden (your description makes it sound really lovely) and any documentation sent to you by the city.

The edits really did clean it up a lot and it's now far more focused--which I think is a major improvement, and probably a good tool to use for your purposes in post #37.

ETA: Might also be worthwhile to post that you grow herbs and vegetables that are completely unavailable in your area--I have that problem here and if I couldn't grow these herbs, there would be no access to them without driving an hour or more.

 

[osan]

What he says. Good on you and good luck.

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.