tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post9020936653444553178..comments2024-02-26T06:06:10.884-05:00Comments on Adventures of a Thrifty Mama on a City 'Stead: Mother of 6 Threatened With Jail Time for Front Yard GardenChris K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12054057713267875769noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-62154934950736380182012-10-13T08:56:14.702-04:002012-10-13T08:56:14.702-04:00And I would happily share my homegrown food with t...And I would happily share my homegrown food with the homeless or hungry children. Some families depend on the free school lunches that aren't available in the summer - so help yourself hungry children.Chariothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16286632754652568433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-58794085148117975252012-10-13T08:54:57.560-04:002012-10-13T08:54:57.560-04:00When these things start happening I know the wrong...When these things start happening I know the wrong people are in office. A pro gradening pro-chicken person needs to be running. We all need to take turns going to town meetings and make sure they aren't outlawing gardening or water collection. <br /><br />Has anyone heard of change.org? I sign lots of petitions on their website and many are successful. She could reach millions making a petition.Chariothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16286632754652568433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-65107853396022935452011-07-17T03:01:06.628-04:002011-07-17T03:01:06.628-04:00Oh dear Anonymous poster of July 16, Thank you for...Oh dear Anonymous poster of July 16, Thank you for the laugh! That is priceless! I for one, and many others besides, would LOVE to have her garden next door to mine. It sounds as if you may be afraid of the actual homeless 'individual' than of him or her raiding your neighbor's garden, your concern for her veggies is overwhelming! And what heartless person would tell a hungry child he or she can't have a FRESH, home grown tomato if he or she is hungry? Why not let the landowner worry about who or what eats from her front yard garden? Your concern for someone losing his job is noteworthy, but the policy, years in effect or not, is in need of change. There have been many 'policies' about things through the years that would never fly if still on the books these days. And I'm sure someone DID lose their jobs when they were changed. Segregation comes to mind. This IS ok. Cities & towns all over the country have been changing code and ordinance to allow chickens again, to make sure that, within reason, people have the allowance to grow their own food & raise chickens for fresh eggs if they so choose. People should have the right to grow veggies in their front, back or side yards, wherever they can. What would be a good example of Emperor's New Clothes would be if NO ONE spoke out about this vindictive persecution and pretended that it was ok. Your sadly misguided view on this is your rightful view, but I think my Victory Garden growing grandmothers would have a few words to say about it: Shame on you. There's something wrong in this world & it needs fixed. Help make it better or get outta the way.Jennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-81512665698591356802011-07-16T11:22:48.494-04:002011-07-16T11:22:48.494-04:00And having done some research on this in covering ...And having done some research on this in covering this story, I should mention too that Rulkowski had a hand in forming this vague ordinance that never would hold up in court should it actually make it there because of the sloppy wording. He can't just pass the buck to someone else when he loses his job, as he should. If they didn't want veggies in the front yard, the ordinance should explicitly say that!Chris K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12054057713267875769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-90563756948984444012011-07-16T11:19:19.100-04:002011-07-16T11:19:19.100-04:00Are you serious? First off, it is HER property th...Are you serious? First off, it is HER property that she OWNS so who are you to tell her what she can do on her property if it isn't hurting anyone or anything. She has her reasons for not planting it in her backyard and it is not your place to judge those reasons. Animals go for ornamental plants as well, so that argument is out. And, honestly, yes, I would LOVE my neighbors to have a vegetable garden in their front yard rather than a tacky monoculture of boring, useless, resource draining, unsustainable green grass. It IS okay!Chris K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12054057713267875769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-6878196686680071902011-07-16T05:14:02.344-04:002011-07-16T05:14:02.344-04:00well, at least she can now be famous for going aga...well, at least she can now be famous for going against policies set years ago. The man was doing his job and now may get fired for enforcing policy set by others. I guess we all have forgotten this. Is it worth this , when it could have been planted in the backyard? Animals come and steal food from gardens and can get killed crossing the street. Homeless individuals or hungry children pass by and may want to take the food if it is within view each day. Food spoils and smells from gardens . This is silly, kind of like the Emperors New Clothes. Everyone wants to act as though this is ok, but would you want her next to your home with food almost in your front door? be honest. It is sort of tacky and rebellious to some degree. She has a back yard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-49951343856099848392011-07-10T20:35:06.888-04:002011-07-10T20:35:06.888-04:00There is now a legal defense fund set up: http://...There is now a legal defense fund set up: http://su.pr/5XaKLD (Also available as a link on the side bar of her blog http://oakparkhatesveggies.wordpress.com)Chris K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12054057713267875769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-11754527424757003362011-07-10T12:40:26.795-04:002011-07-10T12:40:26.795-04:00Maybe we could do the same thing with mr. Rulkowsk...Maybe we could do the same thing with mr. Rulkowski as we did with Pres. Obama. Let's send him to Washington D.C. I think he might just fit right in.In fact they are probably already acquainted, since both are from Chicago. (a city with more problems than this man and his neighbors vegetables!)Melinda Baker, Las Vegas, Nv,noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-58471827137886646762011-07-08T09:34:25.387-04:002011-07-08T09:34:25.387-04:00So silly. What a waste of gov. time and money. W...So silly. What a waste of gov. time and money. We have worked veggies into our front garden and have even had corn growing at times. NOTHING but positive feedback one city over!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-73286134442043374272011-07-08T00:18:34.852-04:002011-07-08T00:18:34.852-04:00I don't know if she needs help with legal fees...I don't know if she needs help with legal fees, but I will post here, on twitter, and on facebook if she does mention a way to help her out like that. I've gotten the impression from her blog that the lawyer she has helping her our is working for far less than what he's worth, but beyond that, she hasn't said anything about funds for these shenanigans.<br /><br />As of right now, the only thing she has specifically asked for by way of help is for people to show up at the courthouse on July 26 for the pretrial and for people that are too far away to do that to send emails and letters to the people I listed above.Chris K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12054057713267875769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-63940672295733204192011-07-07T23:04:30.705-04:002011-07-07T23:04:30.705-04:00Does anyone know if she needs help with legal fees...Does anyone know if she needs help with legal fees? I'd donate in a heartbeat.Marianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-51352313713365416132011-07-07T21:20:54.752-04:002011-07-07T21:20:54.752-04:00This is absurd & I thank you & the lady wh...This is absurd & I thank you & the lady who posted it to facebook for bringing this to our attention. <br /><br />We have similar laws here in my city in California- about needing to have grass on our front lawn, etc. And recently myself & my neighbor were visited by the police & given 2 weeks to 'fix' our infractions or face fines.<br /><br />My problem? My lawn was no more than an inch- however I had about 7 straggly weed stems (yes- stems) in the yard. I hadn't bothered to mow it- because, as I said- the grass didn't need cutting.(They should come back during the rainy season! Then they will have a reason to give me a ticket LOL :)<br /><br />My neighbor's serious infraction? Her jasmine was growing on the fence that the 2 of us share. Little did they know that we had been nurturing that gorgeous jasmine for several years to get it to that point. <br /><br />This kind of stuff is ABSURD! <br /><br />We literally have men selling crack in the street 2 blocks away. I cannot even drive through that street without having to stop & wait while they finish up their 'business'. Our local park has had both a drive by shooting and a riot in the past month. My kids cannot play in our park because of the grown men & women loitering & causing problems. People have been found having sex in the bathrooms. (GROSS!)<br /><br />But they found the time to worry about my lawn?<br /><br />I don't know what Oak Park is like- hopefully nowhere as bad as my Los Angeles suburb- but COME ON! A front yard garden is now something to prosecute? (or PERSECUTE?)<br /><br />What is our sad world coming to?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-33994601359132421912011-07-07T20:39:07.067-04:002011-07-07T20:39:07.067-04:00Oh man! Glad my city doesn't do this, or if th...Oh man! Glad my city doesn't do this, or if they do, no one has called us out on it yet. We ripped up half our front lawn to plan a food garden and we haven't looked back yet!Mama Up!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16062563084376679862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-79816260234062306352011-07-07T17:18:36.614-04:002011-07-07T17:18:36.614-04:00I didn't get to check all my blogs until now, ...I didn't get to check all my blogs until now, so I can't write a letter during my free time (which ends in a few minutes). But I will do so during tomorrow's free time because this situation is utterly rediculous.<br /><br />Isn't the internet grand? Most of us wouldn't even know about this issue if it had happened in the mid 80's. I doubt it would have made national headlines.Patricialynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16656235987162214880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-59500521957062993742011-07-07T16:32:33.431-04:002011-07-07T16:32:33.431-04:00Perhaps a more respectful tone in letters directed...Perhaps a more respectful tone in letters directed toward them would accomplish more? Catching more flies with honey than vinegar and all that? <br /><br />Having said that, lots of good points in there and a darn funny (to me anyway) letter!Chris K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12054057713267875769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-15301928126704141822011-07-07T16:23:50.886-04:002011-07-07T16:23:50.886-04:00This is my email that I sent to the contacts liste...This is my email that I sent to the contacts listed in this blog post:<br /><br />Dear Mr. Pea-brain, er, I mean Rulkowski,<br /><br />I'm writing to express my deep concern for what you are doing to the Bass family. I read about your hatred for clean yards and vegetables and felt compelled to write. I'm not an activist, and don't usually protest in any way, shape or form, but this is just too ridiculous to ignore.<br /><br />I understand the reasoning behind keeping neighborhoods clean and in aesthetically pleasing state, but come on! Prosecuting someone for a vegetable garden is a bit of a stretch. Don't you have more important matters to attend to? Probably not, as I suspect that's the very reason you are mercilessly attacking an innocent family. Do you find yourself in a position to find something to do and earn your paycheck or find another job? I have a feeling that this is your true motivation.<br /><br />I suppose that once you've finished your crusade against vegetable growing housewives, you will launch another crusade against garden gnomes and flowerbed ornaments.<br /><br />Your actions are a clear abuse of authority and I implore your supervisor to fire you with feverish haste. How dare you and your constituents infringe on someone's right to grow perfectly legal, harmless vegetables. I'm pretty sure this is treading into civil rights territory, and I hope that the people of Oak Park, Michigan take swift action to clean up the corrupt, evil, vile members of Oak Park city council.<br /><br />Thank you for your time.<br /><br />F* you and have a sh*y dayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-83298411221757391722011-07-07T15:00:06.098-04:002011-07-07T15:00:06.098-04:00I have earthbox gardens on my porch and my neighbo...I have earthbox gardens on my porch and my neighbor freely gardens (huge garden) in his off to the side yard. NO one complains we are below poor here. If I grow extra it goes to my neighbors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-24163398253080477972011-07-07T14:55:41.871-04:002011-07-07T14:55:41.871-04:00I don't think she has published one. You coul...I don't think she has published one. You could post it as a comment on her blog if you wanted her to see it though. She's great about reading and responding to comments. Her blog is oakparkhatesveggies.wordpress.comChris K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12054057713267875769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-29769415988271708232011-07-07T14:28:54.724-04:002011-07-07T14:28:54.724-04:00what about her email? I can't seem to find it...what about her email? I can't seem to find it. I want to send her a copy of what I'm sending to everyone else. Do you know it? or where I can find it??Kelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18097359543490900341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-91259010387108400362011-07-07T07:18:31.542-04:002011-07-07T07:18:31.542-04:00What if everyone who reads your blog sent a copy o...What if everyone who reads your blog sent a copy of the write up this story to their local news,requesting they provide media coverage to get the word out about what's going on,and maybe get this family a little more positive attention.<br /><br />Just a thought.Lee Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05911593752939002971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-33380547373604916882011-07-07T05:49:50.675-04:002011-07-07T05:49:50.675-04:00mamamia
Actually it happens in Canada as well. Its...mamamia<br />Actually it happens in Canada as well. Its amazing how governments want people to be reliant on the system and not self sustainable.<br /><br />Will send some pics and stuff soon to these foolish people.Simpler Times Homesteadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08957469652318141126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4007490949582525706.post-28567391148951828612011-07-07T02:52:03.782-04:002011-07-07T02:52:03.782-04:00I'm in Australia and I'm shocked!!!
All ...I'm in Australia and I'm shocked!!! <br /><br />All we can say is "Only in America!"<br /><br />I shall send an email to that, ahem, man too!mamamiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12544290867067647720noreply@blogger.com