The Oak Park Outlaw
The scofflaw, Julie Bass,
Rejected trees and grass,
And took to life of crime
With parsley, sage and thyme.
Her crime is avant garde:
The beds in her front yard
Contain illegal greens,
Like peppers, peas and beans.
Thank God the planner saw
Within the public law,
A means to prosecute
Before she planted fruit.
The plaintiff, Kevin R.,
The Oak Park planning czar,
Will see the line is toed
By pointing to the code.
But folks can misconstrue
What’s ‘suitable’ to do,
So Kevin has deferred
To ‘common’ as his word.
And what is more unique
Than cucumber or leek,
When planted in a bed
Where grass should grow instead.
Uncommon as they are
Outside a mason jar,
She’ll need to clear her yard
Of broccoli and chard.
Then justice will prevail,
And Oak Park can exhale,
Devoid of squash and kale,
With Julie safe in jail.
foodiesleuth
Jul 10, 2011 @ 00:22:27
Love it! Good night!
C
Jul 10, 2011 @ 00:35:48
This is out-frickin’-standing!!!!
Ghost Seeker
Jul 10, 2011 @ 00:39:54
Curse these evil growers of vegetables! Have they no shame? I have never been so appalled by such a terrible criminal act in all my life!
Sink the Poachers
Jul 10, 2011 @ 00:49:19
Nice.
Carolyn Nunn Harvey
Jul 10, 2011 @ 01:00:29
Well said!! Thanks for the smile, Julie.
Eve
Jul 10, 2011 @ 01:02:04
Excellent, Thank you.
e
Jul 10, 2011 @ 01:28:11
You wrote that mom?!?!?!?!
Mike Fink
Jul 10, 2011 @ 01:31:15
From 1941 to 1945 many people were allowed to grow victory gardens in their yards and in almost every city. I suggest you go back into the history books and old history laws and find this. I bet you can use this previous use of land to grow vegtables to win your case. Good Luck.
AMWolfe
Jul 10, 2011 @ 04:35:43
God & Grass
We must really perplex God: he made us a perfect world and we have to change it. Imagine the conversation The Creator might have had with St. Francis on the subject of lawns.
GOD: Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistles, and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought, and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honeybees, and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles.
ST. FRANCIS: It’s the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers “weeds” and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
GOD: Grass? But it’s so boring. It’s not colorful. It doesn’t attract butterflies, birds, and bees, only grubs and sodworms. It’s sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it – sometimes twice a week.
GOD: They cut it? Do they then bail it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
ST. FRANCIS: No, Sir. Just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
GOD: Now let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?
ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir.
GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS: You aren’t going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.
GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to enhance the soil. It’s a natural circle of life.
ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.
GOD: No. What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?
ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.
GOD: And where do they get this mulch?
ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
GOD: Enough. I don’t want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you’re in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE: Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It’s a real stupid movie about …
GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.
(Sorry, I don’t know who wrote this humorous story that demonstrates so well the absurdity of grass lawns.)
Mike Swanson
Jul 10, 2011 @ 07:37:46
I guess if “common” is going to be the standard, everyone will need to plant dandelions, crabgrass, and a little (not too much) pigweed. Violets aren’t all that common,but maybe we can let them sneak in unless the planning czar has a thing against purple. Toadstools are pretty common, too, if the ground is wet enough. Suggest that he do a survey to see what is common. For ornaments, I suppose kids toys scattered about would do, or maybe some bags from fast food restaurants, they seem pretty common around here.
Stacey Beach
Jul 10, 2011 @ 08:00:26
Haha! Love it. Glad to see the sense of humor prevails 🙂
Michael Davis
Jul 10, 2011 @ 08:09:28
I was skimming through the petition and I saw people from Canada, Mexico, Spain, New Zealand, UK, Austrailia, etc… Your little garden is a big thing uniting the world in a battle of humanity vs insanity. Now that’s a cause to stand behind. I salute you.
nowackybob
Jul 10, 2011 @ 08:22:54
well, well, well… I am a fellow resident of Oak Park. I just came in from watering my front yard vegetable garden that my wife and I have. This being the 2nd season in a row that we have enjoyed our fresh veggies. All I can say is that this city needs to find better things to quibble about than vegetables in the front yard!!!
Nichole Ruggiero
Jul 10, 2011 @ 08:43:27
This made my day. We are arguing this issue on our forum in Shiawassee County. http://www.shiawasseecounty.net
Keep fighting the good fight, Julie… We pay taxes so that we may be able to live in peace. If you were growing a pot farm, I might not like it… However, you are teaching the children of the neighborhood how to be self sustaining in a time where Monsanto destroys the good veggies with round up and GMO’s! Keep on keeping on,
John Szarowski
Jul 10, 2011 @ 09:29:46
Love the poem. Hang in there Bass family!
Mark Pearce
Jul 10, 2011 @ 10:16:29
A little verse that seems appropriate, somehow —
Don’t expect butterflies in your life
If you poison all the clover.
Terry C
Jul 10, 2011 @ 10:20:39
AAAAAAAMEN Michael
Karen Dunnam
Jul 10, 2011 @ 10:36:10
A friend typed this:
“I’m just pointing out that people are attempting to look at the OP City Code online and find some section which implies that veggies can be grown and therefore the citation doesn’t seem valid. They believe that this is the section of the code which Ms Bass is being charged under because it looks like it deals with front lawns….
Since Ms. Bass refuses to reveal the exact section of the code she’s charged under, everyone looking online and via FOIA requests might be looking at the wrong section and thereby drawing the wrong conclusion.”
(he’s a computer technie, not a city planner)
Julie, please post the details from the ticket or charges. Thanks.
rocky
Jul 10, 2011 @ 10:41:46
have you seen this–
ignore the lovely photo-
of your fine govt body-
look at the document below-
interesting…???
Click to access proclamation_forgotten_harvest.pdf
on a diet rich in irony…
they were fed-
Reagan Lacey
Jul 10, 2011 @ 10:47:49
this is so cute and true! good luck in all you do and i hope that you get to keep your beautiful garden!
Ronnie Schreiber
Jul 10, 2011 @ 11:02:52
Karen, This is the ordinance that she’s being cited under. You can find it in Oak Park’s municipal code if your brother wants the actual code number:
“all unpaved portions of the site shall be planted with grass or ground cover or shrubbery or other suitable live plant material.”
It applies to all property in the city, regardless of zoning, regardless of front, back or side of the building.
Since her yard indeed has grass and ground cover (wood chips between the beds, mulch on the beds) planted over “all unpaved areas”, she’s compliant. All those uses of “or” mean something. Any one or a combination thereof that adds up to 100% of the unpaved area makes her compliant.
Any additional vegetation would then fall under the weed and noxious vegetation ordinance, which specifically exempts cultivated gardens:
Section 302.4 Weeds: All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of eight inches (254mm). All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs; provided, however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens.
Deborah Hernandez
Jul 10, 2011 @ 11:23:37
keep breaking the law…..grow as much food as you can…. you can’t eat grass..your garden is not an eye sore….
Yvonne
Jul 10, 2011 @ 11:55:46
That is funny. I just want to lend you more support from Brooklyn, NY. I found your blog yesterday after receiving an email to sign a petition in support of your cause. I thought the issue was so nuts I had to find your blog. Living in a big city I don’t have a yard to do anything with so planting veggies in your yard seems reasonable. I wish I could plant veggies anywhere. Oh I signed the petition.
Leigh
Jul 10, 2011 @ 12:16:23
Lovely poem!!! I signed the petition and sent e-mails. I did say if you were planting marjuana, or hemlock instead of carrots, maybe then you should be arrested (LOL). I think your “front” yard looks wonderful and I know nobody(!!) with a back yard veggie garden who keeps it so neat, you must be working very hard. You go girl!!
thegardenrenegade
Jul 10, 2011 @ 12:22:22
hi karen- it’s 1716, A5
i think i’ve already posted it a few times, but here it is- please feel free to pass it on!
thanks! -julie
furyscience
Jul 10, 2011 @ 12:35:52
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=ASK_EXPERT2
Check this out…make the U.S. Department of Agriculture has some resources for you.
Kelly Johnson
Jul 10, 2011 @ 12:45:58
I am growing vegetables, along with my friends, in their front yard. Neighbors compliment our garden. Its a huge yard, and could be wasted space in my honest opinion, without the vegetables. People just dont hang out in their front yards anymore. They only pass them by on their way in & outside. At least the precious water used on the veggies wont be wasted to water a “cute” yard.
Michelle
Jul 10, 2011 @ 12:53:40
This is such crazyness! I bet you can find spices growing in someones front yard such as rosemary, sage, or thyme. Make sure they get prosecuted too.
Irene Sazer
Jul 10, 2011 @ 13:02:31
I am going to share your story on FB. I live in another state…CA, and have a gorgeous vegetable garden in my front yard. Sometimes the mailman will even nosh on a tomato on his way to our front door. You go, girl, with your vegetable growing rights!!!
Matthew Jones
Jul 10, 2011 @ 13:21:32
I sent this to the council and Kevin.
Mr. Naftlaly, et-al,
I hope you and the council rethink the city stance on Julie Bass’ garden. To prosecute this woman is a travesty of freedom and a waste of taxpayer money.
#1 – The law is way too vague. Who decides what is “suitable”? “Common” is also vague. As the gardens grow in the edible plants and fruit look beautiful. I suppose Kevin Rulkowski would believe that any “common” plant would be suitable.
#2 – Think about the potential environmental effects of transplanted (non-native) vegetation will have once it grows wild. Also, it should be mentioned that many “common” plants are poisonous to pets and children regardless of their aesthetic beauty.
I’ve seen many yards with “common” plants grown wild that look horrendous. Just because I don’t like their choice in plants, does not give me the right to complain about their yard. Even people that allow the yards to grow wild are making a point by showcasing natures natural beauty.
Gardens and natural growth should not be regulated in any fashion. The benefits these actions take, in feeding families or reducing carbon emissions with reduced mowing or “manicuring,” far outweigh the proposed offended “sensibilities” of people who are trapped in the 1950’s mentality of a manicured lawn with a white picket fence. Nature’s beauty comes in all forms.
Thank you for you time,
Matthew Jones
April Alexander
Jul 10, 2011 @ 13:35:12
Awesome poem, thanks for sharing! Hi Julie, April from Take Back Urban Home-steading(s) here. I’d love to chat with you via phone when you have time of course! You can e-mail your number to me at rasaeureka@hotmail.com. I looked for a contact number for you but couldn’t find one or I would have contacted you that way. Enjoy your kids and your garden, and get to me when you have time. Thanks!
Anne from Florida
Jul 10, 2011 @ 13:39:24
Good luck with your trial, Julie. It is utterly insane that the city of Oak Park is going after you for growing veggies in your front yard. The city should be ENCOURAGING people to grow veggies instead of lawns that require huge amounts of water and pesticides. What is this country coming to?
jeff
Jul 10, 2011 @ 13:39:57
I think the solution is simple…if “suitable” means “common”, make vegetable gardens in the front yard “common” as a show of support, the surrounding neighbors should also plant vegetables in their front yard. problem solved.
Barb
Jul 10, 2011 @ 13:43:29
If the city themselves are so strapped financially that they are having to make cutbacks, then why would they not think that citizens are also not strapped financially and looking for ways to help them survive in the economy? In tough times we must be able to be flexible!
kEVIN
Jul 10, 2011 @ 13:53:34
YOU ARE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO USE YOUR LAND TO GROW FOOD…? ITS NOT A MESS AND MORE PEOPLE SHOULD TRY IT…MOST OF ALL KIDS SHOULD SEE IT ,WEED IT , LEARN IT , AND MAKE IT A PART OF THERE EVERY DAY…WATCH THIS VIDEO…!!!!! REASONS WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO GROW YOUR OWN FOOD…!!!! http://vimeo.com/6575475
Margot Carpentier
Jul 10, 2011 @ 14:19:25
Love the garden and the city should encourage homeowners to do just that in these financial times we are having. Loved the poem also. I have a place to plant on the side of my yard. No one complains. Payson, AZ
AlanABQ
Jul 10, 2011 @ 14:25:17
That was an epic poem. And I sincerely hope that hundreds of other homeowners IMMEDIATELY plant their own gardens in their front yards! You should encourage that, because your civil liberties & right to have access to sustenance that isn’t “McFood” are more important than being obedient to local blue laws.
Lacey
Jul 10, 2011 @ 14:40:18
Lovely poem!! Good luck with your fight. I’ve blogged over at wonder-struck.com. Is there any hope that with the overwhelming response you’ve had that the city will just back down and forget they ever mentioned any wrongdoing?
Scott
Jul 10, 2011 @ 14:49:53
http://farmageddonmovie.com/
Your story made it on Rawstory.com. Good job.
Joede
Jul 10, 2011 @ 14:55:10
Basically the 2 ordinances rule each other out. You cannot have weeds and all grasses are considered weeds BUT you must have grass or other “living” plants planted in any unpaved areas.
I would love to see everyone in Oak Park dig up their lawns.
How ridiculous is it when one person is unhappy that he sees someone trying to live healthy by growing a garden so he prosecutes.
Sounds like he needs to lose his job and find another hobby to occupy his time, maybe gardening. Think he would be rather impressed by how fun it is to nurture a garden.
Karen Dunnam
Jul 10, 2011 @ 15:10:50
NOT my brother. Just another OP resident, and largely unfamiliar with zoning and code enforcement.
Neon Vincent
Jul 10, 2011 @ 16:01:23
May I repost this to Crazy Eddie’s Motie News? My readers could use a smile, too!
Neon Vincent
Jul 10, 2011 @ 16:02:23
Oops, I meant the poem, not Joede’s comment!
Anna
Jul 10, 2011 @ 16:04:23
Hmmmm…. perhaps you could get Michelle Obama to testify on your behalf?
thebardofmurdock
Jul 10, 2011 @ 16:38:23
Unto me, e-mails have flowed
Pointing out the word is ‘toed’,
Instead of ‘towed’, as is showed.
Please correct it and re-load.
(I’m embarrassed, head to tow…)
In other words, the line that reads ‘Will see the line is towed’ should read ‘Will see the line is toed.’
Erik
Jul 10, 2011 @ 19:03:16
How are poisonous plants more suitable than edible plants?
thegardenrenegade
Jul 10, 2011 @ 19:47:32
you’ve got me- is there a punchline? 😉
hobosheart
Jul 10, 2011 @ 20:15:41
thats to funny…my wife would be proud
Lone G
Jul 11, 2011 @ 09:35:29
A salute from Denmark. Keep growing!
P.S. For the city code: Do not attempt to make people or front yards all “common” and of a specific standard. History shows that this is a very bad idea.
West Michigan Spine and Wellness, PLC
Jul 11, 2011 @ 10:02:07
This is brilliant!! We’re behind you in full force here @ West Michigan Spine and Wellness in Grand Rapids!! Keep us posted and let us know how we can help!
Isabel
Jul 11, 2011 @ 12:05:54
There is a song called “Cows with Guns” by Dana Lyons (you can find the video on line) and when I read this poem, I could hear his voice singing with THESE words! This needs to be made into a song!!
Cheryl
Jul 11, 2011 @ 15:53:09
More power to you Julie, and family!! This has actually gone viral on a lot of homesteading groups. You have the support of many many of us! I can’t wait for the barrage of snail mail one of the groups I’m on is sending on to Kevin and Mayor “Jerry”. All of it respectful, of course. Hey.. who knows, maybe we give a boost to the failing Postal system as well, Lol. One more reason I’m glad I live in the Wi. northwoods! Nothing like that would be ALLOWED to go on here!
Carol Cottom
Jul 12, 2011 @ 21:59:31
This is a great poem, and just an incredible story! Really, we couldn’t make up this stuff if we tried! I expect to hear it on Wait, Wait don’t tell me on NPR one of these weeks. Or as a parodied story on SNL.
thegardenrenegade
Jul 12, 2011 @ 22:41:04
don’t joke- i spoke to NPR this morning! not sure when it will air- i’m counting on blog readers to let me know. i’m talking to so many people these days i seriously forget to ask when things will be on… oh well, one ball fallen from the juggling act 😉
Natalie
Jul 13, 2011 @ 00:58:50
I would rather look at your garden than an unkept lawn of dry grass and weeds. By the way, didn’t the First Lady tell everyone they should plant a garden???????????????? (I don’t think it makes you look dumb)
Good luck
Granny
Jul 13, 2011 @ 13:11:28
I’ve signed the petition and featured your story on FB , Almost all the comments I received were positive. Laws can be strange. My city seems to have no problem with my garden or even my neighbor’s chickens but they made me cut the pretty yellow wild flowers in my yard but didn’t say a word about the roses.
You’re fighting the battle for all us and this 73 year old great-granny is grateful. Keep up the good work. Loved the poem.
Bartz A Johnson Jr.
Jul 13, 2011 @ 21:16:58
I hunted this down and shared it on fb. TY!
Sonja Hendy
Jul 15, 2011 @ 14:22:05
What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely helpful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its aided me. Great job.
Rebecca
Jul 17, 2011 @ 14:33:03
Best poem ever, OMG it is sooooo funny!!
Gary Portera
Jul 21, 2011 @ 07:05:49
Hello there, I found your site via Google while searching for a related topic, your web site came up, it looks great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
thegardenrenegade
Jul 21, 2011 @ 11:22:57
well thank you- hope you come back often! -julie