here is a serious question: i looked at the whitehouse.gov website to find out about thier requirements for petitions and it got me to wondering- could we do this? it would take a real push to spread the word and gather the signatures in the alloted time.
but, more than that, i wondered, what exactly would we want to say? i tend to be overly wordy. i would want to mention the importance of gardens and protecting people who grow food- but i am having trouble coming up with verbage that stresses where this is coming from (i.e. the background) and why this is even an issue (the legal wranglings that have taken place) without getting into a whole long shpiel. i want to say that we need to protect gardeners under the law, but still allow for the concept that there are cases where there may be reasons to not allow people free reign. or do i?
so this is where you come in.
first, do you think we could really really do this? and would you commit to getting on board?
and second- even more important- can you suggest some wording????? you guys are so good at this sort of thing, and if we launch it, i want it to be golden…
so, can you help????? all constructive feedback is welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Petition the White House with We the People
Katelyn Sabochik
September 22, 2011
10:25 AM EST
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.Update: The signatures threshold for petitions on the We the People platform to receive an official response from the White House has changed since this blog post was published. See the latest signature thresholds.
Today, we launched We the People on WhiteHouse.gov– a new platform that gives all Americans a way to create and sign petitions on a range of issues affecting our nation. And if a petition gathers enough online signatures, it will be reviewed by policy experts and you’ll receive an official response.
Throughout our history, Americans have used petitions as a way to join together around issues they care about. We the People brings that uniquely American tradition into the 21st century.
Here’s how it works:
1. Create or Sign a Petition: Anyone 13 or older can create a WhiteHouse.gov account and create or sign a petition on WhiteHouse.gov asking the Obama Administration to take action on a range issues.
2.Build Support and Gather Signatures for your Petition: It’s up to you to build support for a petition. Use email, Facebook, Twitter and word of mouth to tell your friends, family and coworkers about the petitions you care about.
3.The White House Reviews and Responds: If a petition reaches a certain threshold (initially 5,000 signatures within 30 days), it will be reviewed by policy officials in the Administration and an official response will be issued.
We put together a short video to walk you through We the People. Check out the video here.
Got questions? Here are a few blog posts where we’ve been explaining more about how We the People works here and here or check out the FAQ’s for We the People. We’ve also updated our privacy policy with some more information about WhiteHouse.gov accounts.
Still have questions? Send us your questions and feedback via Twitter using the hashtag #WHWeb or submit your feedback via our tech feedback webform.
Feb 19, 2013 @ 16:24:00
Yes, I’m on board!!!
Sent from my iPhone
Feb 19, 2013 @ 16:28:47
I am on board too. Make sure you word it so Monsanto can NOT take advantage.
Feb 19, 2013 @ 16:42:22
the only reason for not allowing free reign would be in the case of a home owners or neighborhood association agreement that was previously known and agreed to. other that that, you should be allowed to do what you want in your own yard
Feb 19, 2013 @ 16:51:16
Post or email what drafts you have. I can write pretty well or edit, but I need to know what your points are and what approach you wish to take. For example, my approach would be to say if you mess with my garden you are messing with a shotgun, and of course that will not work. HA! I can tone that down so it is professional and rational. Form follows function.
Grant
Feb 19, 2013 @ 17:11:37
So on board! I’ve signed a few petitions addressing front yard gardens, but they weren’t on the White House site. And I totally agree with the block Monsanto thing as well.
On a funny note, I live in a major metropolitan area, and called Code Compliance to check on front yard gardens. I talked with the officer in charge of my area by phone (then later in person, which was kind of funny as well), and he said I’m the first person to ever even ask- people just DO it here. But, we checked, and thankfully, I don’t have to fight City Hall to grow a front yard garden (I do have to keep it maintained, but that’s totally reasonable).
So, if Seattle gets too soggy for ya, come on down to Fort Worth! We’d love y’all here. =D
Feb 19, 2013 @ 18:11:06
I will sign! I believe this should be a policy against state’s taking the right to grow a garden with food in it away from the people.
Feb 19, 2013 @ 18:42:34
How about on changes.org ?
Feb 19, 2013 @ 19:44:36
I have Bob the Builder in my head now: “Can we fix it?” “Yes we can!”
I am pretty good at professional writing, but I have no formal training.
Feb 19, 2013 @ 22:37:03
The wording should emphasize gardening for personal use, to avoid getting into activities that may overlap with business activities.I think it would be ok to acknowledge possible limitations that prevent safety issues from arising (large hedges obscuring corners or stop signs), or that create problems with public utilities (trees that either grow into the electrical lines, or that have roots that damage water or gas lines). Acknowledging that there are some reasonable limitations makes the benign growing of lettuce and tomato plants look even more reasonable.
Feb 20, 2013 @ 02:34:02
I had commented yesterday “as long as your yard is neat and clean, it shouldn’t matter whether you planted a rosebush or a strawberry bush.” I would look for page owners who have a large following, ie angrymoms dot org, facebook’s The Yardener, Home Grown Fun, and many more. Message them and get their support, letting them know what you are going to do and when. Then put out a facebook blitz and we will all sign the petition on the first day. You will easily hit the 5,000 mark in a day or two.
Feb 20, 2013 @ 05:04:25
Hi, Julie! I would like to add something that my therapist taught me to say to myself; “What is REAL, Jamie”? ( Now, let me put everyone’s mind at ease, It had absolutely nothing to do with seeing fairies and leprechauns!
)
Let us take this relevant question and apply it to this issue.
“What is REAL?”
1) What is real is that we humans NEED to eat FOOD to live.
Now, that is a REAL and pressing NEED so should be considered a RIGHT.
2) REAL ESTATE VALUES Are NOT more valuable than a human LIFE!
Really, do we even need to point this out??
3) Our current, modern food supply is corrupted to the point of causing humans bodily harm.
4) Children have been abused with this current modern diet and, according to the CDC, will not outlive their parents.
Can it get more REAL than that?
5) Creating a New Value System, one that children may participate in, can only increase the health of the indiviuals and the society at large.
These are real NEEDS and should never be misconstrued as extraneous….or attached to something so outlandishly idiotic as “property values”. Ridiculous.
Oh, by the way, Julie, I forgot to mention that I went to the council meeting at the beginning of this month, armed with tons of information, and won the right to raise/ co-habitate with our feathered friends…the regal Hen. Just found out that I was in the local paper and had no idea. I hope nobody reads the paper.
Feb 20, 2013 @ 06:12:42
Three things that would help:
Contact your Senators and Representatives. The President cannot do anything without their agreement. Let them know where you stand on the Monsanto issue.
As far as gardening on your own property it is better to petition your state and/or city or county. The local governments should be making laws that relate to how you use your own property. The federal government has no such right.
Our votes for local leaders and those who represent us has more of an impact than the vote for president but unfortunately has less interest to many people.
Media attention. Local governments have sometimes abandoned their plans to restrict how you garden on your own property due to bad publicity. Comment on media sites when a story about banning front yard gardens, fines for gardening, or bulldozing a garden hit the newspapers, tv, etc.
Feb 20, 2013 @ 06:14:31
As far as property values: I heard about one home that the new owners said they bought BECAUSE of the garden.
Feb 20, 2013 @ 06:55:34
It’s insane that people are prohibited from growing food on their own property.
Would be very happy to help with the wording of the petItion, and help in a small way to inform people about said petition.
Feb 20, 2013 @ 13:25:34
yes, please- could you post some ideas for wording so we can ask for feedback?
Feb 20, 2013 @ 13:25:51
that’s awesome!!
Feb 20, 2013 @ 13:27:24
yes- i have a letter already up on the blog that i have encouraged people to send out, but i was wondering if perhaps getting whitehouse staffers to work on the cause might be a potential new angle that would be worthwhile… what do you think?
Feb 20, 2013 @ 13:28:46
yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i would love to see the article about you and your hens!!!! pat foreman would be proud
and you made so many good points! want to take a stab at petition language????
Feb 20, 2013 @ 13:32:03
that’s a great idea- but i don’t have a facebook account, and i don’t really know what pages are popular or have high viewership/followership (if that’s a word…)… is putting out a facebook “blitz” the same as just asking people to spread the word, or is it a different thing? and, would you be willing to be a leader of this effort? you seem to be pretty savvy in this arena!
Feb 20, 2013 @ 13:32:37
ok- want to take a stab at some actual wording? (please????)
Feb 20, 2013 @ 13:32:56
oh, so please give it a try!!!
Feb 20, 2013 @ 13:34:08
yep- there is already a petition there- linked on the right side of my blog- but i’m not sure if that does anything, or just allows people to show solidarity (i didn’t start it, so i don’t exactly know all the ‘ins and outs’…)
Feb 20, 2013 @ 13:34:29
ok- will you offer some wording???
Feb 20, 2013 @ 13:35:56
how funny- if i was able to leave seattle, texas is where i would head ASAP! (if only we could get rid of the snakes and scorpians…) but that was great of you to check the status- now would you like to take a stab at some language for the potential petition???
Feb 20, 2013 @ 13:36:53
oh, no, grant- this is a cards-on-the-table solicitation for people to help me formulate wording right here out in the open on the blog! are you game???
Feb 20, 2013 @ 13:37:23
good point! what’s a good way to say that succinctly?
Feb 20, 2013 @ 13:38:01
ok- how do we say that so we don’t alienate people or sound like conspiracy nuts right off the bat?
Feb 20, 2013 @ 13:38:16
ok- so give me some words to use!!!!!
Feb 20, 2013 @ 19:47:16
Due to an unfortunate overreach of power, we, the United States Citizenry, have no choice but to act out our right to cultivate, maintain, and harvest produce on any square foot of our private properties, with or without threats of prosecution by Local, State or Federal officials. Our goal, originally, was to simply cultivate home-grown (organic and non-organic) produce with the intent of not only eating better but to put our property to good use, raise dietary health awareness in our respective communities, and most important, because we receive an immense joy when engaged in the process of agriculture.
However, we have now to continue in this process for one simple reason: we have the right to do so without fear of Governmental retribution or overreach by overzealous government officials. Furthermore, while the Local, State or Federal officials may see this as an act of rebellion, it is their duty to see this as our right, and the only way we see fit in establishing this right is to practice it at all times. The citizenry also recognize that our private property does not give us the right to sell our products without proper government-approved permits and licensing. We are not criminals, and we pronounce that our property is ours to do what we wish with the sole intent of bettering our knowledge and health, while respecting the private properties, and public spaces, that surround our individual properties. All facets of the U.S. Government must recognize this universal truth: it is the governments purpose to protect our property rights – it is the sole purpose for any government to have been formed in any age of human history. We were given this world by our creator, and no man, or government, will ever change that. The time has come, and now all of our supporters are in the process of creating their own, private gardens anywhere on their property that they see fit. If prosecution is sought over one of us, we will not be deterred, for it is not us that must change our rights, but rather the governments job to give recognition and respect to the rights of all U.S. citizens.
We, the Citizens of these United States of America, will continue enjoying the rights granted to us by that which has also granted us life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness: Our Creator.
Sincerely,
Your constituents,
The Free Citizens of the United States of America.
Feb 20, 2013 @ 21:35:14
wow…wow… now that could work, i think… i am liking that quite a bit, and would love to get feedback from others… there is one sentence that i had a bit of a problem with: The citizenry also recognize that our private property does not give us the right to sell our products without proper government-approved permits and licensing.- i need to do some more thinking around that one… but as to the rest of it, i am still getting my breath back
would it be okay with you if i put it up as a post and asked people for feedback to tweek it as a possible platform for the actual whitehouse petition? you gave some GREAT material!
Feb 21, 2013 @ 04:40:39
I LOVE it,Terrence!….all except the part about the “government” sticking their nose in what I do with my produce. I really do not see how that is any business of the town officials? If I have a car that I want to sell I don’t have to go and ask the city council if I can. If I want to sell my personal belongings I do not have to ask permission from anyone. Why should I ask permission from anyone to sell the raspberries in my backyard?
I think we must see clearly what all of this overreach is really all about, and, without a doubt, it looks like a desire for control. We have to face the truth. Most people who enjoy powerful positions have issues of control. They have little self control ( or wisdom ) so seek out these positions for their personal self interest.
I will not bow to any official who does not operate from a place of wisdom, respect for all life ( that includes plant and animal life as well ), and kindness. It just is not kind to squeeze the life out of others just because we can get away with it.
With every bow and scrape we relenquish our personal autonomy as well as abdicate our personal responsibility to our children who are solely dependent upon our wisdom or lack thereof.
It is WISE to be self sufficient. It is WISE to control what goes into your body as well as your voiceless children’s bodies. It is WISE to live in a way that benefits everyone and everything. It is WISE to live in accordance with the Laws of Nature and our Creator….NOT man. He has proven himself to be ignorant and insular. Just look at the world we now must live in. Just take a hard look at the world we are giving to our children. It is not sustainable at this current time.
We have ignorant and insular souls at the helm of our largest and smallest governing institutions. It is not WISE to give them any more power than they deserve or warrant.
I have been gardening for most of my life. I have gardened on property that I did not own and never once asked the landlord if I could. I have to eat to survive so that is a RIGHT. If I ask my landlord permission to plant food then I am giving away my right to live. Ridiculous. I have never had a landlord show up at my home and look at my food and say, “Now, listen here, that garden has to go!”
I suppose we have become so far removed from the source of our food that today it looks really suspicious to plant edible greenery. Mind boggling!
Asking anyone for the right to eat, sleep or take a crap is absolutely ridiculous and nothing short of abuse of power by those who believe that they have the right to moniter and restrict these natural needs! Ridiculous!
Now that I “own” property I still ask no one for the right to grow my own food…..even if the city claims an “easement” on the property that I pay taxes on ALL year long.
I think that if everyone went to their council meetings and stood firmly within their RIGHT to eat to live then the council would have no ground to enforce ridiculous ordinances.
Look at how utterly ridiculous this conversation appears. Look at how we, as grown people, must ask for the right to grow our food!
Einstein was right, “Only two things are infinite, the Universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.”
Keep the wording in the above post but REMOVE the part about giving these people anymore perceived power than they deserve.That would be WISE.
Ok, I’m going to go look for a Chicken Coop….:)
Feb 21, 2013 @ 04:45:54
Julie, I have some pictures of my front yard garden that I would like to share with your readers, could you explain to me how to post these pictures on your blog? Thanks.
Feb 21, 2013 @ 09:34:42
oh- unfortunately you are asking the wrong person for tech support! hahahahaha- but maybe someone else on here will see your question and offer some advice- i would be happy to share them with everyone once you figure out how to get them up here… otherwise, you could email them to me and i could ask my teenagers how to put them up!
Feb 21, 2013 @ 10:59:13
From the White House Petition page:
AS OF JANUARY 15, 2013:
To cross the first threshold and be searchable within WhiteHouse.gov, a petition must reach 150 signatures within 30 days.
To cross the second threshold and require a response, a petition must reach 100,000 signatures within 30 days.
The Terms of Participation were updated on January 15, 2013. View our Terms of Participation Archive page to see the previous version.
——
Different neighborhoods may have rules about front yard vs back yard gardens. I live in a historic district where if you want to replace your fence, you have to replace it within the same day otherwise you have to go get special permits from the city office because at that point, it’s not a repair but a new purchase. It wouldn’t surprise me if most of these laws are stuck on a technicality.
In my opinion, a White House Petition could be worth the effort if it ultimately results in a growing and united community of caring individuals around the country who support this cause. Before launching your campaign, spend some time sharing your open letter and asking people to follow your blog, or FB page or whatever social media you use. The White House raised the number of signatures required because people were getting 5,000 signatures in a matter of hours.
Good luck! You’re not alone and I admire your energy behind this cause!
Feb 21, 2013 @ 11:34:46
thank you!
Mar 01, 2013 @ 14:14:17
You can absolutely post it. I don’t have a front yard, but I do have a slab of concrete that is big enough to bring some wooden grow-boxes to the front (thinking strawberries).
Glad to know you liked the “Declaration.”
Mar 01, 2013 @ 14:16:29
I put the sentence about selling, because I figured this first has to become a universally recognized right, and I didn’t want to make it about Sales because it lets in tax questions, what companies might exploit it, blah blah blah.
Mar 03, 2013 @ 20:46:51
good work deserves recognition- thanks for sharing yours!
Mar 14, 2013 @ 19:13:50
I would sign it, and I never sign petitions!!
Mar 15, 2013 @ 17:12:38
aweseome- thank you!