Hi, Bill, Thanks for the story. The happy ending is that, as of May 1, second grade teacher and heroic gardener Karen Baumann is being allowed to keep her garden, according to Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Vierria . Here's the story link:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/california_life/vierria/v-print/story/9103292p-10028993c.html I commend you all for working to change city policy on this issue. If we don't watch out, we'll all end up Tom Payne radical conservatives, 'that government that governs least governs best' - something Jefferson and Thoreau also said. My guess is that current city policy dates from more recently than we might think. The rise of in-your-face landscaping rules is relatively recent, as is the 'modern' suburban lawn/tracthouse landscape. We are, as a culture, increasingly losing touch with the land as an irreplaceable source of food, sustainance and meaning. Sadly, our policy decisions often demonstrate our alienation and ignorance. I have a front yard veggie garden, with some dwarfed fruit trees, for similar reasons to Ms. Baumann's. My backyard is mostly a shady creek that I'm slowly restoring to a 'native plant' ecosystem (whole other set of topics, there...). I'm lucky enough to live in a tolerant neighborhood near the university, and over time more and more folks up and down my street are catching the bug, and starting to grow tomatoes out front, shrink their lawns (chemically dependent and irrigated 'manicured' turf imposes horrific environmental costs, however much we love our lawns), and introduce natural mulched areas under trees. I agree we need community gardens and greening, even if we grow food at home. Three key reasons: People don't have anywhere to meet anymore, and a community garden can provide that. Yards are great, but community gardens and greens transform the landscape and viewscape on a larger scale, to the benefit of the whole community. And sharing space (and labor and decisions) is very healthy medicine in a culture that worships self and stuff. Besides, at least for me, it is easier to just grow a big ol' plot of okra and corn out at the community garden than do all the 'edible design' stuff I feel I should do in my yard. So, good luck from a transplanted Californian who is a proud front yard farmer in the South - and who doesn't get hassled about it. Though my neighbors have been heard to call it 'that California yard'...better not tell them I might get fined in Sacramento! Don Boekeheide Charlotte, NC ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
