A woman in Oak Park was involved in a court case with her city because of the raised garden beds that she had in her front yard.
All she wanted to do was plant some vegetables for her family to eat, but apparently this was not considered "suitable plant material".
After reposting this video on facebook so many things came up. It was shared with me that she is a pretty interesting lady who apparently now lives in Seattle according to her blog oakparkhatesveggies.
And as if I wasn't already aware America is ridiculous when it comes to laws and regulations for farming. This is just one article about this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wickard_v._Filburn
As far as I know today the government pays corn farmers not to produce corn instead of corn being produced and used and made into other valuable resources, like biodiesel.
And back to this court case in Oak Park, what about someone like my parents who want to have a green yard full of native plants that do not require excess water or care like grass does. My parents in who live in Southern California decided to rip up all of their grass and plants and turn their whole front and back yard in to a dessert landscape with drought resistan plants except for the small patch of yard and raised bed in the back devoted to growing their own vegetables and fruit.
Towns like Todmorden in the UK and our small hilltop community, Bat Ayin, where many people devote much if not all of their yards to growing produce and are interested in sustainable gardening. This is how land should be used.
Sustainable gardens don't need to look like farms, beautiful gardens with bright colors and shapes can be designed using all edible plants. I have just started to garden but my dream is that one day I will have a house where my yard will be beautiful and full of yummy edible delights. What a great educational tool for our children and what a wonderful way to connect to our land and work towards sustainability!
