Comments on: If Oak Park Hates Veggies, Then They Can BITE ME!!!

By: Steve Asbell

Steve Asbell — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:01:04 +0000

You should still totally send the neighbor and prosecutor copies of your book free of charge! I’m sure the gorgeous edibles in disguise would change their minds in a jiffy.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:16:33 +0000

I think your first few comments including the one from me were deleted but anyway I mentioned your post on my post on the kitchen garden.

By: germinatrix

germinatrix — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:01:15 +0000

Hahaha! For the record, I am not Julie Bass – I am Ivette Soler, aka The Germinatrix, weighing in on the Julie Bass situation! But I LOVE all of the passion and insight you are all coming up with … although I admit to being a little at a loss about the organic drain cleaner Chip Webber’s comment encourages Julie to use.
But hey – I use the SAME recipe for drain cleaner, so right on Chip! I hope Julie’d drain somehow got the message.
Front Yard Edible Gardens are lovely, healthy, and have a major impact on the health & well being of the entire neighborhood! They should be encouraged rather than prosecuted!
The good news is that the charges have been dismissed, and for now, everything about Julie’s front yard seems cool and kosher. I hope she stays activist about this topic and works to change the zoning laws in her area! All the best to Julie Bass

By: Brenda

Brenda — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:17:54 +0000

Gardens are beautiful. I would much rather see a beautiful raised bed garden in a front yard than grass. They are also useful. You can’t feed your family grass. Good luck Julie, I hope everything works out for you.

By: Chip Webber

Chip Webber — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:57:36 +0000

Julie,
Try dumping some Baking Soda down your drain, don’t run the water. let it stand for awhile and then rinse it out. This will assure that at least your drain isn’t making the stinky mold smell. Sometimes the inside of the spigot is the culprit. A gun barrel brush, small bottle brush or the like will work, use bleach. Also, place an open container of Baking Soda under your sink, that will help also!
Chip Webber B.A.A

By: Chip Webber

Chip Webber — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:48:31 +0000

Julie,
A crime is required to be tried in the County in which the crime was committed. This is a Law and part of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. If a judge is elected in one County, unless he is a Circuit Judge, in which case as per his title, he runs a circuit of courts in which he adjudicates for the State government. If however your suspect judge is a District Judge, and he is adjudicating outside of his District, the Judgement that he passes is worthless, Null, and void. This judge is not elected by the people he would be adjudicating. A direct and severe challenge to the Constitution and YOUR rights as a citizen. I believe in your case that it appears that no-one with the authority to do so has dropped anything, and the person who dropped the case does NOT possess the legal authority to do so. I personally believe that you are hoodwinked, and that your case is still legally viable, active, and on hold for dust and attention to clear. YOUR government has dropped nothing. They probably remain committed to their view and in time will exercise the Warrant to appear. You are NOT finished yet, but it looks like you have a lot of support so see it through. I hope this helps you, AND your counsel.
Chip Webber B.A.A

By: expat39520

expat39520 — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:00:38 +0000

Hey, Germi! You are right, of course, about the vague language of the law. A woman I know here (actually, she bought and lives in the house where I grew up) fought the city and won the right to have a massively crazy wildflower garden across what had been the front lawn (my anal mom is no doubt twiring in her grave). It DOES look a mess in winter, and the neighbors went insane. The city even sent a backhoe over to plow it under, but Tate stood her ground, the men were reluctant to plow down a dainty lady, and with the help of a good lawyer (there are a few around) she won the right to plant as she pleases.

I do wish Julie luck. Sorry if I offended. Maybe I spent too many years in a newsroom where we had balance beaten into our heads.

By: Front Yard Food Fight — Timber Press Talks

Front Yard Food Fight — Timber Press Talks — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:29:09 +0000

[...] Susan Harris of Garden Rant has shared her thoughts on the issue and Timber author Ivette Soler has spoken out as well. Ivette discusses how she’s experienced firsthand the protests of distraught [...]

By: Pam Montgomery

Pam Montgomery — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:14:56 +0000

Brava, Miss Julie!
Hang in there! With food prices skyrocketing, and companies like Monsanto trying to submarine heirloom veggie farmers….our only recourse is to grow gardens……..lots of them.
I bought a whole box of assorted veggie seeds from Baker Creek, and had a party to pass them on to family and friends…..trying to get as many people as possible to produce their own food. I am very passionate about this…..For some this is a matter of necessity, but the truth is, so many of the veggies are sooo beautiful, who wouldn’t enjoy the many ornamental versions….
No wonder this country is in such a mess…on one hand they try to tell people to become more self sufficient, then they shackle you for actually doing it. I think a campaign to get a new Mayor might be something worth working for. Good luck and God Bless you!

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:24:38 +0000

I am so sorry you are going through this. However, we went through something simular. We compromised by adding grass around the veggie pits and the city was a bunch of happy campers. It turned out my neighbors were the ones complaining and putting pressure on the city. So this is a suggestion, add grass landscape the yard so the veggie garden does not stick out like a sore thumb.

It is a good thing to be teaching your children, to raise their food. It is a lost art.