Yeah, I got thoughts. My HOA has a heart beat skip if they can see your trash can. Imagine how excited they'd be at 5 rows of corn, and some tomato plants. Planting anything out front is an open invitation - resulting in a lot of work and absolutely no reward, at least in my area. Sorry, don't think it's for me.

 

I live in an entire city with ordinances written as a HOA would. Moving soon, but I feel your pain.

 

With today's postage stamp sized yards, it probably wouldn't be worth the effort.

 

If it's a "kitchen garden" with mostly herbs and other things that focus on flavor like aliums and peppers, a couple thousand square feet can do a lot.

In general, I hate lawns, so using that space for just about anything else is a step in the right direction. If ordinances will allow you to use if for a garden or space for your chickens to forage, go for it.

 

I am all for it. Problem is, several families across the land have gotten into trouble because their gardens don't fit into some obscure code. Be it HOA or city ordnance. I guess tasty pole beans in bloom are not as pretty as clematis on a trellis. We certainly have to get rid of the stigma associated with self reliance. People with gardens out front seem to lower the property values of the neighbors, which goes to show what people value.

 

I am all for it. Problem is, several families across the land have gotten into trouble because their gardens don't fit into some obscure code. Be it HOA or city ordnance. I guess tasty pole beans in bloom are not as pretty as clematis on a trellis. We certainly have to get rid of the stigma associated with self reliance. People with gardens out front seem to lower the property values of the neighbors, which goes to show what people value.

There have been threads here about Gardens getting summarily ripped out by the local Govt in places like Minnesota and Oklahoma. RT has also aired vids of Police with guns drawn raiding organic co-ops.

Either the Public "Servants" are going Hal-9000 on us thanks to conflicting orders, or there is a concerted campaign to prevent any of us from being independent in any way from Govt food sources.

Either way, hide what you have in any way you can.
Growing it in the Front yard is just asking for it.

... just ask the Kids trying to sell Lemonade. :taped:

 

Yep there are a lot of cities that have codes that don't allow gardens and HOA's that won't allow them either. Bunch of hogwash.

 

There are a lot of cities that have codes that don't allow gardens and HOA's that won't allow them either. (

This is an excellent point, and one in which maybe we can make some difference. In the last legislative session in Texas (the legislature only meets every other year) there was a proposed bill that would preclude HOA's from keeping a homeowner from installing solar and wind power units on their home, within reason. That bill didn't make it out of committee, but I have been told that it may stand a better chance next session.

I'm going to write my state legislator tonight (he lives close by and is a pretty reasonable guy) and see if perhaps they could add an addendum to the bill next session to also preclude HOA's from keeping the homeowner from planting a vegetable garden as well (maybe within some reasonable limits - - like maybe in the backyard only?). If somehow we could get this to be state law to allow homeowners to plant gardens, it would start a process that would gain traction elsewhere. Even a small garden in 1/2 the backyards would not only reduce the demand at the local grocery store, it would teach some much needed skills to the masses.
------------------------------------------------------------
Blink Blink ....

Okay - - I'm back down to earth and back to reality. It will never happen.

But it was nice dreaming for a few minutes. I think I even drooled on my pillow a little during this dream. Hate it when that happens!

 

The guy produced 6000 lbs of food on a tenth of an acre. 6000 lbs of healthy food, untouched by the dirty hands of corporate America. Look guys, I know a lot of it is not practical for some. I just thought it was a great and beautiful idea that got me questioning things. He inspired me through his passion and enthusiasm. I look to those who try to be part of the cure and not the disease. I give him credit.

 

...ultimate protest...untouched by the dirty hands of corporate America.

Be careful. Mixing public awareness and preparedness is a good way to get swarmed by locusts when things get funky.

 

County codes around here are just as bad. Vegetable gardens being limited to back yards and out of sight.
And forget about farm animals.

I'd love to turn my whole property into a garden. But the neighbors would be calling the grass police on me quick. They do it to me now it the grass doesn't get cut as frequently as their's. I'm really surprised it didn't happen this year. Drought and all and all thier lawns are burnt to a crisp and mine's still green. Yet the illegals still come around every week and trim the dead grass on their lawns.

 

You live in a whole county that doesn't allow farm animals ? I understand some city limits but a whole county?

I'm from ky trying to wrap my head around that heh

I'm so glad I don't live in a liberal controlled state

 

My town has rules in place that say you can't farm within city limits unless you were farming decades ago. I haven't been doing it for decades (7 years) and I have slowly moved to the front yard. So far so good. Now, I know something most people in Minnesota don't seem to know. In our state there is a CONSTITUTIONAL right to garden and sell what you grow. I was first approved in the 1800's and amended in 1906 in the state's constitution. If they say something, so will I. There is even an association to make sure that right is not taken away.

 

I know something most people in Minnesota don't seem to know. In our state there is a CONSTITUTIONAL right to garden.

Britzen keeps trying to talk me into becoming an Iron Ranger. (she's a born native) I'll keep that little tidbit in mind.

 

fences in the "frontal view" are also outlawed by many building codes ..... even if you were able to plant a garden you would need it fenced in to keep the neighborhood out .... come SHTF time .... anything goes ..... I would recommend blocking off the street for livestock pens and the neighborhood frontyards as pasture .....

 

The guy produced 6000 lbs of food on a tenth of an acre.

You must be talking about the Dervaes family in Pasadena, California.

It is amazing what they do, mind you they do it with four people working at it full time seven days a week.

Luckily I live where there are no HOA or restrictions so I can grow whatever I want wherever I want.

One thing you could grow in front if you had restrictions would be herbs and edible flowers, to the untrained eye, they are just harmless decorative foliage.

 

Many around here have private gardens. We also have community gardens that are very popular.

My son lives on a second floor apartment and has herbs, tomatoes, lettuce growing in his window along with his little plot at my house.

If you want a garden you will find a way.

 

I absolutely and completely detest any kind of lawn or non edible tree. With the exception of medicinal plants, if I can't eat it then I don't want to waste one single second on it.

Unfortunately, I'm stuck with a big useless lawn until 1 Nov. this year. But at least I got to rip up 4x8 sections of the back yard and it now grows brasicca's, onions and peppers. Thats in addition to the main garden area.

Something that I just could never fathom is this whole HOA thing....Are people really THAT clueless?

 

I do grow firewood on 4 acres: Lol. And yes, people ARE that clueless.

 

I'm so glad we don't have such restrictions here. I'd like to think and plan on trying to grow food in front yard next year. My plan though is to use companion flowers lots of them to camoflage the food plants. I don't see why polebeans and say morning glories can't grow on the same pole together or onions can't be planted with tulips and daffodils and such. I think many people wouldn't even notice them. It's worth a try cabbage can be quite ornamental.

Growing food doesn't have to be in rows and we should have the freedom to do so. Schools should have fruit trees on the playgrounds over passes could also be used for food production.

 

Just quick note, don't plant onions with daffodils, daffodil bulbs are highly poisonous and easily confused so it's just asking for trouble.

 

If everyone, or even just a third of the population just did something as simple as an old-school victory garden we would all be much better off.

 

When I had my landscaping business I planted many ornamental edibles. In HOA run communities too. Most folks think rows when they think gardens, but it can be done so many different ways. I encourage it.

 

This is exactly what I was thinking when I started reading about the difficulties from HOAs and city ordinances. There are a lot edible plants that are considered edible. Just put them in your garden and they won't even realize you are growing food.

 

Check this site out.

Its called Outlaw Garden, breaking the rules by growing vegetable even when the HOA says no.

http://www.outlawgarden.com/2012/07/13/10-rules-for-growing-vegetables-in-the-front-yard]

Lots of good ideas here on how to grow food in the front with no one catching on to it.

 

The city I live in actually has a list of acceptable plants that you can grow in your front yard, and what percent of the front has to be in lawn. From what I have been told they don’t enforce it but if I did it they would probably start.. Murphy’s law.
I do like the ideas though.

 

I live in the suburbars, where every section 8 welfare home is on about 1/4 -1 acre +
I cant help to think why these people could not grow at least some food

 

I grow all of my family food needs.Started several years ago.Safe food for my family.We use only heirloom. In everything I mean everything. Coffee, chocolate, vanilla, olives, fruit & nut trees by the dozens.Then about 6 raised beds for medical plants & herbs.I own 4 properties now and plan on using my 5 acre place as a community garden.Anyone that wants to plant can. I started teaching canning this year. This lost art has made a complete comeback in my area.

 

Coffee, chocolate, vanilla

I take it you live in a tropical or subtropical climate?

 

No, I live in Alabama.

 

The reason most people dont grow their own is because its to much work imho, farming sounds romantic until you have to do it.

 

In addition to foolish laws and HOA type rules, renters can often find themselves at the whims of a new property manager who suddenly bans gardening. Happened to me, and there is really no logical reason why a garden should not be allowed where I rent. It is rural-ish, and has plenty of space. I'm sure if the SHTF and I somehow had snuck in a real garden, they'd come pick everything anyway.

That said, I think lawn mowing is a sport in my small town. It is kind of amusing how one lawn mower starts, and within 10 minutes all of my neighbors who own are out mowing. They even mow brown lawns, so I really think it is something to do, to stay busy, a routine, a way of nodding to the others while everyone is out mowing. I would LOVE it if everyone were out planting and caring for gardens instead, but that isn't the norm here.

I love the whole "food, not lawns" concept though. (There is a book by the same title.) I do grow herbs in small pots, sprout seeds inside and support those who can grow where I live.

I've also been very tempted to guerilla garden on all the foreclosed homes around here. There are so many that just sit vacant. I have the knowledge from growing up on a farm, and I have seeds and supplies, so I hope that if there is a collapse that some of the silliness will cease.

 

Lawns, I have heard, are hold-overs from medieval times, when the area around a castle would be kept clear so enemies couldn't sneak up in mass. This was adapted as people built their own houses, and eventually the clear space was planted into grass to keep down dust and to look better.

We are the products - and in some cases, unthinking prisoners - of history...

 

It all depends on the plot of land you have. For examle we have utilities running underground in our front yard that seem to get dug up ever other year. And they have a right-of-way that extends 5' into the yard from the sidewalk. Our house is on a double slope (down from front to back and from left to right). Not the best place to have a garden and the back yard is on the northern side of the house so sunlight is at a premium for full sun crops.

Now the place I'm looking at over in WV is 20 acres which could easly support a very large garden with easy access to water (need to pump it from a stream).

 

I hope the place in WV works out for you that would be awsome..

 

I have enough work with my current garden. Even though I am in the process of expanding it another 900 sq. ft.

 

Wow nice garden..

 

What's a lawn?...