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Fla. Man Fighting to Keep Front Yard Veggie Garden After City Says It Violates Appearance Codes

Nov. 8, 2012 1:57pm Liz Klimas

Although most might plant vegetable gardens in their back yards, a Florida man opted for the front — and now he’s being challenged by the city with a code violation.

WKMG reported that the 25×25 veggie garden in Jason Helvingston’s College Park front yard is against code, which requires a more manicured appearance in an effort to promote higher property values in the neighborhood. It is reported that Helvingston was asked to dig up his vegetables by Wednesday — a deadline he chose to ignore — given that they don’t have the contained plantings like a lawn or more traditional landscaping.

College Park, Fla., Man Told by City to Dig Up Vegetable Garden in His Own Front Yard

(Image: WKMG video screenshot)

Helvingston is hoping to change city code and has obtained 200 supportive signatures in his effort to do so.

“[I'm] definitely not bothered by it,” neighbor Shelly Snow said, according to WKMG. “As a matter of fact, we love it.”

The issue will be brought up at a December board meeting.

In the mean time, Helvinston said to WKMG that he told the city “You’ll take my house before you take my vegetable garden.”

“This is another example of the government telling us what we can do with our own property — that should never happen,” he added.

Watch the WKMG report here.

(H/T: Drudge Report)

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Comments (73)

mikeg642000
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 10:08am
He’s just trying to feed the family in this Obama economy!

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Whatdoesntkillyou
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 2:27am
Maintaining a proper curb appearance for the benefit of strong property value??? At this point and time in Amerika I think property value is on the bus and heading off the cliff!
How about this?
The township or even Obongo/Bernanke/Geithner could pay to lay a new foundation 30 feet closer to the street while transplanting his vigorous garden to the NOW rear of the house. Voilà a shovel ready job!
That just might send a tingle up my leg.

Money’s tight times are hard,
So I planted a garden in my yard,
I have tomatoes but have no grass,
and College Park can kiss my asparagus!!

God Is watching Us

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nighttrainno9
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 7:37pm
If you research “obamacare” carefully you will find that it will be against
the law to grow a garden, front yard or backyard. Thats primarily so
that the govt. will have 100% control of the food. They are also making it
against the law to catch and use rain water. Like the govt. control “COMRADES”???

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- rickc34
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 9:15pm
  All conservatives move to red states and kick all libs out. Let them fend for themselves in blue states and we will see how well natural selection works. They will either starve or shoot one another and then become. An endangered species.
  
  Report this comment
- Mannamomof4
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 9:56pm
  @Nighttrain – Any chance you have a link or reference to that info? It would be appreciated. I hadn’t read that before.
  
  Report this comment
- Brooke Lorren
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 6:39pm
  It’s been on Glenn Beck before…
  
  Report this comment
YRead
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 7:24pm
My city made me remove solar panels laid on the ground beside my driveway. The city ordinance I was in violation stated that you could have no structures in front of the house. Their definition of a structure, anything on the ground. The zoning officers drives by twice a week but waited 5 months to decide that it was now a problem. Now I have a section of 5 by 40 feet of dead grass that looks way worse than the solar panels did. So much for encouraging green energy.

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GuruMeditation
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 6:49pm
Fk the ordinance.

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MrKnowItAll
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 6:35pm
I went to Florida for the first time in my life last December. You can cheat on your Husband or Wife and get away with it. Everyone looks the same. Leather faced.

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Cataclysm
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 5:18pm
The libs want us to eat our veggies
But not ones we grow ourselves
The libs want us to give to charities
But not if they’re religious
The libs want freedom of speech
But only if they agree with it
The libs want freedom of the press
But only if they agree with it
The libs want clean energy
But not in their backyard
The libs want our guns….
They can take them one bullet at a time, and pry my gun from my cold dead hands.

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- MaleneSBrown
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 5:36pm
  Well said. I see people with vegetable gardens in their front yards often. But then, I step outside of Maine and NewHampshire and it feels like stepping into bizzaro world.
  
  Report this comment
- Ballot_Box_Revolution
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 8:29pm
  easily said and done, if they give a notice and go door to door, but that is not going to happen. It will happen in a way where no one else will know what is going on, and you will be made to look like a terrorist by the media, and a nut job, by Glenn Beck…..and don’t get me wrong i love Glenn, and love what he does, but he does have some flaws…but don’t we all. But anyways, the media will make it look like you were one of them there “redneck” terrorists, and to protect the movement from the evil eye of the media molded public Glenn Will say you were a nut job..but he would believe it..and so we lose our rights in the end….
  
  I would compare Glenn to John Adams….and no that is not an insult Adams was a great guy, I just prefer Thomas Jefferson myself
  
  Report this comment
watashbuddyfriend
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:32pm
Hmmm, another Florida case!

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- Zipit
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:37pm
  Yeah! He should just move to Colorado, then he could grow POT in his front yard!!!
  
  Report this comment
- Longslide
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 5:09pm
  It’s funny, before all the lefties started moving down here, we didn’t have all these problems….If the rest of the country could keep your whackjobs in your own states, we’d be much obliged. :)
  
  Report this comment
villaSF
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:23pm
It’s his property and he should be able to do whatever he wants with it as long as it’s legal. If the neighbors don’t like it and they feel so strongly about it then they should take it up with the owner and not get government involved. If it is so bothersome and the owner won’t budge on making changes, then take some time to pretty it up yourself. Not your responsibility you say? Well, neither is it his to make his property up to your standards of beauty.

What crime is he committing? Last time I checked, having an ugly yard is not a crime requiring government intervention.

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- Leslie Anne
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:28pm
  Well, apparently it’s not legal…that’s why the City is after him for violating the code.
  
  Report this comment
hflndrs
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:03pm
How can growing food look bad? If the neighborhood has a problem with it, take up a collection and buy the guys house.

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neverending
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:31pm
Maybe he just needs to call moochie the magic elephant because she would be so excited that he has a garden and I am sure it could all be worked out.

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Leslie Anne
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:24pm
It’s a bloody mess of a yard. Maybe if it was arranged attractively, nobody would have even noticed it was a garden.

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- Leslie Anne
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:39pm
  My neighbor has a garden similar to the one shown above–except she left 4 foot tall weeds-n-grass grow along the chainlink fence that backed it. So I just got finished putting up a 6 foot high solid wood privacy fence to completely block the view. It’ll block all her sun, too…but too bad, so sad…don’t see why I should have to look at her messy garden.
  
  I also garden, usually lotline-to-lotline, but my yards over the years have gotten beautification awards. Gardens do not need to look like a slop-hole (like the picture above). They can be arranged tastefully and it isn’t any more work to plant-n-tend a garden in a pretty way than to slap down rows (like the picture above).
  
  Report this comment
- Leslie Anne
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:53pm
  I believe front yard gardens should be held to a higher standard than backyard gardens. They should be pretty. They should add to the neighborhood, not be an eyesore. I’m looking at the yard (shown above) and totally envisioning a gorgeous cottage garden (which would cost the same to install as that mess). You just don’t plant rows in the front yard.
  
  Report this comment
- mastice
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:11pm
  I understand the idea behind what you are saying – and in some ways I agree with you that things should look appealing to prevent ‘blight’, so to speak.
  
  But you are missing a point completely. Your neighbor’s yard is not yours. It’s not your property. It’s not your choice. How would you react if your neighbor dictated to you what you do on your own property? You would be upset and signing a different tune.
  
  Report this comment
- mastice
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:15pm
  *singing a different tune
  
  Report this comment
- Leslie Anne
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:26pm
  That garden (shown above) is an example of why cities have front yard standards in the first place. It’s not the neighbors telling him to clean it up, it’s the City.
  
  As for me, I’ve already added a 6 foot solid wood privacy fence to block the view of my neighbor’s messy garden. If I was the neighbor of the garden shown in the picture above and that yard kept on looking like that—I’d be calling the tree place to add a row of 8 foot tall arborvitae’s along the lotline between the front yards so I wouldn’t have to look at that mess.
  
  Report this comment
- Mudd
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:27pm
  Beauty in the eye of the beholder. I hate manicured lawns, I’d rather look at weeds and dead trees but I would never demand that anyone tear out their lawn but then, I actually believe in freedom rather than just giving it lip service. And if I lived next to you I’d put up a twenty foot spite fence to block out your sun.
  
  Report this comment
- Leslie Anne
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:34pm
  City code/permits where I live says your spite fence can only have a maximum height of 6 feet. (It must also be straight-n-plumb and of a color, material, and appearance so as not to lower the surrounding properties’ value.)
  
  Report this comment
- Mudd
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:42pm
  I guess that’s why I live where I live and not where you live, which probably works out best for both of us.
  
  Report this comment
- Leslie Anne
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 5:01pm
  Very true. I wouldn’t like looking at the avocado refrigerator and plaid couch on your front porch…or the El Transcamarobird up on blocks in your front yard :)
  
  Report this comment
- mastice
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 6:45pm
  @Leslie Anne
  “That garden (shown above) is an example of why cities have front yard standards in the first place. It’s not the neighbors telling him to clean it up, it’s the City.”
  
  And who do you think petitions the city council members, city manager, or city mayor to pass city ordinances like this? It’s neighbors like you who disdain anything in someone’s front yard that you do not approve of.
  
  So again, as I said, it’s not your yard so stop complaining.
  
  Report this comment
- Mudd
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 7:13pm
  What! Your resorting to personal attacks on a person you nothing about. Well, in that case….. No, I won’t go there, I’m sure your a wonderful person and have recieved many awards to prove it.
  
  Report this comment
- SgtB
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 8:30pm
  WHAA! Goes the little progressive she beast who feels the need to critique every facet of everyone else’s life. Do you know that manicured lawns were invented by the European aristocracy to show off their expansive properties and to allow long sight lines for early warning in case of attack? Funny how such an idea got adopted by people who own 1/6 acre lots in a city of asphalt, concrete, and paint.
  
  Report this comment
- Leslie Anne
  Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:52pm
  All the more reason for maintaining sight lines :)
  
  Report this comment
txannie
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:16pm
Get used to being told what, where and how you can do anything with your stuff. If you think this is a little over the top, look up AGENDA 21. Not only will you not be able to plant your garden, you won’t be allowed to own enough land to plant one on. For everyone that voted for obama, thank you, you have just taken one step closer to marxist socialism and are dragging the rest of us with you. The funny part…you for some reason you think you will be exempt from complying in this new society because you voted for obama and his agenda….good luck with that.

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florida123
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:08pm
Things have changed and many people look for zoning that allows gardens and small flocks of chickens. People are beginning to appreciate home grown foods again. The cities and counties need to get with it! I bought my home only after i checked the zoning for chickens and vegi gardens………

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- txannie
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:19pm
  Good for you!! Enjoy it while you can. Obama is endorsing Agenda 21 with the U.N. Look it up. I love my chickens and goats. Maybe we’ll be able to keep a few after redistribution of wealth. Maybe in our gov appointed quarters?
  
  Report this comment
judyaz
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:43pm
You know, you can do some pretty landscaping with edibles.

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- oldguy49
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:50pm
  sorry i am with the city on this one……….i have lived in a couple of subdivisions over the years where someone thinks they can just grow anything in the front yard………not only doesn’t look good devalues property……….
  
  Report this comment
- raderby
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:13pm
  give me a break. Does HE own the property? or not? When are you stupid a-holes going to wake the F up and see all of this stuff is part of a whole big progressive pile of dung. That we pay for with our taxes.
  
  So – can he put up a privacy fence- ? I bet there is some other code against that – can he have just white stones for a front lawn?
  
  This is all insane. Either his neighbors like or do not like it, and they talk to him about it.
  
  If they cannot come to any agreement – MOVE – your desires do not dictate to another person’s property.
  
  I think it does NOT have an unkempt look to it. What is the big deal, morons?
  
  Report this comment
- iamjack
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 4:38pm
  @raderby On the other hand, it’s different if those codes were already in place when the gardener bought his house. If he didn’t look into the local laws of where he was being his house, that’s his fault.
  
  If he doesn’t want to follow the law, HE can move. If the community agrees with him, they can change the laws.
  
  Report this comment
- armyofnibiru
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 5:53pm
  hayjack .,when they code the constitution out of existence,will you still feel the same way.like the church free zones in california.when they knock down your door and start shooting ,it won’t be the guy with the garden .it will be the commies you empowered,coming to get the ones who dont believe in what they are doing but who gave them the power to do it.but you may stand in their way,yah better safe than sorry.
  
  Report this comment
drphil69
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:41pm
Hey, don’t you know that by him growing his own food he is hurting the poor farmers?

If he didn’t have a garden he would have to buy food at the store just like the rest of us! It’s not fair that that rest of us have to pay grocery store prices and he gets his food for free!!

LOL. For those who agree with the city, state, etc, what if the next rule declares that the color of your door is ‘offensive?’ I guess you will comply and change it! (This is not a joke, it happens on a regular basis in Columbia, Maryland. There you cannot change the color of your front door, or siding, or roof without explicit written permission from the ‘board of trustees’ of the “city” of Columbia.) Maybe they will declare that all SUVs are ‘offensive’ and demand that no SUV be allowed to park on the street or in a driveway. Hell, maybe they will just declare that you are sooo ugly it offends your neighbors, and they can then banish you from the city!

Sound crazy? Maybe…

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- Mudd
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:51pm
  That doesn’t sound crazy at all but banishment would be a last resort. First we’d have forced make overs but if that doesn’t do the trick…… Watch out.
  
  Report this comment
- SHASTADIANE1
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:00pm
  DrPHIL69, I totally agree with you, however, if he has planted this garden and is getting food out of it surely isn’t Free! We spent a fortune on seed and plants for our garden this year, and it is hard work on top of it all. Our 84 year old neighbor next to my business has a garden on either side of his house in “town” on about 4 ft of ground running his whole lot which is small, but he works his poor old butt off out there in that garden and has lots to eat to show for it. Cans and freezes it too.
  
  Report this comment
Chris.underhill
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:32pm
i keep seeing this come up so ill help you on the refresh thing.. in your browser option you can set it to stop auto refresh. its really simple. as to some of you experiencing the pop up Opera has auto both stop refresh and pop ups and i never have a problem at all..

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The_Pointy_End
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:27pm
On the city’s (and neighbor’s ) side on this one. That looks really bad!!!

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- Mudd
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:39pm
  That’s ridiculous. I think it looks good but who cares what you and I think, until we start paying this guy’s mortgage and taxes STFU.
  
  Report this comment
- skinflint
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:39pm
  Looks like a veggie garden. Big deal. Grass is overrated. And fussy. And doesn’t provide a danged thing for all the effort and resources it requires. I vote for the tomatoes.
  
  Report this comment
- raderby
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:18pm
  I am with Mudd…… stfu unless you are his landlord… why don’t yo uaster a couple hundred K of bucks and hold a special city referendum on it? by then he would have harvested.
  
  Move if you do not like it.
  
  Report this comment
doomytram
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:21pm
Just tell the Obamunist’s that your growing Twinkies,Gatorade, Ding Dongs, and Pop Tarts. If you say it with a straight face they might believe you, because it ain’t PC to keep the Obese from eating those Twinkies with their Snap Stamps.

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EqualJustice
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:19pm
Get used to LOSING more and more of your freedoms and rights for at LEAST two more years. We better take the SENATE back or Dirty Harry will continue to be the Dictator’s little helper!

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- raderby
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:20pm
  I am not looking forward to any more elections. I get trespassed, I am not forgiving. sorry for that, but there it is. Not taking this BS any longer.
  
  Report this comment
Carrie3570
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:18pm
Here’s the thing. This is a local government issue. If you want front yard gardens, go to your neighbors and talk to them about it. Then go to the city council. Get them to change the law. Change has to start somewhere. That somewhere is our local communities. If you aren’t willing to take the time to change the problems affecting you and your neighbors, what makes you think someone is going to take the time change things for you at the federal level?

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- DebGal
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:45pm
  I totally agree!
  
  Report this comment
Xiccarph
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:16pm
Geeze, come on!! This stupid website refreshes constantly and everything you type in comment box disappears when it happens.

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- Polarized America
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:23pm
  i know…..it just started doing that around election time , it happens on videos as well …!!!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- Carrie3570
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:30pm
  I brought this issue up to Scott Baker in the blazecast. They are suppose to be looking into it.
  
  Report this comment
- tigerpaw1981
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:32pm
  True
  
  Report this comment
Polarized America
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:13pm
What kind of commie land is this??
where i come from we call this a kitchen garden. you go from the garden,threw the door to the sink. then to the table,… i always have & i always will……………….

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- Cavallo
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:17pm
  This is what America voted for.
  
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thegreatcarnac
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:04pm
With our illegal president in office…everyone had better think about making gardens…..to eat.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:13pm
  They’ll make that illegal soon as well. You must be reliant upon the State. It is your God, your Master, and they will see to it that you bend knee. This is the way Americans want it. This is what they decided.
  
  USA RIP
  
  Report this comment
Steven63
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:03pm
You get the government you deserve. That’s my new motto after Tuesday. This city ordinance didn’t pop up overnight. It was likely voted on by past residents et. al.

That said, no government or home owners association is going to tell me what color to paint my house, how long my yard should be, what flowers can and cannot be planted; nor will they tell me to get rid of a my garden that sustains my life.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:10pm
  In response to your second paragraph: Sure they will. They’ll send a SWAT team likely to enforce it. They love shooting people like you, especially if you are former military.
  
  In response to your first: Spot on.
  
  Report this comment
- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:10pm
  Look, you sign the HOA contract when you buy the house. You don’t want those rules? Don’t buy the house.
  
  Report this comment
- chucksue351
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:24pm
  this house is not in a HOA type neighborhood, if he pays taxes leave him alone
  
  Report this comment
- angelofmercy
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 2:37pm
  Neither story say anything about if he had asked them to change it first at a city board meeting . Did he even bother to take that route ? Or did he just plant it knowing this would be an issue ? Personally I think I would have went the cheaper route first. Then planted it out of protest. Just saying. Would be nice to have all the info.
  
  Report this comment
- raderby
  Posted on November 8, 2012 at 3:22pm
  I am ok with both paragraphs. I have your back for paragraph #2. I might need for my back for the same reasons.
  
  BENGHAZI, people……. trust in honor and honorble people, not the gov’t.
  
  Report this comment

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