The Helvenstons finally pulled it off!

Check out their latest post:

It is now legal to grow your own food anywhere in your yard within
the City of Orlando.  We all managed to change our little part of the world for the better.   

Congratulations everyone.  We did it.

Never mind the convoluted code writing, it would be very difficult for
anyone to ever get a “vegetable” code violation again.  Our front yard garden is completely legal AS IS.

Thank you ALL.  Special thanks to Kitchen Gardeners International, Institute for Justice, MotherEarth News, TreeHugger, Coalition for Property Rights, Campaign for Liberty, Food Not Bombs, Food Not Lawns, FloridaSurvivalGardening.com, Orlando Center for Urban
Permaculture, Front Porch Radio, all of the media, and so many more.

(Read the rest) 

I don’t like legal battles one bit.

I pay my taxes, abide by all the non-native invasive plant requirements in my nursery and even keep an actual valid driver’s license in my wallet. The thought of “fighting back” against something unjust is a thing I can appreciate… but I think I have a little too much Amish pacifist in me.

That said, what Jason and Jennifer Helvenston did impresses the heck out of me. They stood up to the city, played nice with their neighbors, let their story be known and refused to plow under their food despite the threat of heavy fines.

Good work. I’m impressed.

That front yard garden beats grass any day.

If you missed my original video interview with them, here it is again:

And my Mother Earth article is here.

One of these days I need to go down there and do a new video shoot featuring their garden… anyone want to spot me some cash for a good video camera? :)

Let’s keep winning these fights!