The plot thickens!
The following was recently both sent to my e-mail and posted as a comment on a previous post (my own response below):
Dear Mr Goodman:
I am the owner of the house next door. I live out of town, but pay taxes on the property, and has the same rights. My farmer neighbor is very collective in your interview, but when we approach his wife to discuss alternative, we never had a response from them. He called our property manager to insult him. This is not an attitude from a farmer, I am a farmer also a biologist and understand the natural process and sustainability movement, but this crying baby attitude is what confused me with the right purpose of farming.
Since to me that he only wants to get publicity for his business.
What’s next? Chicken, Gardens, herpetologist???
I live in Puerto Rico and proud to serve the US Navy. I’m willing to discuss our rights and opinions to anyone.
Sincerely,
Pedro Padin 787-612-9127
Gretchen Rivera Padin 787-413-7788
Gretpadin1@gmail.com
The key issue here is to keep the place neat and clean and that’s why we are concern about the front garden.
RESPONSE FROM ME (via e-mail):
Dear Mr. Padin,
Thanks for writing. I’ll bump your comment (and this response) to the top of my blog. I’ll also make sure the Helvenston’s are apprised of your concerns.
I can’t necessarily speak for the Helvenston’s motives, not having witnessed the entire situation. I only met them recently and know just what they’ve told me.
However, I don’t understand why you would have a problem with anyone growing food in their own yard. If Jason and Jennifer planted a garden in your yard, you’d have every right to complain. But shouldn’t a person be able to use their own property as they wish, providing they aren’t hurting anyone else?
It doesn’t seem that vegetables are hurting you guys in any way, except for not being “neat,” as you state. If there’s more to this, please let me know – but this nation was founded on private property rights. Whether or not you get along with the Helvenston’s – and even if they’re rude or self-seeking or anything else you might assert – it’s still their yard and I believe gardening in it should absolutely be allowed, just as you should have a right to use your own yard as you see fit.
I hope your family and their family will be able to resolve your dispute and be at peace once again. I’m sorry the neighborhood has been caught up in controversy. I wish it could have been resolved without the city having been involved.
All the best,
David Goodman
8 responses to “Response From the Padin’s – the Helvenston’s Neighbors Who Contacted Code Enforcement”
Interesting that someone would take the time to write and only "touch" on things. There's always one of those in a pile of interesting, isn't there? :)
Yes. Rather strange. I haven't called them or verified that they are in fact the neighbors, but I figure chances are good. The situation, even if frustrating for those involved, is rather entertaining.
i might be able to agree that maybe they weren't keeping their yard as "neat" as it could have been…but that's very subjective. My neat can be pretty messy where food is concerned.
Also what's he got against herpetologists? i know a few, and yes, they live in the city of Tampa and raise snakes. with venom. right next door to people!!
doesn't he know the H family has chickens? what a moron.
kinda cool that you were able to get a response from him though. you would think he would be more supportive of american freedom, being in the military and all. and probably hispanic. is that racist that i think a lot of spanish people raise chickens?
maybe i should stop typing before i say something bad… :)
I think we're all racist inside. Except probably God.
I don't think it's wrong to point out that many Hispanics are into raising their own huevos y pollo. That's an observation that bears credence when you visit Ft. Lauderdale these days. As the population has changed from white/black to more Hispanic, many, many more chickens have shown up. They're everywhere now.
I also don't think being in the military necessarily means you'll be supportive of freedom… though I know plenty of vets that are pretty big on the 2nd Amendment.
Personally… I just think it's crazy to complain about other people's yards unless you're talking something totally wonky. Like non-stop trash fires or having more than one human sacrifice a year.
I try to keep the human sacrifices down to LESS THAN one a year. It's only polite, for the neighbor's sakes…
I've also kept the frequency low, just because my Christian faith prohibits it.
I need to ask my pastor and see if there's a loophole that lets us sacrifice Code Enforcement officials…
so i wrote up a thing about Covert Urban Homesteading for my page, and also posted it over at Permies, let me know what you think!
http://www.permies.com/t/19207/homestead/Covert-Urban-Homesteading-Article-Thoughts#161667
I jumped in – and bumped your link into a new post here. Thanks.