Growing Veggies a Crime? Only in America

What would you think if your neighbor put in a yard like this? Did you know that the president and first lady are probably criminals at least in Oak Park, Mich.? Nice front yard? yes. The city of Oak Park, Mich. doesn't think so. In fact they are in the nasty job of taking the owner, Julie Bass to court, charging her with a misdemeanor for doing it. Now you know how much I hate politicians, bureaucrats and government telling people what to do- while I am not an anarchist, one would think that the city would consider the cost of organic veggies, the fact that Urban Agriculture is in fashion; and just back down. But alas. They just don't get it.
Ms. Bass who blogs on"Oak Park Hates Veggies", was not looking for a fight. Christ, she was just wanting to put something in her yard after sewage work was done. And personally, I think she made a great choice.
Neighbors interviewed about the garden both support it — “I think it's a very wonderful thing for our neighborhood” — and dislike it — “I know there’s a back yard. Do it in the back yard.”

Bass has a response for that: “They say, ‘Why should you grow things in the front?’ Well, why shouldn’t I? They’re fine. They’re pretty. They’re well maintained.” The garden is a place for the neighboring school children to learn more about were their food comes from. A Facebook page and a petition has been started to help the Bass family out

So do a bit for Urban Homesteading freedom and sign the petition or even better... write the prosecutors office and let her know how stupid trying this case is.

Oak Park Woman Faces 93-Days in Jail For Planting Vegetable Garden: MyFoxDETROIT.com

2nd Blog-iversary Giveaway No 2- A Solar powered work lamp

Anyone who might follow this here blog knows I am a big supporter of alternative energy. In my world, President Obama's economic stimulus would go beyond finding alternative sources of energy and the economic stimulus would provide solar and wind power for all. Screw the fat cats on wall street and car makers in Detroit. Anyway, enough of my political ideology rambling, and on to the give-away- I will send the lucky winner their own little piece of Solar power, An IKEA "Sunnan" work lamp. And since IKEA does the following, it is a TWO-FER!!! (You know how Rob likes the TWO-FERS!):

"Now at IKEA stores worldwide, for every SUNNAN solar-powered lamp sold, one lamp will be given to UNICEF to light up the life of a child.

The first shipments of donated lights are destined for Pakistan, helping
children in camps for people who had to flee their homes, and remote villages in
Balochistan and the North West Frontier province. This unit will enable children
to play, read, write and study at night, even if their homes have no
electricity. Millions of children can’t draw, write or read after sunset,
limiting their horizons and possibly their futures. IKEA hopes our lamps are a
small but important contribution to improving the lives of children in
developing countries.

IKEA has made an especially sturdy SUNNAN for the
developing world, designed to resist the wear and tear of difficult living
situations, including a battery capable of withstanding high temperatures."

from the IKEA Website-Seattle Community and Enviorment page

So you win, a child in a developing country wins! To enter all you have to do is enter a comment, If you have a blogger account with email info- great! If not, please leave a way of contacting you (email addy) - Give-away ends at midnight PST on January 24th. Winner will be picked by Random Number Generator

Showing Support for P-Patch

One of the neat things in Seattle, is the abundance of "P-Patches" or community gardens. That seems to be a Seattle thing, where the first P-Patch is located at Picardo Farms (That's what the "p" stands for BTW. Here in Burien, Sustainable Burien amongst others, is trying to get the City Council to put in the city's first "p"-Patch. I am surprised there seems to be some opposition to it. I know the City Parks and Rec Department is meeting tomorrow to discuss the subject. The meeting will take place at 6PM in the Burien Community Center at 425 SW 144th St. Of course I will be at work (grumble) So I thought what can I do? Take a cue from Beth and write a letter to the City Council so I did:

Mayor McGilton, Councilpersons-
I just want to write to let you know that I fully support the small local effort to have P-Patches and community gardens in Burien. P-patches are important to a cities health and citizen morale. And it helps in these hard economic times. I know my mother, a longtime Burien resident, who recently had to sell her home and move to an apartment in Burien, would be very interested in a P-Patch. As a Resident myself, I urge you to support P-Patches and Community Gardens.

I really believe that a P-Patch will grow over big time here in the City to south, and I thought maybe by letting the "Garden Club" (my personal "term of endearment" for Burien's city council) know my feelings it might help. Of course I have to remember that this is the same group of people who closed down Low income housing while saying how much the city supports it. But what can you do? I bitch and moan but the reality is I cannot run for council as my work hours prohibit my ability to attend council meetings and such. But I found out that emails to the council must be read at the council meetings, so I thought give it a try!

I live in a wildlife habitat

It's Official- although my mom would believe it- my yard has been certified a Wildlife Habitat! I joined the National Wildlife Federation. And by agreeing to provide food, water (birdbaths) cover and places for my animal friends to raise their young, I met the requirements to be a Certified Wildlife Habitat. And I get to display this cool sign:

So now I live in a Wildlife habitat. My dreams have beem fulfilled. Even if the wildlife consists of nothing but Squirrels, Barn Swallows, a few rats, a few feral cats, a over exuberant cocka-poo, a wily black cat, and a very retired guide dog! But now I cannot remove all the blackberries- well some of them should stay for a place for the animals to run and cover. Not a lot of responsibility.

If you want to be certified a Wildlife habitat it is easy. Go to NWF, and follow the easy steps- If you live in an apartment, condo, house or mansion you can very easily qualify- simple steps like a bird bath or a butterfly puddling bath, a clay pot put upside down with a entrance hole makes a great home for frogs, toads and turtles, a bird house works as a shelter or a mason bee house, s little planting for food for the animals or a bird feeder. It is so easy and there are so many solutions to make life a little easier for our animal friends. Here is a list of resoursces for getting started

MANDATE TO ALL POLITICIANS:

I have a mandate for all politicians, winners and losers- Pick up your damn yard signs! I would like to see a law passed that Politicos are responsible for picking up their yard signs and recycling them. I know I had an I.A.M. for Obama (International Association of Machinists) sign that I took of my fence and put in the recycle bin this morning. I call upon all politicians to do the same. One of the sad facts is the campaign workers put them on public and private property; along roads, on fences etc. and make no provisions to remove them- I have seen signs stay for a number of years. And this goes beyond being democrat or republican, red state or blue- When you are organizing to put up yard signs why not make an organized effort to remove them after the election? Just my two cents worth.

Little Salesmen

Crap oh crap- School is in session. Today the first of the little salespeople came around. I wish parents wouldn't send their kids around selling stuff. I am not being mean. In fact I would say I am something of a soft touch when it comes to kids trying to raise money for projects at their schools, due to the district not issuing enough money for sports and the arts, the first programs to get cut in our district. I know in my heart the kids would rather be involved in these programs rather than being little sales people trying to keep these programs alive. I know that I only support candidates that are willing to fund these programs (i.e. no republicans) but it has to come down with the residents. I know my mom is tired of paying for other peoples kids, as she puts it.

I have to disagree with her. We always used to support levies in our house growing up, chiefly because my dad worked for the school district. But as I get older, I feel that supporting schools is the right thing to do, because good schools make good adults. That is their product. And while it may keep house taxes up, good schools make good House values.

Anyway- i bought two packages of wrapping paper. Told you I was a soft touch.

How to elect a republican president

Hillary and Barack. Get it together folks! I was listening to AM 1090 tonight in the van between jobs at work- they were talking if you are for Hillary, what are your current feelings about Obama, and if you are for Obama, what are your current feelings about Hillary. I was amazed how many people were saying IF Hillary gets the nomination then I am not voting for president OR if Obama gets the nomination I am not voting for president. Goddammit people, it is time to wisen up! This just plays into BushIII's (McCain) hands. Not voting is what the old man wants. That and to carry out Dubya's mission. Buy not voting you are placing a vote in the McCain camp. And if you want 4 more years of war, (of course McCain wants 100), Bad econimic policy, More of the don't tax and spend republicans. Then don't vote. Your concsience should be good cause you didn't vote for the mother fucker. Of course you will be wondering how the hell he got elected... but it wasn't your fault. Democrats have the greatest ability of snagging defeat out of the jaws of Victory. This is one reason why. I say if you don't vote then move your ass to France! And to Hillary and Barack- it is time to start finding some common good and get it together to beat BushIII!