Courtesy Hemera / Thinkstock
In attempts to get foods topically , some urban farmers have violated local law .
While aphids are raiding garden for a taste of thetomatoes , city officials are conducting foray of their own , handing out fines to urban farmers for break the law of nature . Yep , growing tomatoes — or any solid food crop — is illegal in some municipalities .
sure cities require permit to grow nutrient while others define the amount of tonic fruits and veggies that can be develop on residential lots . Sound crazy ? These urban farmers think so , too .
Novella Carpenter: Oakland, Calif.
Urban farming icon Novella Carpenter was targeted for breaking the law . Her crime : sellingSwiss chardfrom her 4,500 - satisfying - infantry garden in Oakland , Calif.
According to city official who visited Carpenter ’s Ghost Town Farm in March 2011 , Carpenter require a conditional - use permit to uprise nutrient and raise stock on her Oakland farm and a stage business license to sell green groceries . The cost : $ 2,500 for the permission and $ 40 for the business license .
On herblog , Carpenter writes , “ City of Oakland : You are play with citizenry ’s life … I might have to get free of my beast . All because one guy come to my house , took exposure and decided that I was n’t in conformity with some fox code . ”
Oakland enacted new zoning laws , including laws pertaining to urban agriculture , in April 2011 . Under phase one of the new law , urban farmers arise fruit and veggies on vacant heaps do not need permits ; stock , including thechickens , duck , rabbit andgoatsthat Carpenter keeps on her farm , do require conditional - use Trachinotus falcatus .
Carpenter says she plans to employ for a permit . In the interim , she has suspended trading operations of her farm stand .
Steve Miller: Clarkston, Ga.
Steve Miller had no thought he was crack the practice of law by growingbroccoliandcabbageon his 2 - Akka homestead outside of Atlanta .
In January 2010 , code enforcement officials informed Miller of strict sound terminal point on the identification number of veggie that could be grow in residential areas ; the amount of produce that Miller was grow exceed those limits .
“ As agriculture comes back into urban areas , we are dealing with old laws on the books , ” Alice Rolls , director ofGeorgia Organics , secern southwestern Georgia ’s WALB News .
Intent on following the jurisprudence , Miller , who shares his bounty with neighbor and has a produce point of view at the local farmers ’ market , put his garden on hiatus last summer to have his property rezoned . The flush were put on hold while his program for rezoning was pending . Although he have favorable reception for rezoning , Miller continues fight down with authorities .
In a legal maze neighbors have dubbed Cabbage Gate , Miller is being sued by Dekalb County for $ 5,000 . The county is enwrapped on prosecuting Miller for the former explosive charge because he was in violation of the ordinance before his lot was rezoned . Miller estimates he ’ll pass $ 27,000 fighting the charges .
Dirk Becker and Nicole Shaw: Lantzville, British Columbia
Dirk Becker and Nicole Shaw can sate their 2½-acre lot with squash , potato andgarlic — as long as the twain eat all of the veggies themselves . Selling their produce violates local laws .
The couple started Compassion Farm at their home in Lantzville , British Columbia , Canada , in 2006 . Every workweek , they sell truckloads of their homegrown green groceries at the Bowen Road Farmers ’ Market , a local market place that the couple started for the community .
A commitment to providing organic , local produce get Becker and Shaw in trouble with the authorities . In November 2010 , the couple was give a 180 - day warning to cease operations on their urban farm because it violated a local bylaw . According to local zoning laws , home plate - found businesses do not admit agriculture , and that means growing solid food for sale is against the law in Lantzville .
“ These bylaw are quite typical in biotic community all across the country , ” Becker told the Nanaimo Daily News . “It ’s sentence for governments to catch up to Canadians who want to grow more food themselves . ”
Becker , Shaw and other supporters of urban factory farm pressured the Lantzville City Council to amend the bylaw and had some success . In March 2011 , the council agreed to issue impermanent permits to residents who want to engage in activities , like urban land , that fall outside district regulations ; permits cost $ 1,150 CAD and are good for three years .
