I was raised on a farm and have never missed an opportunity to have a garden, if possible, in the various places I have lived. Many times it wasn't possible and sometimes it was a lost cause.
Seattle, for example, is great for zucchini but is known for its "green tomato summers." That is a summer that is so cool and so short that tomatoes can't ripen. We had jars of tomato pickle relish for years after we left the Emerald City.
Gardens are good exercise for everyone, great teaching tools for children and can reduce the grocery bill. All of this while providing healthy food.
Truly gardens are win-win. Even in cities some neighborhoods have established common gardens on vacant lots and who can forget the "Victory Gardens" of WWII?
Evidently the city fathers of Oak Park, MI.
City code says that all unpaved portions of the site shall be planted with grass or ground cover or shrubbery or other suitable live plant material. Tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are what Basses see as suitable.
However, Oak Park’s Planning and Technology Director Kevin Rulkowski says the city disagrees. He says, “If you look at the dictionary, suitable means common. You can look all throughout the city and you’ll never find another vegetable garden that consumes the entire front yard.”
Link
Leaving aside the beauty of a well maintained garden and all the good things mentioned, we discover that City Father Rulkowski's grasp of English is limited. Suitable does not mean common.
such as to suit; appropriate; fitting; becoming
It use to be said, when discussing our great leaders and heroes, "Where do we get such men?"
In this case we can change great and heroes to a sigh of disgust and say... "If you find out where they come from, let us know so we can shut the door!"
Julie Bass, who faces 93 days in jail for her dare to disobey the tyrants of her world, would probably agree.
OnTwitter I am Lesabre1 "Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper
“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt
"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson
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