Woman Faces Jail for Planting Garden.

A Michigan woman faces up to 93-days in jail for planting an organic garden in her front yard where the city believes grass should grow instead.

After the city of Oak Park, Michigan tore up Julie Bass’ lawn to repair a sewage line, she thought she would be adventurous and use the space to grow an organic vegetable garden. She saw the project as a win-win. The garden would help combat increasing food costs for her family and teach kids in her suburban neighborhood the value of working hard to grow their food. However, city planners didn’t see it that way.

Oak Park has a local ordinance that states that residents are required to maintain “suitable” vegetation in their front yards and they say that Julie’s vegetable garden does not meet this requirement. The city of Oak Park does not believe that vegetables are “suitable” vegetation and want Bass to plant grass.  They ordered that the garden be removed immediately. Bass decided to stand her ground and for that she received a warning, then a misdemeanor, and now faces up to 93-days in jail.

It’s unfortunate that the city is wasting so much time and money prosecuting a woman who just wants to grow a damn garden in her front yard. Hopefully all the negative attention that the city is receiving will convince them to drop the case. Julie Bass is my new hero. Grow on!