Digger magazine

Written to make you a nursery industry expert.

  • FWS-2025-NEW-September_728x90.png
  • NurseryGuide2024-728x90-1.png
  • Digger-Employment_banner-2020-728x90px.jpg
  • FWS-2025-NEW-September_728x90.png
  • Media-Kit-DM-com-banner-2025-728x90-1.png
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Nursery News
    • Features
    • Plants
    • Growing Knowledge
    • Operations
    • Nursery Country
  • Issues
  • Events
  • Farwest
  • Columns
    • Director’s Desk
    • Mike Darcy
    • President’s Message
  • Employment Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Digger
You are here: Home / Vegetable garden declared a nuisance

Vegetable garden declared a nuisance

By Curt Kipp — Posted September 20, 2011

Some communities welcome vegetable gardens in the front yard. Others don’t. It appears that Memphis, Tenn. fits in the latter category.

As reported in the Memphis Flyer, an alternative newsweekly, homeowner Adam Guerrero has been cited into court and ordered to dismantle his home garden. Memphis city officials declared the garden to be a nuisance and an eyesore, based on a complaint they received from a neighbor.

One might wonder, what could be so offensive about a vegetable garden? Without taking sides, it may be the level of activity. In the front yard, Guerrero is growing a variety of vegetables, while in the back yard, he is keeping bees and making biodiesel, all as part of an educational project to teach kids useful gardening skills. He and the students also make soap and collect rainwter. You can see pictures here and judge for yourself.

Naturally, the garden has become a celebrated cause for some Memphis residents. There’s a blog here, plus an article and a petition on the Change.org website. There’s even a Facebook group for those who want to follow Guerrero’s garden saga and rally to his cause.

What’s your take — is Guerrero within his rights, or is he taking things too far in a residential neighborhood? Let us know in the comments.

Share this:

  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • More
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Consumer trends, Edibles, Home gardening, Retail Nurseries, Sustainability

About Curt Kipp

Curt Kipp is the director of publications and communications at the Oregon Association of Nurseries, and the editor of Digger magazine.

NURSERY NEWS

Terra Gardens owner’s gesture for his mother opens the door to other wheelchair-bound gardeners

OAN announces 2025 Friends of Nurseries award winners

OAN leads grower-driven Japanese beetle solution

AmericanHort president and CEO to step down

In memoriam: Bill Van Belle

Longtime employee buys Heritage Seedlings and Liners

In Memoriam: Melvin John Steffenson

New USDA Census of Hort arriving in mailboxes this month

More Nursery News

From the pages of Digger

March: The Perennials Issue

February: The Greenhouse Issue

January 2026: The Retail Issue

November 2025: The Transportation Issue

October 2025

More issues of Digger

Pests and Diseases

OAN leads grower-driven Japanese beetle solution

Prioritizing nursery pest challenges

New tools in the battle against thrips

Aiming for precision in pest control

Oregon’s nursery licensing program aims to keep the entire industry healthy

More articles

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

2026 Farwest Show issues calls for speakers

Excitement, optimism prevail at 2025 Farwest Show

Dazzling plants, products garner Retailer’s Choice Awards

Youngblood Nursery wins Best in Show booth honors at the 2025 Farwest Show

Glow Sticks Fescue wins top honors from judges at Farwest Show’s New Varieties Showcase 

More Updates from Farwest

The Value of Membership

AmericanHort president and CEO to step down

OAN honors industry leaders at 2025 Convention

Meet the Leader: Patrick Peterson

More member stories

​

Updates to exisiting subscriptions can be sent to [email protected]

News

  • Nursery News
  • Growing Knowledge
  • Nursery Operations

Features

  • Plant Features
  • OAN Members
  • Oregon Nursery Country

Columns

  • Director’s Desk
  • Mike Darcy
  • President’s Message
  • Digital Growth

Resources

  • OAN Home Page
  • Job Listings
  • Subscribe to Digger
  • Advertise in Digger
  • Online Plant Search

© 2026 Oregon Association of Nurseries