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.
