It's just a guy who decided (whether innocently or not) to use his land for a commercial endeavor without doing it the way the rest of us have to. The guy wasn't harvesting veggies to give away to his church. Heck, he had to actually bring in others to work his "garden" in order to get the stuff to market. Given the publicity he'll probably not have to pay or pay a reduced amount. He would not have this issue if he didn't have a commercial operation going on. It seems he's a good guy, but he was running a business. "Research into DeKalb County codes, as well as calls to district Commissioner Burrell Ellis' office, reveal that the closest Miller comes to a code violation is in the use of land for commercial gain. The problem isn't the growing, it's that he sells his vegetables at an offsite farmer's market." He can do what he wants with his land, but if he wants to sell the produce...especially at the *3* farmer's market he sells at...he has to play by the rules. I don't support the fine, myself, and hope it's tossed, but he's no innocent babe in the woods.

Well, hello, everyone! What a nice surprise to see emails from cottage gardeners in my inbox. I hope you're all doing well, and I know you Northerners must be on pins and needles awaiting Spring. I hope it's sprung for you guys. We're in the throws of Spring down here in Florida. The weather has been gorgeous. Yeah, I've been pretty dull for a while. I'm still gardening, but I haven't been on the forums in ages. I miss you guys! The City Code Enforcement seems to have seen the light regarding my modest garden. It was nonsense, and the City Manager seemed to agree. So I shouldn't have any more problems. Crossing fingers... Gene and I went to Ireland in Sept. 06, and I was so inspired by the small front yard gardens and all the lush hanging baskets. Most of the yards had a rock wall, or a tidy hedge in front, then wild abandon behind it. So I decided to redo the front of my garden to have a more "orderly" appearance like the ones I saw in Ireland. I made a short picket fence/edging and put tall red pentas behind it. I keep the pentas trimmed as a hedge. Anyway, I think this makes my garden look more like a garden, and not just random "horiticultural overgrowth". Here's a few pics, and I included a link, too. Hugs! Happy Spring! Happy Easter! Ooooh. Easter candy... Cadberry Eggs... Excuse me while I run out for chocolate... Nicki Here is a link that might be useful: More photos

Wow, Thanks everyone. Okay, debbiedo my daylillies are a bright orange like pumpkins and i believe they hae a smattering of "freckles" on the inside. They were here when we bout the house. They are in shade and put out quite a few. I can dig some up for you. carrie a flame acanthus would be really nice. Rebea, I am wanting anything that will draw butterflies and hummingbirds to my yard. Husband wants a kind of lush tropical feel in the back yard so I am trying to accomodate. Not good with names of plants yet, but love all kinds of plants. the more unusual the better so anything you want to share I will take good care of it. I can't wait to meet all of you lovely ladies. Oh and rebecca. i hae a texas sage (small rooted from last summer),only about 4 inches tall or so, I'll bring you. You can keep the cute kid, i already hae 4 cuties myself!!!

bud, in my area farmland was never well regulated. as a matter of a fact just now in the last month was zoning ordinaces put into effect outside incorporated areas of the county. years ago farmers had tanks in the ground for most everything. many of these were forgotten over the years and later on someone bought the land and discovered them. hard for people to do something about a tank that had been there 75+years, and the land had changed hands numerous times, with the original owners dead and gone. the city has had several annexations in the last couple decades, and everytime they have people bought old farm land and started putting up houses. then they find the stuff tha thas been in the ground for decades and want to go after the previous owner. but so far there has not been a single successful lawsuit, but ONLY because it could be proven the stuff was there long before they ever bought the land. for the last decade or longer, the EPA has required that the farmers fuel tanks be above ground, with a system around the tank to catch any spilled fuel. as far as i know, the farm chemicals are still NOT regulated in this manner. i hate to say it, but the lack of information available to you from teh city is probably not that they are holding back, they just do not know and hav eno way of knowing.