Backyard gardens become source of income

upi ^ | May 21

[JoeProBono]

Los Angeles, which has a growing number of people selling home-grown fruit and vegetables, is halting enforcement of an ordinance against the practice.

The Los Angeles City Council said it is suspending enforcement of a 1946 ordinance and weighing a new measure, the Food and Flowers Freedom Act, which would allow for the growing of "berries, flowers, fruits, greens, herbs, ornamental plants, mushrooms, nuts, seedlings or vegetables for use on-site or sale or distribution off-site," the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

The measure comes as an increasing number of local residents and people across the United States are turning to their home gardens as a source of supplementary income.

Cam Slocum, 50, said he grows beefsteak tomatoes and salad green baby mache in his back yard and sells them to restaurants. He said he has 10 regular clients and he wants to add 20 more to keep his garden profitable.

Ken Takayama, chef de cuisine at French restaurant Melissein Santa Monica, said locals are increasingly coming into the establishment aiming to sell their vegetables. He said the number has been steadily increasing since the economy first started tanking three years ago.

"Every day, every week, it's something new," Takayama said. "You name it, they have it."

[MrB]

They have tactics that will preclude your “disallowance” of them on your property.

Arrest/detainment when you go to town, etc, for the time it takes them to confiscate all your stuff.

There was a wild boar “ranch” that they did something like this to. Probably just to show that they could.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Since a new Mantis costs about $400, you should just install the $25 carb repair kit and dollar cost average your machine. You got it at a very good price, so spend a few extra $$$ and you are still way ahead.

[MrB]

Here's a link to the story:

Feds destroy family's livelihood

[afraidfortherepublic]

When I was a kid (in the 1940s) you could always identify the homes of immigrants -- Italian, Greek, Mexican. They always used every bit of land around their homes to raise vegetables. Those of us whose families were from Northern Europe, or the British isles, kept the veggies in the back. But the Mediterranean fold, and those from south of the border, just let the plants spill all over.

THis picture from the Web has more lawn than I remember. Most of these folks did not countenance ANY lawn. Every square inch of land was used to grow something to eat, while the native born neighbors and those from other parts of Europe looked down their noses at the Mediterranean folk who "did not know any better" than to keep the veggies in teh back.

I remember Greek neighbors of my grandmother who had veggies everywhere. When you went around back to talk to the lady, her patio (pure white stucco walls) was draped with garlands of red peppers, drying in the sun.

[JoeProBono]

[Kakaze]

Thank you for the link I am very concerned over this.

I have a great relationship with the local authorities but you never know.

Running a business that allows you to be self sufficient seems to be against the law now, according to the feds........... honestly I work all day every day and they can come and take it.

Things like this keep me awake at night, in addition to all the other responsibilities this place involves.

The last 6 weeks I have been concerned they could legislate our livelihood out of existence.........my reaction will not be good.

[Political Junkie Too]

It's one thing to grow your own fruits and vegetables for your own consumption.

I wonder about the idea lifting the enforcement of laws of "selling" the produce to others, in Los Angeles, when the article focuses on only non-Hispanic named people.

Is this a practice that is popular across all ethnic lines, or is this a policy in Los Angeles to sanction an underground economy for illegal aliens from Mexico?

Is this selective non-enforcement of laws in response to the actions going on in Arizona?

-PJ

[TNdandelion]

I love looking at well kept veggie gardens just as much as I love looking at well kept flower gardens! Veggies and herbs are so pretty.

With that said, my garden looks like crapola. I've got weeds sprouting, tomatoes needing fertilizing and strawberry plants needing to be thinned out.

I've passed two kidney stones in the last month and have been a little "stoned" in more ways than one to be much of a gardener! lol

[afraidfortherepublic]

First Harvest this afternoon. A little provolone, olives and herbs would go good with this platter. Yours looks delish!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Oooohhh. I hope you are feeling better soon.

[TNdandelion]

lol I had a neighbor the point blank asked me if I was growing pot in the front flower bed. Cleome aka “Spider plant” doesn’t really look like it but the leaves looked like really fat MJ leaves to her. hee hee

[maine-iac7]

Swiss Chard. Not the tastiest green, but super nutritious and easy to grow

Not tasty?

Au contraire mon ami

It DELICIOUS - very like beet greens. Serve with a goodly dollop of butter - REAL butter please! - some cider vinegar, s n p - and I make a whole meal of it!

[maine-iac7]

nummmm
Rainbow chard...

[lady lawyer]

That is a good idea. Let us know how it works out.

Mobility problems are the reason I had my husband build elevated boxes. Once you get that done, then fill them with the “mix” — one third compost, one third peat moss, one third vermiculite — you never have to use a tiller, and what few weeds sprout come right out.

[TNdandelion]

Personally, I would only use that kind of fertilizer for ornamentals. I’ve heard of people using milorganite type fertilizers, though. When it comes to using “manures”, I only use plant eaters and fish by products types on my edibles.

[maine-iac7]

Yep - a lotta folk in the city can grow ‘bucket gardens’ - on the stoops, balconies, rooftops, vacant lots - There's a gal in NYC that takes a taxi to the riding stable in Central Park for manure -

I know of some real shenanigans that the gov't is pulling on the trucking industry - look for that to be the next industry the go'vt takes over.

Tyrants through the ages know that "Who controls the food, controls the people"

Our supermarkets have ONE days food supply for the community. That food is brought by truck.

GET YOUR GARDENS IN NOW and if you don't know how, learn how to store foods - how to can, dry, etc.

And start doubling up on some of your grocery store foods: canned corn on sale? Buy a half case. Out of sugar? buy two bags and then always restock t maintain at least one extra on hand. Keep building your stocks.

You should have a minimum of 3 months food supply at all times. More would be better.

This is wise for many contingencies: natural disaster, illness, loss of job, gov't shenanigans.

Make independence a priority - with food independence the first order of things.

Urge your family groups and closet friends to do the same - and DO NOT ADVERTISE it. If the stuff hits the fan, and people know where food is - they WILL come after it.

Time to practice being good Boy Scouts: Be Prepared.

[JoeProBono]

[FreedomPoster]

I was thinking the same thing.

I've got a mini-tiller for my Stihl Kombimotor. It's great for flower and veggie beds. It would seem to be a good answer for a yard that size.

Also really good for mixing soil amendment with the local red clay when prepping a hole for shrubs and such.

[FreedomPoster]

There is such a think? Cool, add me, please.

[FreedomPoster]

think s/b thing