Oak Park Hates Veggies

If you aren't aware of the drama boiling in Oak Park, MI involving resident Julie Bass, let me explain. A mother of 6, Julie Bass decided to replace her torn-up lawn with a vegetable garden rather than grass. With this garden, should could assure that her children ate healthy, organic food. But the city of Oak Park would not have any of it, and now she faces 93 days in jail for refusing to remove the garden after her citation.

How unbelievable!? Only in America! Well, I was rather upset when I heard that the city planner even explained, in defense, the ordinance that requires owners lawns to be comprised of only "suitable" material. His definition of suitable: common. "Suitable, live, plant material." He is also obviously unaware of the concept of edible estates!

Entering the city planning profession, myself, I would not stand for this. Appropriate or not, I wrote in to the city planner of Oak Park, MI and gave him my two cents.

Hello, Kevin, I hope this message finds you well. My name is Megan Schwartz and I am writing from Maryland. I recently read about the issues Oak Park has been having with resident, Julie Bass. To be honest, I am appalled and embarrassed. How confused has American society become that something as essential as growing ones' own food has become illegal!? As an outsider, I understand my opinion lacks weight. As a graduate student pursuing my Master's degree in Urban Planning, however, I refuse to let my strong opinion on such a matter go unheard. In the report I read, your name was cited when the term "suitable" was defined as "common". It saddens me to say I was devastated to hear even the city planner, the city official I always value most, was speaking out in defense of the clearly outdated city ordinances. Should this woman have felt her lawn were a suitable place for, say, an over-sized sculpture that were pornographic in nature, I would completely agree with you. But she didn't. Rather, she turned her lawn into a sustainable, healthy living organism that provided food for her family. How ancient, how integral to our human existence is a vegetable garden!?

Most devastating to me, however, is the fact that Julie Bass' vegetable garden lawn is much more beneficial to the planet than her neighbors' counterpart*- incredibly so- but Oak Park is still against it. Oak Park, instead, encourages (or shall I say "forces") city residents to tend to the antiquated idea of the American lawn. This action furthers the decline of our planet's health and, thus, affects even my well being- all the way over here in Maryland! Considering this, then, I feel my voice in the matter is just as significant as that of an Oak Park town resident. When citing the ordinance, did the city ever stop to consider that Mrs. Bass' garden IS in fact the "suitable, live, plant material" the city demands? Are vegetables no longer considered plants? Have we forgotten that our food comes from the Earth, not the supermarket? Instead of punishing Julie Bass, Oak Park should praise her for showing her community what potential there is in a lawn! She should be a spokeswoman for edible lawns! Look at Michelle Obama, look at the urban farms of our country's great metropolitan hubs. If the respectable TIME Magazine finds it a suitable use for a front lawn*, why doesn't Oak Park?

Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to visit Oak Park, Michigan. So to get a better feel for the community, I have taken advantage of the streetview feature on Google Maps. I have found nothing but short grass. It's a pity: think of all the water wasted on watering that grass, the pesticides released into your community- into the Detroit Watershed- (and into our nation's waterways) to keep that grass weed-free, the gas and electricity used to mow those lawns.... well I, for one, find the Bass family lawn to be the most attractive of all those in Oak Park, MI.

Mr. Rulkowski, please consider my words when I say that no human should be stripped of their natural right to grow food on their property. I understand that Mrs. Bass' lawn was not a typical, expression. It obviously wasn't the norm in the area- not until recently, at least. But think of your grandparents- imagine your ancestors- they didn't look for the most concealed location to plant their food, they planted it where they needed to. They shared a connection with their food- one that Americans no longer share today. And please consider the future of food. Food production needs to be brought back into the community, and not sourced from farms many hundreds of miles away. Julie Bass has the right idea, she's ahead of the curve. Please don't take long to get on board and plant your own garden right on Oak Park's front lawn, out on Oak Park Boulevard. Before you lies an incredible opportunity for our planet. It would be a shame to let it pass by.

From an aspiring planning professional to an established planning professional, I can not emphasize enough how important your next actions will be; much more important than you might currently think. Oak Park's decision on July 26th will affect thousands more than just those who make up the population of Oak Park. This is your city's chance to stand out in this nation as a forward-thinking, sustainable community.

Thank you for your time,
Megan

*References:
TIME article: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1816764,00.html
To see the harm in grass lawns, please refer to this link: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-death-of-the-american-lawn.html

I was a little flustered, and tried to write in an encouraging tone, but it's difficult to hold back the anger. Of course, over email, (if he even reads this message) things can be misread.

Again, if you have not been following this story, check out the article here.