The Daily Bubbles

Good Morning!

It's Friday, so I thought I'd take a break from the endless circular political posturing and read about something personal and positive. Anyone familiar with Julie Bass from Oak Park?

This time last year you probably hadn't, unless she is a personal friend or relative. Currently she is rocking her community and catching world-wide attention via her blog and FaceBook. So, what's the big deal?

This summer Mrs. Bass put in raised garden boxes and filled them with vegetable plants.

Again, what's the big deal?

Mrs. Bass placed these boxes in her gasp front yard!

Horrors! The Wrath of the Heavens shall pour down!

She turned her front yard into a container garden, and the City of Oak Park is threatening to send her to jail for 93 days.

I wish I was kidding. Jail time for a vegetable garden.

When I first heard about this, I was amused. I still am, and horrified at the same time. Planting tomatoes and green peppers within the city limits, in the front yard, means you can go to jail.

Oak Park is one of our cities which has cut back due to the economy and its own budget problems. And they are prosecuting a woman for growing vegetables in her front yard. Vegetables.

What has this world come to?

I am a writer, a student, a teacher, a philosopher, a parent, a child. All of these components have been essential in creating the woman writing to you today. Everyone has a purpose in life, be it huge or minor. We all have a role to play. Mine is to help others along the way, regardless of the Path they are called to follow. My students come to me of their own will, adapt my teachings to their own experiences and move on when they are ready. To my thoughts, this is exactly as it should be.

Soapie

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Snarky Anderson

James Kunstler, doomsday prophet and notorious critic of suburban culture, believes that in a post-Peak Oil future, people will be starving while local officials debate whether to allow people to keep chickens in their backyard. He might be right.

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http://www.bloggingformichigan.com Soapie

Doesn't matter how hungry they are as long as it 'looks right' and doesn't interfere with what one person (or even a group) consider the social norm.

Our society is very queer.

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daniela

Did you check the facts or are you just reposting the story? That does not sound very believable to me. How many Jews do you know that, after receving a warning and perhaps a fine, would not go to city hall and seek an agreement of some sort, and make sure they are in compliance? She is according to some sources a mother of six, still with young children: how many jewish mamas do you know that would be ready to go to jail – and for three months, can you imagine? – for such a stupid reason? And observant jews would not go to court on Jul 26. In addition, think about it. If she is so particular about eating only organic food, it's not like it'll be provided t0 her in jail. If she is tight on money and can not spend on organic vegetables, how comes she is prepared to throw cash, and lots of it, at a lawyer – and for a lost case, because this is the regulation and people have obviously to comply. Things do not really add up in this story.

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http://www.bloggingformichigan.com Soapie

Daniela, I must confess you have me at somewhat of a loss. I don't recall anywhere in anything I have read on this matter where Mrs. Bass claims to be Jewish. And, quite honestly, I fail to see the relevance if such happens to be the case.

According to everything I have read, Mrs. Bass did her research both before and after the planters were constructed. She is also continuing to do her research as this has become such a serious ordeal in her reality.

Her stance is not so much about providing her family with organic vegetables. She is fighting back rather because the city officials are citing she is not in compliance with a code which at this time does not exist.

Sometimes we have to stand up for what we believe in, and do what we believe to be right and correct.

However, if you've read her blog and any of the articles which have arised from this matter, you will see she also feels this is a foolish reason to be sentenced to 93 days in jail. It is utterly ridiculous to be sent to jail over a vegetable garden. It is ludicrous for the City of Oak Park to be wasting precious tax dollars on a garden which is harming no one.

I support her fight and cause. What she is doing is NOT against the law.

However, it does make me wonder….. Daniela, do you cut your hair? If you do, you are going against the law. It's on the books that if a woman cuts her hair without male permission, she can go to jail. http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-states/michigan

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http://www.bloggingformichigan.com Soapie

http://networkedblogs.com/kTnua

and so it ends…. it's over… and no one went to jail

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