Gardening has been an intrinsic part of my Active Battle with Eating Disordered Behaviors. Connecting with the earth soothes me and contributes significantly to my self-worth. When I moved into my house, this is what the front yard looked like:
My House Before I Moved In
The front yard gets a great deal of sunlight, ideal for a growing my own food in a Front Yard Garden.
Back when I began this project, there was a small bit of bother.
I went home at lunch one day to let Rennie out and a Channel 9 News van was awaiting my arrival. A very nice reporter asked if he could interview me about the garden. Most of my neighbors have been very complimentary and supportive of my endeavors. However, small-minded people object to change, even if it is for the better. A singular resident complained to the city’s Code Enforcement department, resulting in the news coverage.
To those who have asked why I would turn my property into my own mini-homestead, my response is simply, Why Not?? I believe that ornamental lawns are a wasteful and narcissistic means for homeowners to “keep up with the Joneses”. Why not use your front-yard to grow food for your household? Why not have control over what does and does not go on the plants and produce itself? Why not be able to have a yard that is both pretty and life-sustaining?
The irony is that I live in a lower-socioeconomic neighborhood, rife with unkempt lawns, junk cars and assorted debris. My neighborhood does not have a Homeowner’s Association to control the appearance of the properties, so there are a few gems out there. At any rate, to view a short news clip of the coverage, please click on the link below.
http://wftv.com/videos/news/south-daytona-womans-front-yard-garden-causes/vCYXNQ/
What do you think of me stirring up controversy in my neighborhood? Would you have been the small-minded tattle-tale of the neighborhood? Would you have been the impetus for change? What are you doing to reduce the carbon footprint in your corner of the world?