permaculture

["Amy Little" <amylittle@hvc.rr.com>]

It's so fox news to not know what the problem is with toilet paper. 

-----Original Message-----
From: permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org 
[mailto:permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Lawrence London
Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2014 1:13 PM
To: permaculture
Subject: [permaculture] Man fights fines of $130, 000 for garden that others 
feel is an eye sore | Odd News - Yahoo News

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/man-fights-fines-of--130-000-for-garden-that-others-feel-is-an-eye-sore-204718723.html
Man fights fines of $130,000 for garden that others feel is an eye sore

Sean Law is proud of the natural garden that he has grown over the past few 
years, but his neighbors are less than thrilled with the looks and effects of 
what they see as a messy yard. According to the Orlando 
Sentinel<http://touch.orlandosentinel.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-78768449/>,
in the past year Sean has amassed nearly $130,000 in Longwood, Florida 
code-enforcement fines for his yard garden because of trash, debris, weeds 
and overgrown grass. Sean told the station, “The city of Longwood’s been 
fining me for a while. The basis in city ordinance for that is what’s called 
the high grass and weeds ordinance and the debris, trash and debris 
ordinance.”

Sean explained, “This is an adaptation of natural farming, *shizen noho*.
We adapt it to a garden environment so it’s natural gardening.” The natural 
farming method developed by Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese farmer and 
philosopher, is also known as “Do-Nothing Farming.” Mr. Law says that in the 
method, grass is grown then allowed to die. Later diverse clay seed balls are 
spread and the farmer sees what grows to identify what works well in the 
environment.

Sean Law's front yard natural garden. (Orlando Sentinel)

The natural gardener has quite a diverse offering from his yard and has grown 
arugula, pineapples, sugar cane, avocados, broccoli, watermelon, and bananas. 
He even produces household items like luffa used as a scrub for the body and 
dishes, soap nuts and soap berries he uses to clean his clothes, and he uses 
beautyberry plants as an alternative to toilet paper.

Sean Law holds a luffa from his garden. (Orlando Sentinel)

Sean Law’s natural efforts to live off the land may be eco-friendly, but 
fellow residents say that his methods cause foul odors and have led to a pest 
problem, attracting snakes, rats, moles, fire ants and mosquitos to the area. 
His next-door neighbor Bobbie Corbitt told WOFL Fox 
35<http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/24351626/longwood-lawn-battle-brewing>,
"We have all kind of weird animals, rodents and stuff, and bugs. I have bugs 
that I've never seen before come in my house." To which Mr. Law responded, 
"There are ants in the world. I'm not God I didn't put ants in the world." 
Another neighbor Kathy Ettman said, "If he wishes to live that way, which is 
his choice, go to an area that accepts that. That means you go out to ranch 
land."

Due to the violations Sean was slapped with a fine of $300 per day and a lien 
was placed against his home. Sean fought the case in district court but lost. 
His appeal was also unsuccessful. The gardener is pushing on and said, “Right 
now a notice of appeal has just been filed through the Florida Supreme 
Court.” He is waiting to see if his case is accepted and hopes for a fair 
judgment, “…especially with regards to Florida-friendly landscaping wherein 
it is written, local ordinances may not be written or so enforced so as to 
prohibit a property owner from implementing Florida friendly landscaping on 
his or her land.” He feels that the condition of his yard is protected under 
the standards of the Florida-friendly landscaping law from 2009, which 
encourages homeowners to have yards which are chemical-free and conserve 
water.

(WOFL)

Still, Sean does not hold malice toward his neighbors, telling WOFL, "I don't 
blame the people because people are tricked by the TV no offense to you 
guys.” Commissioners in Longwood plan on discussing the case this week and 
will potentially take further action.

Videos and more info: Orlando
Sentinel<http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/24351626/longwood-lawn-battle-brewing>,
WOFL<http://www.myfoxorlando.com/story/24351626/longwood-lawn-battle-brewing>
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