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  • From: "Amy Little" <amylittle@hvc.rr.com>
  • To: "'permaculture'" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] Man fights fines of $130, 000 for garden that others feel is an eye sore | Odd News - Yahoo News
  • Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2014 13:52:25 -0500

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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