Thursday, September 16, 2010

Fined For Growing Too Much Food...?


We all figured this day was coming!

We've talked about it, warned about it, even expected it for a long time! Finally it's happened. A man is actually fined for growing food on his own land! Too much food!

How the hell can a person possibly grow too much food on his own property? Easy! If the government doesn't get it's cut in the form of taxes and permits! They then try to make up for the shortages by fining the grower!

Check out this story from Georgia!

County Sues Farmer, Cites Too Many Crops

Posted: 5:20 pm EDT September 12, 2010
Updated: 10:00 am EDT September 13, 2010

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- DeKalb County is suing a local farmer for growing too many vegetables, but he said he will fight the charges in the ongoing battle neighbors call “Cabbagegate.”

Fig trees, broccoli and cabbages are among the many greens that line the soil on Steve Miller’s more than two acres in Clarkston, who said he has spent fifteen years growing crops to give away and sell at local farmers markets.

“It's a way of life, like it's something in my blood,” said Miller.

In January, Dekalb County code enforcement officers began ticketing him for growing too many crops for the zoning and having unpermitted employees on site.

Miller stopped growing vegetables this summer and the charges were put on hold as he got the property rezoned.

Two weeks after approval, however, his attorney said the county began prosecuting the old charges, saying he was technically in violation before the rezoning.

“It should go away. I think it borders on harassment,” said Miller’s attorney Doug Dillard.

Miller faces nearly $5,000 in fines, but he said he plans to fight those citations in recorders court later this month.

A county spokesperson said officials can’t discuss the matter while it is in court, but neighbors were quick to come to his defense.

“When he moved here and I found out what he was doing I said, ‘Steve, you’re the best thing that ever happened to Cimarron Drive. And I still say that,” said neighbor Britt Fayssoux.

This is just one more sign that government, local and federal, is starting to get totally out of control! No wonder that folks are getting really, really pissed!

It's one thing to try and force permits and controls on small homesteads, and arrest and jail even the Amish for NOT wanting to have chips implanted in their cattle, and charging for permits to grow your own vegetables in the city...but this story is a solid bit of proof that the PTB are trying to get what we all knew all along what they wanted...control over the food supply!

Control the food, control the people!
This has been the way of thinking for Big Brother for a long time, but now people are catching on more and more!

Buckle up, my friends! There's a rough road ahead! Luckily, some of us are ready to play just as dirty as the law allows...or as is called for! Right? Right!

Now, let's get some fresh coffee before they try and make us get a "coffee house permit" for the patio!

25 comments:

DianeLynn said...

WOW what a thing eh? I hope this farmer nails the city to the wall...or at least throw rotten tomatoes at 'em! :-)
In reality though this is sooo SAD!

HermitJim said...

Hey Diane-Sage...
Sad indeed when the average man can't grow his own food on his own land! Really sad...!

Bad moon rising, I'm afraid!

Thanks, my friend, for coming by today!

Ben in Texas said...

Dang, This reeks of the heavy hand of Socialism to me. The big Government telling the people what they can and can not grow to feed themselves.

Bob from Athens said...

Well, it appears here in this case both sides could stand a little improvement in their attitudes. Apparently Mr. Miller was violating the zoning laws of his community and the ptb just wanted him to apply for rezoning. I kinda agree with them on that, I sure as heck don't want some one to build a pig slaughter house on the vacant land next to my house. That could happen with no zoning laws. Now that he has rezoned, I would say problem solved, forget about it and move on, but some bureaucrat with nothing better to do obviously does not agree with doing that. Both sides need to step back and think about what they should have learned from this mess.

Momlady said...

I pretty much agree with Bob. There's a reason for zoning. Nothing like seeing a chicken farm next to a McMansion. But then, that's what freedom is about, isn't it?

Anonymous said...

* MOLON LABE *

Chucky

Anonymous said...

Bob's got it pretty right. But that's what I like about Brazil, neighbours usually get on well over these things. I live on a concrete pad, so does my neighbour. I like growing things, in this case passion fruit and with a bit of homemade compost I have vines growing all over the place, including my neighbour's fence. I apologised and offered to cut them down. Oh no, he wouldn't hear of it, they look nice and he will have passion fruit too. Problem solved. Now had I lived in Georgia, maybe I would be being prosecuted too... Brazil has its faults, but the people here think with their hearts not their heads.

AV

chickengirl said...

Must respond to those who are in favor of the zoning laws - there has to be common sense used in enforcing zoning laws. Yes pig and chicken farms should not be built next to residential areas because of - well we all know the reasons why. But, just how many crops can you squeeze onto just 2 acres of land? And also, crops / gardens / flowers / landscaping, whatever - plants themselves do not have the odor or noise of a chicken or pig farm. This has been going on for years in our larger cities, house associations etc. - you know, no tomatoe plants in the front yard, it is too unsightly, my gawd, those poor hillbillies with the vegetables in the front yard are making us all look bad here in our plastic, particle board, $300,000 mansions!!!

But anyway, the writing is on the wall here, this man was doing this for the last 15 years and was not harrassed. If you google demographics for Dekalb, Ga. you will see who is in control there, not that this should even be a political issue!! It should not!!

This is the perfect example of what has happend to America. Loss of freedoms and most of all common sense and the money making fines to back up the corruption.

50 - 60 years ago when people knew how to take care of themselves, almost everyone had gardens, and they shared with the community, AND my lord, they even had a few chickens in the yard (not a Chicken farm, just a few, come on people) This zoning thing us being used for evil, plain and simple. no one in their right mind would put a pig farm, chicken farm etc. on 2 acres where THEIR house is. Please dont give zoning laws any credit, it is not deserved.

chickengirl said...

Oh yes, must also add, then should this man convert his 2 acres back to a "lawn" where he can mow and use precious fuel constantly, chemical fertilizers, etc. to keep within the zoning laws??

How GREEN is that? How does that affect the global warming scam???

Its all a scam folks, all a scam. Smoke and mirrors to keep you occupied and fearful. So many contradictions to keep track of!!

JoJo said...

Good Morning My special One
WOW what I wonder also is how much do the local stores have to do with this. He is giving food away and that hurts them. Of course how much could he be giving away. Maybe the city would like it better if he planted junk cars, trucks. old washers and fridges around. Yes I see dirty politics here with deep pockets.

Kelle at The Never Done Farm said...

Yep, read this a few days back on TOL's forum.

It's a pure power play on someones behalf( a county official) and I pray it seriously comes back to bite them!

Their chains will NOT bind me! It's ridiculous that TPTB think they can control whether people grow their own food, they truly are deluded!

Okay, lets say.... they make things miserable for those that grow/ raise their own food and they slap the fines and maybe the cuffs on you. How about all the foods that can be found in nature, how are they going to control those? Like I said they are so deluded/ drunkened with power they can't see that it's impossible. Let alone that people will NOT( or I pray) stand for this sort of total control*sigh*

It needs to be nipped in the backside ASAP! People need to start standing up against this sort of control and they also NEED to change their way of thinking and get away from their indoctrinated way of thinking. A good starting place is to start supporting local FIRST and foremost. It has to begin somewhere so, our( personal) move has been to start with supporting locally owned businesses and thus cutting the juglers of the big box/ chain stores. It won't be easy and it isn't going to save you any money but in the long run it will. We've seen it first hand over and over again, the big box/ chain stores move to the city,grabbing the attensions of the consumer with their " everyday low prices" and high volume selections. When their mission is complete the local/ small business are out of business and the consumers are now subject to the loss of those" everyday low prices" and high volume selections. So what price are you willing to pay, a bit more now or the ultimate price, when it's to late!

Sorry for the rant Hermit but it is important to SEE their agenda and break free of it.
Blessings,
Kelle

Anonymous said...

This is shocking. And pretty telltale in these tough economic times. Governments that have to cut back on services once funded by taxpayers are stretching the funds to cover the important things. Like keeping those taxpayers under control.

HermitJim said...

Hey Ben...
What ever it is...really smells bad for the average man, doesn't it?

Not looking too good!

Thanks, buddy, for coming by today!


Hey Bob...
The part I have a problem with is the fat that even though he has rezoned in order to follow the rules...he is still being fined for what happened before!

Looks like a no win to me!

Ain't easy to fight city hall!

Thanks for coming by today!


Hey Momlady...
I can understand the county upholding the zoning rules...but now that he is complying, what's the problem? Looks like the county just wants to be in control!

Whole thing has gotten out of hand, it appears!

Thanks, Granny, for coming by today!


Hey Chucky...
Many of these just might lead to that solution! Unfortunate, isn't it?

Thanks for the visit today!


Hey AV...
From what I can tell, the neighbors don't seem to mind the garden! Only folks that have a problem are the PTB...

Maybe the whole story isn't being told, but it sounds just a little one sided to me!

maybe I could contact the guy and ask what the heck is going on!

Thanks for coming by today, my friend!


Hey Chicken Girl...
I think you said the magic word when you said "common sense"! Not enough of that around now days!

I would rather have a neighbor with a garden, than a parking lot next to me anytime!

I don't know the solution, but things like this can spark a truckload of bad feelings, for sure!

I appreciate you coming by today and I thank you for your comments!


Hey JoJo...
I don't think it is anything other than a power play by the folks at the county!

These are the same people that the teacher used to leave in control when she left the room...having them take names of those that talked!

Little people with big visions! Power junkies, all!

Thanks, sweetie, for coming by today!


Hey Kelle...
Rants about the abuse of power are always welcomed, my friend!

We need to start paying attention to anything like this more!

What starts off as a local problem could spread very easily if it is allowed to!

I do appreciate you coming by today!


Hey Chell...
So many schemes about now days to garnish revenue for the government (local and federal) that we really have to watch it!

Very important to know what's going on in our own back yard!

Hey, I do appreciate you coming by today!

Anonymous said...

What you have written about will be more common.
Here is a link to some thing that is scary.
http://www.personalliberty.com/conservative-politics/liberty/social-engineering-bill-in-senate-will-force-you-into-city/?eiid&rmid=2010_09_10_PLA&rrid=238504900
Sorry! You will have to copy and paste.
Some how we need to fight this.
Another great writing on your blog.
Thanks,
andy

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

This is strange! Really, really strange!! I can´t say I know american laws but how on erath can growing lots of vegetables be against the law???

Have a great day now!
Christer.

chickengirl said...

Sorry, but this put me on a rant today.

Jojo, you got it right when you questioned how much do the stores have to do with this?

well how about this? This makes the food stamp program look bad - the fact that people just might be able to grown their own food, or even their neighbors helping them and donating from a huge garden. Food stamps support the stores, who have been overcharging for years!!!

also why should anyone get off their fat cheeto eating arses to grown a garden when the govt has so much to give? Gotta nip that in the bud right now. What a sick situation America is in at the moment, but it has taken years to design.

Ok, i am done for the day.

Anonymous said...

Check out Senate bill 510.
If this passes it would be illegal to have a garden.
andy

HermitJim said...

Hey Andy...
We definitely need to be ever watchful for anything like this ...more now than ever before!

I just wonder how long before they start pushing for strict laws about hoarding food in the pantry?

Thanks for the link, and thanks for coming by today!


Hey Christer...
Very good question, my friend! This is what many of us are asking ourselves more and more!

I guess that we need to be protected from trying to feed ourselves without the governments help, as they don't seem to think we are capable of doing so safely!

Thanks, buddy, for dropping by today!


Hey Chicken Girl...
Hard not to get a little worked up over things like this!

When will they get the message that all we want is to be left alone?

Rant all you want to...that's what this place is for! Free and open discussion of all things important to us on all levels! Your input is valuable, and I appreciate it!

Dizzy-Dick said...

Andy had it write. Also, S.3767, New Companion Bill to S. 510 Introduces Severe Criminal Penalties
For "Adulterating" Food, Which To FDA Means... Selling Supplements! Kiss our freedom goodbye to taking vitamins. We will just have to sit back and eat the genetically alterated food.

I waited until now to comment. Had to cool down some. Didn't want to write 25 pages.

HermitJim said...

Hey Dizzy...
Seems like more and more the PTB are searching for ways to control and "protect" us!

Makes ya feel all warm and fuzzy, doesn't it?

Thanks, my friend, for coming by today!

Kelle at The Never Done Farm said...

Hermit,
It makes me feel warm/ hot but not fuzzy*wink* more like prickly, LOL!
"Protect us" from foods the way the good Lord intended them,how insane is that? Why you might ask because it's all about pure and simple; wealth and population control!< Grrrrr>
I must say today has been a VERY productive day, working off a whole LOT of frustration, Thanks for the motivation Hermit*wink*

HermitJim said...

Hey Kelle...
Why do you suppose these jokers are always trying to pushing our buttons? Do they think we cannot see what's going on?

My suggestion to these guys is tostay the heck away from all of us, and tend to their paperwork! That seems to be what they are suited for...

Thanks for coming by today!

Mayberry said...

Nothing to see here, move along... Glad I've got a LOT of heirloom seed stored up, and a few "bangsticks" and ammo to defend my crops...

Noki said...

I wonder if I can use this as an excuse to avoid too much work at the office. "You wouldn't want me to be fined by the government, would you?"

hehe

Hugs,
Ashley

HermitJim said...

Hey Mayberry...
It may just get to the point that we have to start protecting ALL our assets, including seeds and stored food!

It's getting more and more crazy out there, my friend!

Thanks for coming by today, buddy!


Hey Ashley...
Working in a office and growing food in the backyard aren't quite the same thing, ya know?

Don't think the government is going to worry about office workers, as they can track you at work in many, many ways...and being there poses no threat to them in the least!

Now if you go home and start digging a garden, selling the produce, and maybe using the computer at work to set up an on-line market to sell them...that may be seen as some sort of threat to the "proper" ways of doing things!

Thanks for coming by today!