Garden set up and ready

Greetings everyone! (I really enjoy this forum)

I have my first garden set up and even changed my tactics to include vermiculite since I did find it locally although it was fairly expensive ($30 4cuft.). I will post pictures soon. I have my compost bin (3x3) and trash can built and am composting away.

It's all nice and neat, bordered by 4x4's and mulch. Now I wait to see if I get a letter from the Homeowner's Association telling me to pull it out. Oh yeah...it could be a reality.

Blessings,

Gary

If they tell you to pull it all out, tell them it is already built and should be "grandfathered." I'm sure they won't agree, but it seems everything in the world today is grandfathered in.

Can't wait to see pics.

I hope your HOA allows your garden efforts.
A nice green area sounds nicer to me than lawn.
Good Luck.

Thanks BackyardBirdGardner and quiltbea.

The original bylaws state no "gardens" and I agree, a garden will be much nicer than brown bahia grass.

Maybe this would be a good thread, to see if anyone else has had difficulties with homeowner's associations? what actions/arguments were presented and what seemd to work best?

I may get away with this for a little while, but I certainly see a letter in the future. Hopefully my keeping the area neat and presentable will help.

My main goal is to suppliment my families dinner table. With things as the are and the potential to loose an inclome, this venture is more of doing the right thing than anything else. I guess that is in agreement with Mel's recent statement about feeding people. I do enjoy it though. In addition, I know our county would like everyone to have a compost pile. I believe that pretty much goes for most of the country.

Blessings,

Gary

Hartge,

Will your SFG be in the front yard? Sometimes the HOA maintains the front yard and they don't want anything that gets in the way of the big mowers, weed whackers and such. Sometimes they just want conformity. Most often, their major concern is appearances.

Are you able to build in your backyard? At least there it is not so "in your face".

Hope you find that your SFG is a success and also that you find a way that satisfies your needs and still does not offend the HOA.

I would make sure to be generous with extras from your harvest, and if/when the time comes you could try a petition to see if it bothers anyone who lives near you. Sometimes fear of angry neighbors is what causes the bylaw and if that fear is allayed, they may be willing to allow it. It only takes one person with an 'unsightly' garden to ruin it for everyone else. I'm so glad I live in the country where there are no HOA's! I grew up in a subdivision and it was a real headache, especially having a father who has NO sense of aesthetics

Furbalsmom wrote:Will your SFG be in the front yard?

definitely back yard, but my backyard, along with a dozen or so other houses, is part of a grass "common area". Quite a bit of pedestrian traffic.

Gary

miinva wrote:I would make sure to be generous with extras from your harvest, and if/when the time comes you could try a petition to see if it bothers anyone who lives near you.

Great idea. I hope my harvest is that good!