Hermine Ricketts and her husband Tom Carroll may grow fruit trees and flowers in the front yard of their Miami Shores house. They may park a boat or jet ski in their driveway. They may place statues, fountains, gnomes, pink flamingoes or Santa in a Speedo on their property.
Vegetables, however, are not allowed.
Ricketts and Carroll thought they were gardeners when they grew tomatoes, beets, scallions, spinach, kale and multiple varieties of Asian cabbage. But according to a village ordinance that restricts edible plants to backyards only, they were actually criminals. They didn’t think they were engaged in a Swiss chard conspiracy or eggplant vice, yet they were breaking the law.
Florida’s 3rd District Court of Appeal upheld Miami Shores’ ban on front-yard vegetable gardens in a recent decision, so the couple will take their case to the Florida Supreme Court. They argue, on behalf of gardeners everywhere, that the village’s restriction is unconstitutional and an infringement on their property rights.
It’s not like they made the law to spit these people. The law was in place when they first planted their front yard garden, and ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it.
Why is this the law? Is anyone being harmed by the homeowners growing what they want in their front yards?
Actually I have been following this story for a while. They had that garden years before the law was made. They grow in front yard because they cant in back due to trees.
I wish the story would have mentioned this important facts. Anyway i guess they should have spent a little more time at the local city council meetings so they could have voiced their objection to the law.