Georgia Man's Garden Too Big, Fined $5000, This Has To Stop

[twyacht]

He's got right at two acres of private property. Plants vegetables, sells some, gives some away. OH NO!!!! CAN'T HAVE THAT!!!!

http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/georgia-farmer-fined-5k-for-growing-too-many-veggies/

Georgia farmer fined $5K for growing too many veggies
Posted on September 14, 2010 by geobear7| 21 Comments

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.”

The law was supposed to stop large commercial operations in residential areas, but is being used against a 2-acre farmer who sells to neighbors and farmers markets.

From WSBTV News

GEORGIA: 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.

***

Vid at link.

So let's see, He grows vegetables, sells them at the local farmer's market, donates fresh vegetables to children's homes, homeless shelters, neighbors,... etc,....

AND THE MOTHER$^%**&%$$*& IN GOV'T, DEEMS THIS AS A VIOLATION WITH A $5000.00 FINE??

WHEN IS IT GOING TO STOP PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!

[MikeBjerum]

This has happened in a couple communities in Minnesota as well.  Both are 'burbs where urban sprawl has moved into farm country, forced many farmers out through either high property taxes (rezoning their hundreds of acres from ag to residential and their building sites to commercial), or by stopping them from operating due to noise, smell, dust, or operation hours.  Now they are passing laws to stop the new and old truck farmers from raising produce on the few acres they have left or in greenhouses on their yards.

Welcome to the "new order" U.S.A.     Operational question:  WWGWD (what would George Washington do)?

[Badgersmilk]

THE SAVAGE!!! 

[tombogan03884]

You have no one to blame but yourselves.
If you had prevented them from implementing their "Zoning" scheme in the first place they would not be beating you with it now.

You should have stopped them at the dinner roll.

[Solus]

You have no one to blame but yourselves.
If you had prevented them from implementing their "Zoning" scheme in the first place they would not be beating you with it now.

You should have stopped them at the dinner roll.

Exactly.  As the Libertarian Party (sorry for the plug) advocates, get rid of zoning laws.  Yeah, some will be complaining about how some  neighbors are "eyesores" and ruining the pretty view, but this is the result.  Give the government the power to take away someone's freedom in a case which you happen to approve and soon they will wield that power to take more and more freedom.

You see it with abuses of RICO and the "Patriot Act" where a small group of petty swindlers are prosecuted or unauthorized wire taps are use to gain evidence in prostitution cases.  Neither are what these "Laws" were intended to address, but give the Government the power to suspend your rights and they WILL abuse it.

We must start defending the rights of all citizens, even of those citizens and right of which we don't approve, but are law abiding citizens and protected by the US Constitution.

The GCA of 1968, for example, was supported by gun dealers running local businesses hoping get rid of mail order competition.  Give the Government ANY power and it will be abused.

My rant for the day....sorry.

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

By the way, I meant that as the "Imperial you",  it wasn't intended as a specific accusation at any individual.