true dirt

well it’s good to be back in the conversation here. I confess to slothful and excessive vegetating these last few months and so, unfortunately, did my garden–as judged by the City of Oakland Public Works Department. They drove by my abundant grove of (California native) vegetation and mongrel, mower-destroying lawn and sent a “cease and desist” order with a $300 fine attached. We (my garden, lawn and me) were charged with “excess vegetation.” We are now on a “offender” list; repeat offenders are automatically fined–without a notice.
I suppose we do stick out in my excessively unvegetated neighborhood. I think we have one of the two trees on the block. We don’t park our vehicles on the “lawn” (not an offense, apparently). I don’t use gasoline-powered equipment on my vegetation (a regular activity on the block), and I don’t have to water it (thus conserving our precious resource and reducing my contribution to polluting runoff to our waterways). Now, however, I must change my evil ways or risk offending further. Hmmpfff.
I think this is one of those occasions that warrants a call to my Locally Elected Representative–for a little chat about environmentally-friendly gardening….