After a petition, a
week of media coverage, and a massive amount of support, the City of Orlando
Chief Planner and Sustainability Director scheduled a meeting with us in our organic garden on November 16th, 2012.
Consequently, our Patriot Garden and many existing front yard gardens will NOT be acceptable to the City of Orlando as is. More than likely we will be required to screen our Patriot Garden from sight with an approved fence.
Consequently, our Patriot Garden and many existing front yard gardens will NOT be acceptable to the City of Orlando as is. More than likely we will be required to screen our Patriot Garden from sight with an approved fence.
FOOD
should not be confused with aesthetic landscape. Our Patriot Garden produces real value, not
perceived value. Our
Patriot Garden grows a human necessity that contributes to our budget rather
than an aesthetic grass yard that drains from it.
We cannot afford
expensive aesthetic upgrades to our attractive Patriot Garden. We will not be able to comply with Codes (not an HOA)
based on vanity and conformity.
Furthermore, we will do everything possible to stop the City of Orlando from
requiring fencing out neighbors and community from our front yard Patriot
Garden. Increasing the prohibitive costs
and creating more impacts to the planet’s resources is not the goal of
sustainability.
The City of Orlando
needs to understand a complete Code change that ensures affordability to all residents
is necessary. The Patriot Garden is a
key step to ensuring the City of Orlando progresses to become the “Greenest
City in America.” The greatest Freedom
you can give someone is the Freedom to know they will not go hungry.
Thank you for your
continued support. God Bless.
Jason & Jennifer Helvenston
