A Florida couple may be fined for having a vegetable garden if it isn't uprooted by Thursday. This is the second time the couple, Jason and Jennifer Helvenston, have had an issue of this nature. The College Park couple is initiating a protest of the Orlando law, which they say violates their right to grow their own food, according to a Jan. 7 report from Click Orlando.
They launched the "Plant a Seed, Change the Law," initiative, and it is a formal protest against the Orlando law that states you can't use your own front garden to grow food. This story first came to light back in November, when the couple was first told by officials that the garden violated the city's code.
After others found out about this story, city officials were flooded with emails that demanded that the Helvenstons be allowed to keep their garden. After the public outcry, the city decided it would postpone the violations until recently.
Jason Helvenston is obviously outraged by this, and he later told media sources,
"The greatest freedom you can give someone is the freedom to know they will not go hungry. Our Patriot Garden pays for all of its costs in healthy food and lifestyle while having the lowest possible carbon footprint. It supplies valuable food while being attractive. I really do not understand why there is even a discussion. They will take our house before they take our Patriot Garden."
An attorney of the Institute for Justice, Ari Bargil, said that the couple will be fined up to $500 per day if the offending garden isn't removed by Thursday. He is also willing to assist the couple with the matter and he gave the following statement.
"We are seriously interested in taking a look at this. We're focused on helping the Helvenstons get the word out, encouraging the city to reach a sensible compromise here."
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