I once wrote an article for the Bay Area News Group about the many reasons to have a vegetable garden. Silly me, I thought this was an uncontroversial topic. Instead, I discovered that I've been breaking the law.
For one thing, I'd already been warned that the editor shies away from articles about canning excess produce, thanks to the angry letters about food poisoning. (There are far fewer instances of food poisonings from home-canned products than people struck by lightning, FYI!) While home canning isn't technically illegal, I've also been forbidden by the City of Walnut Creek from teaching the subject through their community education program.
Then I got an angry letter from someone who pointed out that sharing garden produce in our area was actually illegal, ostensibly because of a moth infestation that officials are trying to contain. I thought this had to be a joke…. but the joke was on me. So much for that "Plant a Row for the Poor" campaign that was going on at the time.
Now it turns out that saving seeds from year to year may put you in violation of the law, if the original seeds are "patented" by the company from which they originated.
Heaven forbid it if I want to sell any of the excess produce! Not only are local law enforcement agencies cracking down on small-scale front yard lemonade and vegetable stands with a curious new vigor, but the very organic practices that I espouse for creating healthier fare and saving money is being much more soundly discouraged of late, in the name of "food safety." Oddly enough, instances of food poisoning more commonly originate from large non-organic conglomerates than small organic concerns, even though the new reporting requirements and other regulations cause more harm to the latter.
But there are other ways the frugal can get themselves into trouble.
Take "coupon fraud" for example. Many coupon users can accidentally commit this by not reading all of the fine print, weights, quantities and sometimes subtle product distinctions. If the coupon scans anyway, and you accept the discount, you could be liable, and the penalties are severe!
The frugal tend to buy things used. We must be extra vigilant to ensure that we're not purchasing stolen goods!
Many frugal folks have purchased gold and silver as a hedge against the falling value of the dollar. This is legal. But traveling with the loot could put you on the wrong side of the TSA.
Certainly, food storage is common among the frugal. Creating meals from what's in the pantry and has been previously purchased on sale is a staple of thrifty practice. Well, apparently, by storing food, you could be flagged for suspicion of terrorist activity.
Did you know you're supposed to pay taxes when you barter for goods or services? Well, you are.
Sorry to bum you out, Dear Reader. Really, frugality is a wonderful lifestyle, and perfectly fine in the eyes of the Law... for the most part. Just avoid a few pitfalls. In my next column, I share stories of people who had to defy the authorities in order to pick themselves up by their own bootstraps, and won!
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Elise Cooke doesn't want any trouble. She is also the author of The Grocery Garden, How Busy People Can Grow Cheap Food. Visit her website at SimpletonSolutions.com.
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