sigh. farming in the big city.

[mopinko]

from my farms facebook page-
Stevo Wolfson
All of your neighbors, I have spoken to, thought it was great you bought and began gardening the empty lot on Touhy Ave., however, our goodwill was asphyxiated once we all became subjected to the overwhelming stench of cow manure emanating from your property.

Now, we can't enjoy the beautiful weather with our windows open or being outdoors with our families, because of your callous disregard for this neighborhood and where you live.

This is not farmland out in the country.

We are complaining to the city, our Alderman and we will be vocal in our decent to your getting a zoning change, due to your blatant disrespect of this community and law by proceeding before you had permission to do so.

I'm willing to bet all the folks who "Like" this don't live on our block!


it went on. why is there always one of these people everywhere i go?

[Curmudgeoness]

1. Is this a letter you received?

Was it signed, or was it some coward who sent it anonymously? I feel for you----it is always difficult to garden in the city.

But....is there truth to it? Did you start gardening on it without proper zoning changes? Or is there a restriction for gardens in your area? One thing I have learned about living in town is that there are a lot of hoops to jump through these days. And is it true that you put down cow manure that still had a lot of odor to it? From what I have read and been told, when it is ready to be put on a garden, the odor should be gone (although I have never used manure). Does it really stink, or is someone being overly sensitive? If it is really stinky, that is an issue that I would also have if I lived next door to it---homes are just too close in the city.

But I think that it is all something that should be do-able in a city, and I would prefer it to the two neighbors that I have who have yet to mow their "lawns" this year, and have grasses and weeds up to my thigh (although it doesn't bother me as much as it does the rest of the neighborhood, but I am not too picky and have some unconventional landscaping choices myself). Give me a garden next door any day instead of an untended lot!

But some people will just never be happy---they like being outraged.

[mopinko]

3. this was posted on my facebook, so i knew who it was.

and it got a like from the same building, so that was 2. i knew the alderman had gotten 3 calls.
but there is no zoning issue, and there is no manure. there was a pile of grass clippings that got a little ripe, which may have started it. it did smell for a couple days, but it is all dried out now. there is zero smell today and the guy is still crying.
i do have zoning issues, as i wish to build a garage. i could build a 5 unit apartment building by right. but i can't build a garage. and i can't get my own water service if i don't have a building. so i will be looking for a special use permit.
if i made it a community garden, which i am being seriously leaned on to do, THEY would not only get water, but they would get free water, they could build all manner of building, and they could sell their produce. me, property owner, none of the above.
wrong, wrong, wrong.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. Oh, good lord! There is always someone

who wants to stir up shit! I do know that compose can have a slight odor for a short period of time, since I have one here, but it is not much and you have to get close to it for it to be a problem. Certainly not enough to keep everyone indoors and locked up.

I understand all about the idiot rules with zoning. I lived in a subdivision with community rules that made no sense at all, just as you are running into. Is this a lot next to your own house? Maybe you have done the right thing to get approval for a garage....piss them off about your garden and you can get a variance to put in a garage. I would not let the "community" have the garden if that is not what you want to do with YOUR property. There are things that make no sense....but we already know that.

I suppose that you should have gotten the variance before you did anything with the property, since the neighbors would not have been up in arms. But that is water under the bridge. Don't let them intimidate you and don't let them get you angry. Go for the permits for special use and be totally sane about the insanity that they are throwing your way. And good luck. Let us know how it works out.

[mopinko]

5. unfortunately there is one house between mine and the garden.

a very, very, very big 33'.
and honestly, if you knew this neighborhood, you would understand why i thought i was going to get a medal.
sigh. we see the lawyer tomorrow.

[NYC_SKP]

2. I'm so sorry to hear this. People are so misinformed.

I hope they are a tiny minority and that you and the project will prevail any attempts to shut you down.

[beac]

6. What a nasty person.

This is one of the reasons I'm not on FB. Too many people use it to stir up drama.

Hope all goes well w/the lawyers.