An Atlanta-area man is facing fines of up to $5000 for growing too many vegetables on his land.
Steve Miller (not Steve Miller of classic rock fame), has had an organic vegetable garden on his property for years. He grows food for himself and has even sold some of his bounty at local farmers markets.
He received his first citation from code enforcement back in January and has since incurred $5000 in fines. The tricky thing here is that after citations in January and February, Miller got his property rezoned to allow his garden. The county is still suing him for the fines related to the earlier charges.
Here is an interview with Miller and his attorney from WSBTV:
The question I have is how did code enforcement find out about Miller’s garden in the first place? Code enforcement isn’t in the habit of randomly dropping in on properties – did someone complain?
Have you guys run across zoning laws that prevent large-scale gardens? I know many areas have laws restricting things like backyard chickens, but this is the first case I’ve heard involving edible plants.
Source: WSBTV
Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by wheatfields
Becky Striepe
Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe, a green crafter and vegan foodie living in Atlanta, Georgia with my husband and two cats. My mission is to make eco-friendly crafts and vegan food accessible to anyone who wants to give them a go.
187 Responses to Georgia Man Fined for Growing Vegetables
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Atlanta is mad because they didn’t get a piece of the pie or garden in this case. why don’t they rub two nichols together and get a life.
LAND OF THE FREE AS LONG AS YOU DO WHAT YOUR TOLD.
The first big law to take effect under the Obama administration banned family backyard vegetable gardens of any kind. It was part of the food safety act, I think, a left over law from the Bush administration. It requires insane record keeping and inspections and rules for bigger organic farmers, and just made backyard gardens illegal outright. I remember sending emails about it to everyone I knew, and later I heard that it got tweaked somewhat, especially in regards to the organic farmers. I suppose they must have made it ok to have backyard gardens since Michelle Obama put one in at the White House. Let’s hope so!!!
Lies. You are entitled to your own opinion, not your own facts. Non-commercial backyard gardens have never been regulated by the federal government. You tea-baggers think that if you repeat a lie often enough then it’s true.
this is so stupid, how can they tell him what and how much he frows on his own land, Iam in county goverment here in Va. and it can not be done. They could say he grew to much grass, come on people. Ok, then, well anything that he has that he can not sale or give away to other people, he needs to put it all in a food processer and chop up really fine then take to the city or town groverment building and pour it all over the inside of building after it has begain to rott. The smell would be enough to teach them a lesson on being humans.
This man should be getting a tax break for growing his own food, not a fine. Shame on the county officials that push this issue against this man.
I feel bad for the farmer. I’ll tell you a good one. Where I live there’s a cattle feedlot where people live and the owner has never got into trouble for this. He was not compliant with the feedlot. Our County and state officials allow this and they cover up for this business. I contacted the federal EPA and they don’t care either. This farmer isn’t doing anything wrong!
THOSE STUPID DUDES HAS NOTHING ELSE TO DO,.BUT COMING AFTER THE REGULAR PEOPLE LIKE US,……AND DOING ALL THEIR SCREWINGS!,…SHOULD HAVE FIRED THEM AND/OR LAY THEM OFF,.AND TELL THEM TO GET A LIFE!,.TYPICAL NUTCAKES HERE!!
Fining this man for growing vegetables on his property — in what appears to be rural area — is ridiculous. This is gov’t regulation out of control and against citizens. This is absurd.
This is so very scary. Absolutely no one any where has the right to tell anyone where and how much garden you can grow. This is natzeism to the fullest extent. We ,the people, pay some to govern but not to become radical. Let me know if they decide to regulate how much I am allowed to ,PEE.
Vote Republican.
Democrats tax and fine everything that can make money and those who try.
Or just quit your job,hit the food bank up and food stamps and welfare and section 8 housing and free health care. They will even buy you car in massachusetts and pay for car insurance and repairs…I kid you not.
I may try that root if I ever get fined for growing food.
Republicans wouldn’t want it because it would take money away from its Big Agriculture who pays them to look after its interests. 6 of 1 half dozen of another