Boulevard gardens draw another reader response

decorahnews.com reader Steve Luse is the latest to weigh in on the boulevard garden issue:

People who think there are only illegal food gardens in the boulevard are mistaken.  There are over 80 boulevards in Decorah that have some type of non-grass or non-tree plantings.  These are illegal under current ordinance.

If you have some hostas or irises growing between the sidewalk and the curb, you are breaking the law in Decorah.

The change sought in the ordinance would allow the property owners, who are responsible to maintain the space, the freedom to decide what to plant there. 

We didn't decide to plant in the boulevard because we wanted to have our garden in such a public space, we wanted to use the sunniest spot available to grow the maximum amount of produce possible.  Gardening involves work and we want the largest return possible for our efforts.

When we paid $50 for two lots at the community garden, bought the needed seed and invested hours in planting and weeding, we saw our money and efforts washed away by the flood of 2008.  Is a floodplain really what the city considers the ideal location for community gardens?

I am confident that pillars of the community will not crumble if folks are allowed to legally have hostas, irises, marigolds, vegetables and other non-grass or tree plantings in the space between the sidewalks and curb.  The proposed ordinance change states that any plantings deemed a health or safety hazard will be removed at the owners expense.  What does the city have to lose?  A lot less than the citizens have to gain!

What about those properties that have not sidewalks?  Are those without sidewalks who plant things in their yard positive they are not placing items within the city right-of-way? It seems the city has no problem (there isn't any ordinance against it anyway) if people plant items in the right-of-way as long as there is no sidewalk there.

Encourage your council person to vote for freedom and to support the proposed ordinance change.