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Grandpa’s Basement House

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141–150 of 275 posts

Re: Grandpa’s Basement House

#141
post #2

> Growing vegetables on what should be a lawn is verboten in many locations, if not by the government than by private association bylaws. I'm aware that some HOAs limit (sometimes to what seems like an extreme) what can be done with the yard and lawn, but I wasn't aware of any governments that ban growing vegetables. Is that more common in water-restricted municipalities? (I live in midwestern US, where backyard gard…

I could see front yards but not banning growing vegetable in back yards

I really don’t se why this is a thing for front yards either. Growing vegetables are just as pretty as a lawn, and even if you don’t think so, surely productive use of the land ought to take priority.

I find it so strange that such restrictions only seem to exist in the US, where there is normally so much emphasis on individual freedom.

Re: Grandpa’s Basement House

#142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is absurd. Other people don't have to live their life a certain way just because that makes you happy.

No, but common courtesy and cleanliness is something that makes me happy. I’ve lived in neighborhoods that have had rat problems because of a single home that kept trash everywhere. Should I be inconvenienced because someone doesn’t want to do the bare minimum to upkeep their property? Would you be ok if I moved next door to you and hung nazi flags (this has happened to me as well)? When people behave in ways that in…

Causing a rat problem seems very different to letting weeds grow on their lawn. The rats will migrate elsewhere, potentially toward you. The weeds are pretty harmless.

Re: Grandpa’s Basement House

#143
post #2

> Growing vegetables on what should be a lawn is verboten in many locations, if not by the government than by private association bylaws. I'm aware that some HOAs limit (sometimes to what seems like an extreme) what can be done with the yard and lawn, but I wasn't aware of any governments that ban growing vegetables. Is that more common in water-restricted municipalities? (I live in midwestern US, where backyard gard…

I've seen municipalities prohibit keeping chickens, but not gardens.

Re: Grandpa’s Basement House

#144
post #6

> Growing vegetables on what should be a lawn is verboten in many locations, if not by the government than by private association bylaws. So again, USA is country with most freedom? Freedom™, but you can't grow vegetables on your own property. Or you will be punished for having too long grass. Lmao

That rule about vegetables I've only ever heard applied to front yards which on American front yards looks pretty weird anyways. Most of our homes have backyards where it makes a lot more sense to put vegetables. If you look at this article about it I think you can see why it would be banned: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/illegal-kitchen-garden_n_1687...

Oh wow. That's so much nicer looking than a typical suburban front lawn. What a shame.

Though I can see how the same thing without constant upkeep would go to hell in a hurry.

Re: Grandpa’s Basement House

#145
post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I get people wanting HOAs to maintain property values (Though I am not one of them, I chose a neighborhood with no HOA on purpose). I don't get people who genuinely care for its own sake about their neighbors lawn having weeds. Or the house having an unusual paint color. Who cares??

Weed seeds blow across property lines and create problems for other people. It creates an undue burden on those that want to maintain a garden or other curated flora.

And mandating that everyone have a manicured lawn doesn’t place an undue burden on those who like wildness and want to curate that or want to grow vegetables?

Re: Grandpa’s Basement House

#146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I could see front yards but not banning growing vegetable in back yards

I really don’t se why this is a thing for front yards either. Growing vegetables are just as pretty as a lawn, and even if you don’t think so, surely productive use of the land ought to take priority. I find it so strange that such restrictions only seem to exist in the US, where there is normally so much emphasis on individual freedom.

There seem to be a lot of people who like the idea of willfully entering an HOA agreement that limits freedoms that they wouldn’t want their neighbors exercising. I can see both sides but it’s not really for me.

Re: Grandpa’s Basement House

#147
post #38
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I bought my first house, I purposefully avoided any neighborhood with an HOA because of all the internet scare mongering I had heard over the years. After ten years of one neighbor parking cars on their lawn, another growing more weeds than blades of grass, and another with 8 vehicles parked along the street I was done. When I bought my second house I specifically wanted an HOA. After another 6 years, I couldn’t…

Keep in mind that some HOAs are cooperative organizations, and some are run by very damaged people. Also keep in mind that getting together to organize a set of common standards and restrictions is the basis for all exclusive communities. That's OK if you are on the casual compliance side of the rules, or if you get to write them to suit your preferences. But it is discriminatory. Similar covenants have been used to…

> An HOA can morph from tolerable into unconscionable.

A friend of mine lived in an unconscionable one and managed to turn it tolerable by running for President on a platform of vowing not to enforce any rules. Stayed in “power” for quite a while.

Re: Grandpa’s Basement House

#148
post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

Thanking people for the work that they've done -- unpaid -- that has benefited me directly and saved me money just feels like the right thing to do. I was raised to appreciate efforts that others take on my behalf and it's served me well so far. I hope your approach is working as well for you.

Do you give annual gifts to your building or office cleaning staff? Or just people who have unaccountable authority over you.

Re: Grandpa’s Basement House

#149
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since they paid their money to buy the property, they can paint their house whatever color they damn well please, IMO.

If there’s an HOA, they probably agreed not to.

If they’re my neighbor, they’re probably not in an HOA. (Though that would be an amusing experience to live in the first property outside the HOA wire.)

Re: Grandpa’s Basement House

#150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, but common courtesy and cleanliness is something that makes me happy. I’ve lived in neighborhoods that have had rat problems because of a single home that kept trash everywhere. Should I be inconvenienced because someone doesn’t want to do the bare minimum to upkeep their property? Would you be ok if I moved next door to you and hung nazi flags (this has happened to me as well)? When people behave in ways that in…

Causing a rat problem seems very different to letting weeds grow on their lawn. The rats will migrate elsewhere, potentially toward you. The weeds are pretty harmless.

And there are county-level remedies for nuisances like that.
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