As someone in building codes, which includes code enforcement, I've been following this for almost a week. Based on the limited information of the way thier property code is worded ... I don't think the city has a leg to stand on. We've all seen the yards with overgrown weeds, with garbage in the yard, with abandon cars and appliances; but this situation is not that. If they want to have ONLY grass in front yards then they need to rewrite, re-word their code. I, for one, would be proud to have this person and their front yard planters as my neighbor.

In Vancouver BC the city is paying!!! residents to grow wheat in their yards.
This situation in MIch. Is nuts! What a waste of taxpayer $$$ and time!
Let the lady grow her veggies.

I could only wish that 40% of the neighbours in my part of town cared about they're yard like this woman. The said 40% don't care what they're yard looks like. Overgrown, covered in weeds, garbage,etc. This isn't some "hood" area either. Highland Hills in Beaverton. Call the cig about it and see what they say. To this woman in Michigan, you go girl!

Your taters...and carrots...are not in order, Frau Bass. You vill comply with ze city regulations...or face ze consequences!

What is our society coming to? What part of "illegal" does this miscreant gardener not understand? Next up are the "undocumented" immigrants pulling her weeds. I say, deport them all and give her house to someone who will plant grass and use pesticides and phosphates as God intended. Without the rule of law, we are lost.

This is a clear indication a streetcar is needed on that street.

That way her home could be condemned and torn out for a fully developed livable-walkable neighborhood with compliant
inhabitants.

Meanwhile, in Quartzsite AZ, a woman was arrested for protesting -- during a city council public comment period -- elected officials privately tending their own gardens :

"The video shows a woman identified as Jennifer Jones being arrested and hauled away from a council meeting after she said the council was violating open-meetings laws. Jones was speaking during a public comment period, and [Mayor] Foster is heard on the video telling other council members who ordered her removed that 'the lady has the floor.'"
http://news.yahoo.com/emergency-declared-az-town-over-allegations-211928629.html

The town, with a population far less than 1% of Stumptown's, is governed by a council of five along with a town manager and a mayor. The mayor, elected in May 2010 on a promise to reform long-term corrupt practices, is not on the best of terms with the others or the police chief, who has been put "in charge" during a declared "state of emergency."

"[Mayor] Foster said a woman from England sent him a note with just one line: 'How could America be considered a beacon of democracy in the world when freedom of speech does not exist in Quartzsite, Ariz.?'"

Of course, England, which has always had more than a few problems being "a beacon of democracy," is now being forced to deal with an obvious one too long ignored: the Murdoch empire of career criminals.

Speaking as a gardener, I can only say thank heavens for rain in July in this erstwhile City of Roses blessed with abundant water but cursed with an obsolescent form of governance that has made that water too expensive to employ.

This is the kind of thing those chucklehead tea-baggers should be protesting, rather than trying to get Rupert Murdoch's taxes reduced.

Roger, I was recently called a "tea-bagger" by a Tri-Met official after speaking at a Milwaukie Lightrail hearing. So, after type-casting by her and you, I agree with you, I'm protesting this absurd garden gestapo action. Fellow Demo.

I've been following it for a week or so as well, and was especially taken with the knucklehead's comment that "this isn't the sort of thing people want to see in front yards". Apparently, that part of suburban Detroit's doing so well that they can afford to drive taxpaying homeowners away.

Roger, I was recently called a "tea-bagger" by a Tri-Met official after speaking at a Milwaukie Lightrail

Lee, do you have a name of the TriMet official? I think it's time to publicly shame those TriMet employees who think that they are above the people.

Time to hold those people accountable for their words AND actions...TriMet does not exist for its own purposes, it exists because of us.