Oak Park, Michigan Gives Reston a Run for Its Money

Sure, we Restonians may face confusing and somewhat arbitrary rules involving such things as light fixtures, red mulch and white stone, but at least we don't run the risk of jail time for falling afoul of the rules.

That's what's happening in Oak Park, Michigan, where a woman is facing up to 93 days in prison for planting vegetables in her yard.

With organic produce prices on the rise, Julie Bass decided she'd take matters into her own hands and plant a vegetable garden in the front yard of her Oak Park home.

Unfortunately, her common-sense decision could cost her up to 93 days in jail.

Fox 2 reports that Oak Park officials warned Bass that her garden violated city code, gave her a ticket and eventually charged her with a misdemeanor, leading to a potential jury trial and possible jail time.

Now Bass and city officials are wrangling over the definition of "suitable," which sounds oddly familiar.

No one tell the DRB about the Victory Garden we're growing in our yard.

(Shout out to our favorite correspondent, The Peasant From Less Sought After South Reston, for the heads up.)