signed petition and emailed judge.

I will be attending the DC VegFest this Saturday!!!!  Alicia I wish you and Christopher and Bear could be there!!  Please try to make it if you are in the area.  I would love to see you! Any kind lifers going ????

Does anyone else think it's completely, utterly RIDICULOUS that we've reached a point in our society where we actually have to fight for someone's right to grow a garden -- let alone a garden to teach youth about self-sustainability!? Holy bananas, this is really upsetting. Groups like Transition Town are already doing things like organizing produce swaps and even offering homegrown produce to local restaurants to create more locavore menu options for patrons. How long before someone gives them guff too?

Signed the petition and e-mailed the judge. Thank you for posting this!!!

I completely agree with you Kat. It's so frustrating to watch teachers like Adam and shows like Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, where they are constantly being shut down for simply trying to help kids live a long and healthy life. But, that's why I'm so glad we have a voice and can stand up for the people who are trying to make a change. 

Will support!!!!

It's hard to fathom when having a vegetable garden in one's backyard is considered a "nuisance" while millions of trees are being cut down in other countries in order for us to raise and kill more innocent animals. These kids are probably getting the most useful lesson of their lives and now that's being taken away from them. I am most definitely signing this petition. 

I agree Kat!! I thought this country was free and since when is a garden an issue for concern....are we going to start arresting grandmothers now for planting flowers?! So very sad. This country needs to stand up and really focus on the issue that really need our attention. We need to lift these wonderful teachers up that think outside of the box to teach our children to take control of their lives, learning and health! What a great role model for our kids. I have made my voice of support heard for Adam and his lucky students:-) 

It is nice when I see a teacher doing good since in the past I was raped by one thata was also a nurse.  So it is so nice to know that some teachers still DO good instead of just appearing good

I am a small business owner in New York City.  This case struck a nerve.   America has an obesity epidemic, with the attendant financial strain that it brings to us.  One of my customers is a dialysis center for one of the big city hospitals.  Most of the patients there are low-income and morbidly obese.  The causes?  Since many of my employees are “working poor,” I have first-hand knowledge of their eating habits and of their available dietary alternatives.  Simply put, they eat garbage because they don’t know better and they can’t buy better.  It impresses me that this is exactly what Mr. Guerrrero is trying to address – education about healthy eating and making healthy food available.

It’s difficult for a casual observer such as me really to know the exact merits of his case.  However, at top level, I question whether Adam’s garden is really a nuisance, or is an emerging trend.  I personally would feel differently if he had a bunch of chickens or livestock running around his property.  But this is a vegetable garden!  You will recall that during WWII it was downright patriotic to plant a “victory garden.”  We in New York City have established community gardens in residential neighborhoods in NYC, under the auspices of the NY Parks Department.   These gardens originally started as a way to reclaim the vacant lots of demolished buildings created by urban blight.  They’re normally mixed use – flower beds, ornamental gardens, kitchen gardens (vegetables).  These gardens are totally managed by local groups for the benefit of all, under the Parks Department’s supervision. Community gardens are not only for big cities, but also for small ones, too.  I come from such a town in Ohio.  Barberton has a lovely community garden which the city sponsors.

 Is there room for compromise?  What about the idea of your city allocating one of its vacant lots as such an open “green” space?

Your Honor, I appeal to the greater public purpose of such an initiative.

Respectfully,

I sent a letter (respectful) to Judge Potter. Is there an update? I read in an article that the judge pardoned most of the garden?