Roughly 10 or 11 years ago, I decided to restore/rewild my parents yard with indigenous plants, so we could save water and benefit local wildlife. A few of our neighbors hated the idea and called municipal code enforcement on us. When the intolerant neighbors complained, the city harassed us and even threatened court and jail time. Some of our new plants were poisoned. A fire was set on the side of our yard. I contacted the OC Register newspaper and they ran a few articles. You can read the articles
here and
here. Our issue received nationwide attention. We ended up on the television and radio. Most of the public supported our efforts, including a lawyer who offered his services pro bono. With our lawyer's help, we were able to determine that the city had no legal basis for threatening us. Now the yard is thriving without any irrigation required. It is a beautiful and diverse wildlife habitat featuring plenty of edible, medicinal and material plant gifts throughout every season. Eventually, I was able to convince my mom not to mow the grassy portions anymore. 2 days ago, I noticed a new plant species known as miner's lettuce in the yard. I'm not sure how it got there, but it is super exciting to find a plant that normally grows in healthy oak woodlands, scrub and chaparral environments! The fact that it is growing in the backyard of a 1970s tract home in the middle of suburbia is almost unbelievable!
