Last week I received a letter from the HOA informing me I was in violation for the CC&R’s for cutting down a few rhododendrons and was asked to submit a “garden plan.” 
So I did. Basically I wanted to install a laurel hedge in the front of the house, a viburnum hedge on the side and four cedar garden boxes alongside the house right outside my kitchen door for easy access. But because the garden boxes would be visible from the front of my house, I decided to go ahead and add a “plan b” just in case the idea of seeing vegetables growing from the road would FREAK SOMEONE OUT. 
When we were first thinking about purchasing our house, my initial thought was to install a small vegetable garden in the upper lawn because the ground was nice and level and it would be secluded. 
And then after moving in and walking around the property a bit more I realized hauling a wheelbarrow up a hill was going to be a bit of a challenge, and quickly decided having the garden on the side yard would be much easier. Well, guess what? I received my answer from the HOA yesterday. 
It looks like I’ll be planting my vegetable garden in the upper lawn after all. Which really, won’t be a big deal once I get the garden soil hauled up there. At least I get to grow some vegetables, right? Who knows, maybe I’ll start a trend here. 😉 Keep Calm and Garden On, ~Mavis
Mavis vs the HOA Part 2
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cambria says
That hoa would hate me. I would submit any and every change. I am going to add copper tape around my boxes better write the hoa
Catherine in MI says
Note to self: Avoid HOAs like the plague
I wouldn’t handle that well, but am impressed that you did. 🙂
Debbie says
Oh my.. Good for you on your approval, but the mere thought of having to ask someone who’s name is not on the title for my property permission to do something on said property just gives me the cold shivers.
Maxine says
When buying a house I think HOAs are a serious no-no. Those in charge might be fine when you buy the house but over the years its the busy bodies that take over. Watch the animated movie Over the Hedge for a laugh at HOA heads. My in-laws were on their condo board, got voted out and those next in charge ended up costing the building over a million in property repairs.
Teri says
Congrats on getting the approval. Did you submit a plan for the boxes by the side yard or just plan B?
Diana says
YAY!!!! – but were you planning on putting cedar boxes up there? Looks like that’s what they approved…
Monique S says
Yup, that’s what she wrote on both plan a and plan b…. 🙂
HollyG says
Imagine what the would have thought about the gnomes!
Mavis Butterfield says
Ha! They would have freaked out!!
Cheryl @ Living Design says
I recently started reading your blog and love it!
We have to do similar garden plans for our HOA. We knew that going in, but it’s one of the better areas we saw and the HOA is fairly relaxed since it’s really big (unincorporated county, the HOA is really more the size of a city and functions that way). The percentage of the yard that can be boxed beds is limited, but the rules don’t say anything about not planting lettuce between my lavender, or using strawberries as a border. We’ll be getting creative to grow the most food possible!
Lisa says
Mavis- I hope you do ALL of your gardening this year in your prom dress, your pilgrim outfit, and whatever other goodies you find at the Goodwill! Take THAT HOA! lol..
Stacey says
That’s right, Mavis, they can’t tell you what to wear!
EDW says
Or hang your prom dress, pilgrim outfit, and some gnomes from a clothesline strung
in your side yard while you are gardening and borrow a couple of chickens to hang out with you.
Just to add a bit of panache to your “low class” activities. You go Mavis!
AlysonRR says
I bet she can’t have a clothesline… Our last house was in an HOA and clotheslines, chickens, and “edible vegetation seen from the street” were forbidden.
Teri says
I see that both plans were included in the drawing.
Ali says
Well done on getting what you wanted in the end. As someone who has bright blue raised beds full of veg in my front garden (it’s directly facing south and frankly in Scotland plants need all the sun they can get!) I admire your subversiveness!! 😉
PS For us non US readers what does HOA stand for and what powers do they have?
Leslie says
“Home owners associations” serve as code enforcement bodies in planned communities. Basically, all the home owners agree to follow rules about the appearance of the community, and they are the watchdogs. Some people seem to love it, others not so much.
Carla says
Home Owners Association. The powers depend on how the charter was written. Basically they are to make sure the standards of the neighborhood aren’t compromised by having a lot of junk in your yard or painting your house purple. But as you see they may have a lot of power.
judy says
I would love to paint my house purple 🙂
Leslie says
Huzzah!
judy says
Icky people. Note to self – NEVER, never get into this situation.
Kathleen says
Let your HOA board haul the soil, compost, and all other supplies for you. They approved it. They should help.
Jenn says
Mavis, you have taken this better than I would have. I would have told the HOA exactly where they could take their rules and put them. Let’s just say, it wouldn’t be a very nice place.
Vy says
Whew! Let the gardening resume!
Raymond Dean White says
Good to see you have a reasonable committee.
ann says
hate HOAs and CC&Rs, when we were searching for a lot I refused to even consider an area with these in place. I understand their basic purpose, but in my opinion (based on experience of my friends and family, since I have no personal experience with them) they tend to take things way too far. I’m glad your plans were approved! Let the gardening and landscaping commence! Make sure you follow up and oversee your contractor’s work! (ha ha, I assume you are your own contractor, here?) =) (as for me, I’ll do as I please without having to ask for permission and approval!!)
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, I am the contractor. Which is funny and maybe why I got caught in the first place because 90% of the people in here hire landscapers to mow their lawn.
Lynne says
I think you are right. I would wager that the HOA was advised to do a drive-by past your house by a landscaper who does not appreciate your do-it-yourself approach. Anyway, congrats on the approval!
Mavis Butterfield says
I have been handed business cards 3 times so far while working in my yard. LOL.
Sheila says
They will give up soon passing out the cards and start offering job applications instead.
Terri Lindeke says
I used to live in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle. I intrigued the neighbors by forever doing the unexpected. The best space I had to garden was the very wide parking strip. Best light etc. I rented a massive rototiller and made a large vegetable garden on the parking strip. Planted corn, pumpkins, tomatoes, zucchini, lettuce – etc. It was noticeable.
I figured why not? As a city resident I was required to maintain this strip of city property – so I maintained it as I saw fit – and ate well as a result. Made my first home grown pumpkin pie – oh my – the only way to make pumpkin pie.
Mavis says
Terri- that is awesome! I love your use of the parking strip. Way more delicious than parking some old car there. Ha!
C4G says
It’s complete bullshit that you had to get “approval” for garden plans on your own property from the city. BULL. SHIT.
Milissa says
It is not from the City. HOA’s are rules that govern housing subdivisons. When you move it, they had you a list of rules if you want to live there.
Marie says
Please be sure to use FSC cedar. Others may leach into soil you will be purchasing. Also Pac Soils in Puget Sound area has a ” hose” that will shoot the soil anywhere you would like! Check them out!!
Nancy D says
Ummm…. What about putting a privacy fence that extends from the sides of the house to the property line on either side to block the view into your back and side yards….and also, did you tell the HOA group about your blueberry and raspberry plants ?
Diana says
So who ratted you out to the HOA?
RebekahU says
So happy you got your approval!
Rebecca says
Hi Mavis,
Congratulations on getting your garden plan approved in time for spring planting! You certainly handled yourself in a very calm and professional way in dealing with the HOA. It makes me thankful for my 2 acres of privacy and lack of a HOA. Indeed, keep calm and garden on!
P.S. – Your blog has inspired me to expand my own garden this year and canning goals. Looking forward to watching your new garden evolve.
kevinw99 says
Funny that so many people are scared of the [gasp] bright colored house. We had ours painted bright turquoise last year (with royal blue lower half and crisp white trim) and we’ve had loads of compliments on it. Mind you, we also have the whole front yard in veggies and fruit and people like that too!
Connie Wheeler says
You know, I was wondering about that since almost every housing development nowadays has a group that governs every little thing you do .. Luckily yours must be not too negative on gardens. Most are. I’m always seeing where some poor folks who have worked hard on a little plot of their land to garden and bring joy to themselves are asked to tear it all up and put in what the homeowners association wants them to. I could never live like that.
Milissa says
This is exactly why we are moving. Our HOA does not approve anything. Also, we want chickens!
Kathryn says
So very grateful you were able to work it out and were prepared with an acceptable Plan B. What a relief!
Alison R. says
We are not fans of HOA’s either but in the Savannah GA area just try finding a house that doesn’t have one!
This one is very relaxed, at least half of the Board positions are currently vacant.
We moved in last April and had to submit a plan for taking out overgrown shrubs, putting in new shrubs, painting our shutters and front door, fencing the back yard for a large dog and having gutters and downspouts installed.
Fortunately the yearly HOA fee is quite low. Good luck Mavis!!
Carol Strain says
Ann, what is a CC&R?
Mavis, HOA people are thin-skinned folk. Do not tell the neighbors you have a blog and are talking about them. They might look you up on Facebook too.
Ugh.
Kim says
Wondering if you’ve ever heard of watering tomato plants this way: http://www.hometalk.com/446407/tomatoes-and-their-need-for-water
Bettina says
Mavis, make certain you apply for “permission” before you add the window to the bathroom of your house. It’s an exterior change.
We used to live in an HOA neighborhood, and never had a problem with what we did to the house until we went to sell it. THEN we got busted. Our real estate agent applied for the compliance certificate, and we were called out on the radon mitigation unit – it hadn’t been approved through “proper” channels.
PattyB says
Mavis, I envision you submitting plans for everything you do in your yard. They would be INUNDATED with paperwork! hehe
PattyB says
And, in my opinion, moving plants and changing plants in your new yard is the same as upgrading the inside of your house.
Ronnica, Striving Stewardess says
This is one of my nightmares when I consider buying a house. I plan on really investigating the HOA bylaws of every place I’d consider purchasing (or better yet, no HOA).
kali says
Mavis seldom says anything negative about others aside of expressing frustration or disappointment so I’m sure she will be fine if the HOA finds out about her blog. She hasn’t given out her home address so unless you know her personally no one knows which HOA is behaving exactly like a HOA behaves. They sent a proper legal letter and are protecting the interests of all the neighbors in the area. If anything they might be interested to learn how to grow some food on their own property.
If it were me, I’d be trying to get on the HOA board so my differing opinion can be presented and discussed. You may find you’re not the minority but no one has expressed a desire to change the standard
Carol a CC&R is the Care, Conditions & Restrictions documents that outlines what the HOA finds acceptable