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| Livonia Lawn Violations; In your backyard | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 7 2009, 10:12 AM (1,795 Views) | |
| Deleted User | Sep 7 2009, 10:12 AM Post #1 |
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Deleted User
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August 9, 2009 Resident wants city to discuss weed, leaves ordinances Local man says yard is eco-friendly By Ken Abramczyk OBSERVER STAFF WRITER Bill Craig walks the environmental walk and talks the environmental talk. A quick look around this Livonia resident's yard shows how he keeps it environmentally friendly. But what is environmentally friendly in his eyes may not be interpreted that way by others. He was ticketed by the city earlier this year under its noxious weeds ordinance. Craig wants the city to revisit its ordinances governing weeds and leaves. Craig wants to discuss these ordinances with the City Council. Council President Laura Toy said the item has not been scheduled yet for a Committee of the Whole meeting. The council has been wrestling with the budget and other issues, but “we'll get to it,” Toy said. “That's what government is about, that any citizen has a right to be heard.” Craig isn't mad that he was ticketed. He told the council in June that the issue was resolved. He just wants to discuss the ordinance. “Anyone can file a complaint if they thought you were not taking care of the property,” Craig said. “They have a legitimate complaint under the ordinances.” Craig doesn't like the catch-all classification of weeds. “If you don't know what the plants are, and it's not part of the lawn, it's weeds,” Craig said. If plants aren't manicured like shrubs or they aren't a recognized flower, like roses, then they're weeds, he said. “Other plants fall into the catch-all of weeds,” Craig said. “My yard is managed differently so I don't have a lawn.” Craig uses a push mower. He never rakes his leaves for disposal in paper bags for curbside pickup. He has a compost bin and wire racks to collect stems and twigs, all returning to the soil in his yard. He doesn't use pesticides or fertilizers. Rain barrels catch the water's flow from the roof. The chairman of the Holliday Nature Preserve in Westland and member of the Rouge River Advisory Council figures he'd better practice what he preaches and what he believes in. “I want to enjoy my yard. I wanted it to be a healthy yard because of my work with local communities and the Rouge and it doesn't cost me any money,” Craig said. “Any one of these (reasons) is a benefit, and I have all three.” Craig said he had a plant on the noxious weeds list — goldenrod. “It's in every field. We go by them all the time. If you have them on the property, you can get in trouble.” Craig asks the reporter if he can point out the weeds. The reporter can't point out the weeds, but replies that the yard looks overgrown. “It may look overgrown to you, but it is managed,” Craig said. “When (goldenrod) turns yellow, it's glorious. Why do I grow them? They attract butterflies and bees, which is what you need for pollination.” Craig points out the plants in his yard and identifies them for the reporter. He names staghorn sumac, which pioneers used to make Indian lemonade, an exercise Craig uses for classes, and Virginia creeper, a ground cover that turns a bright red in the fall. He points out that dandelions were brought to the U.S. for food purposes. Greens can be used in salads, and the flowers can be dipped in batter and made into fritters, Craig said. “People have become afraid of the outdoors and things that grow in the outdoors,” Craig said. Craig isn't a purist, he says. He admits he has several non-native plants. He had a Bradford pear, which he has since cut down. He says the Bradford pear trees are weak structurally and can cause problems in the wild. His gingko tree is also a non-native species. “I have it because it's a beautiful tree,” Craig said. Craig believes developers should look at trends in plans calling for low-impact uses with more trees, less lawn and fewer chemicals. More homeowners are using property depressions or low points for rain gardens, Craig said. “More trees suck up more water,” Craig said. “Trees are an element that would improve water quality. They absorb water so you have less runoff.” Trees absorb nutrients and help cut those flowing into the river. Craig uses no pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. When he sees an invasive plant, he pulls it out before it goes to seed. Serviceberry, spice bush and staghorn plants all grow in front of his home. Behind his home tulips and sassafras bring color to the yard, the latter in the fall. Rain barrels catch the downpours flowing off his roof with a spigot on the bottom to hook up a hose to water the yard. With that convenience, Craig doesn't complain about his water bill. Craig bought a used riding lawnmower when he first bought the home on the half-acre lot years ago. “When I bought this house, it was a lawnmowing nightmare.” Today the small yard of grass requires just a few passes with a push mower. “It needs no fuel and needs no oil, and it's good exercise,” Craig said. He picks up debris and piles it up for natural decomposition. He makes compost with eggshells, coffee, lettuce and potato peelings. Sometimes he can even hear insects working on the decomposition of the branches, sticks and yard debris in piles. “I don't get rid of any leaves,” Craig said. “I save money and don't contribute to landfills.” kabramcz@hometownlife.com (313) 222-2591 Additional Facts What the law says The city of Livonia prohibits noxious weeds of any kind, including Canada thistle, dodders, mustards, wild carrot, bindweed, perennial sowthistle, hoary alyssum, ragweed, poison ivy, poison sumac, ox-eyed daisies, goldenrod, milkweed or any other varieties, species or plants designated by the Department of Health or the director of inspection as poisonous and/or injurious. Property owners and residents are responsible for destroying all such weeds to prevent them from perpetuating themselves and going to seed. In addition, weeds, grass, brush, etc. more than nine inches above ground must be cut down, destroyed or removed. http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20090809/NEWS10/908090430 Posted: Aug. 22, 2009 Rolling out rain barrels saves water — and cash But Detroit water department says thrifty devices force it to hike rates BY CHRISTINA HALL FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER Caroline Ezop is trying to be green — and save some green — with two barrels that collect rainwater that rolls off the roof of her Pleasant Ridge home from storms like those that moved through metro Detroit in the past few days. She uses the captured water on her flowers, plants and for two ponds at her home. “Water is terribly expensive,” she said of public water rates in metro Detroit. Metro Detroit officials agree higher water rates have increased interest in the 55-gallon rain barrels that connect to downspouts. A quarter-inch of rainfall running off an average roof will fill a barrel, and prevent runoff from carrying pollutants into streams and lakes, according to the environmental group American Rivers. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department says the increasing use of water-saving devices such as rain barrels contributes to rate hikes. But interest continues to grow among homeowners who are looking to save on their water bills. Is is a wash? The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department says the use of rain barrels to catch rainfall runoff and other water-saving devices are actually contributing to water rate hikes because it is forced to increase what it charges in order to achieve the same revenue. But that doesn't stop homeowners like Jeff Bednar, 39, a civil engineer who has two rain barrels at his Shelby Township home. One refills a pond, the other is for watering plants. He has had rain barrels for about 10 years and said he has noticed more people are interested in them now. "I think there's a general sense of trying to reconnect people with natural sources of water and not relying on municipal water," he said. Ezop, 50, who has rain barrels at her Pleasant Ridge home, said she has to do something to cut her water bill. "Every time you turn around, everyone's trying to raise the rates," Ezop said. She hopes to cut her roughly $100 water bill per quarter in half. Metro Detroit officials said higher water rates have increased interest in the 55-gallon rain barrels that connect to downspouts and collect rain. While they don't have precise statistics on the number of rain barrels in the region, workshops are drawing crowds that want to learn about how to build and where to buy them. About 40 people attended a July workshop in Washington Township, and 60 came to an April event in Royal Oak. Jeremy Geist, watershed programs coordinator for the Clinton River Watershed Council, said his group is receiving twice as many calls as in past years from people interested in rain barrels. He said the devices are especially popular in Macomb Township and some Oakland County communities, where water rate markups make the costs even higher. Rain barrel interest "is growing every day," Geist said. "More people are buying them." Amy Mangus, coordinator of environmental programs for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, said the Alliance of Rouge Communities has talked about a large rain barrel sale next spring in the Rouge River watershed in Wayne and Oakland counties. Redford Township bought 13 rain barrels after officials saw one a few months ago at a SEMCOG meeting. They sold out within three weeks, and 30 more were ordered immediately. About a dozen remain at $80 each, said John Selmi, Redford's director of public services. "To save $80 worth of water, especially in these times, that's a factor for people," he said. CONTACT CHRISTINA HALL: 586-826-7265 or chall@freepress.com http://www.freep.com/article/20090822/NEWS05/908220357/1322/Rain-barrels-save-water---and-cash- |
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| Twiggy | Sep 8 2009, 04:37 PM Post #2 |
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"The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department says the use of rain barrels to catch rainfall runoff and other water-saving devices are actually contributing to water rate hikes because it is forced to increase what it charges in order to achieve the same revenue." Common business practice, but is it ethical to dissuade consumer's from being eco-friendly while saving a dollar? Especially when it is a public utility? What next, DTE is going to increase my bill because I remember to shut off lights and got rid of that old basement refridgerater? Or Consumer's because I bought a timed thermometer? I say they need to do what most of us do when our income's fall...tighten belt buckles and learn to budget with current revenues. |
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| :). | Sep 9 2009, 07:48 PM Post #3 |
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YARD WORK AS VIEWED FROM HEAVEN (Overheard in a conversation between God and St. Francis) God: Francis, you know all about gardens and nature; what in the world is going on down there in the U.S.? What happened to the dandelions, violets,thistles and the stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought, and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honeybees, and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of color by now. All I see are patches of green. St. Francis: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. They are called the Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers "weeds" and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass. God: Grass? But it is so boring, it's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, bees or birds, only grubs and sod worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want grass growing? St. Francis: Apparently not, Lord.. As soon as it has grown a little, they cut it....sometimes two times a week. God: They cut it? Do they bale it like hay? St Francis: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags. God: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it? St. Francis: No sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away. GOD: Now let me get this straight. . . they fertilize it to make it grow and when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away? St. Francis: Yes, sir. God: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work. St. Francis: You aren't going to believe this Lord, but when the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it. God: What nonsense! At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep the moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves become compost to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life. St. Francis: You'd better sit down, Lord. As soon as the leaves fall, the Suburbanites rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away. God: No way! What do they do to protect the shrubs and tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose? St Francis: After throwing the leaves away, they go out and buy something called mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves. God: And where do they get this mulch? St.. Francis: They cut down the trees and grind them up to make mulch. God: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. Saint Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight? St. Catherine: "Dumb and Dumber," Lord. It's a really stupid movie about. . . God: Never mind--I think I just heard the whole story from Saint Francis! |
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| Twiggy | Sep 12 2009, 04:03 PM Post #4 |
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Newbie
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LOL! Sad, but true. |
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