This week started off on a bit of a sour note because of the latest letter from the HOA snoopervising committee. The good news is… there are only 564 days to go before we can sell this house. The bad news is… I have to find a way to deal with the incredibly restrictive neighborhood rules, which I totally agreed to when we bought the house {but didn’t realize they’d be driving by my house on a weekly basis with a clipboard in hand looking for infractions}.
I pulled up the ivy I transplanted in January as per requested.
And then stood in front of our house and tried to figure out some different gardening layouts, ones that wouldn’t cost too much money and ones that would still allow me to have a little {dare I say} freedom. And all of them included submitting plans for approval. Which honestly, does not appeal to me WHAT SO EVER {for about a hundred different reasons}.
And then it hit me. Container gardening.
There is nothing in the rules and regulations about container gardening here in Stepford.
Or edible landscapes.
If I start plants and vegetables from seed I should be fine. Right?
It would be a gradual thing…
By the time they figure out what I’m doing it would be time to harvest. 🙂 🙂 🙂 So this is my new plan. Because really, I’ve already been “approved” for the shrubs I want to plant {I’m just waiting for the Home Depot to get them in stock}. So other than vegetables, and flower bulbs, there really isn’t anything else let to worry about here in Stepford. Life is wonderful. It’s all good. It’s … perfect.
Unless of course I want to work outside in peace in quiet.
Okay, are you ready for this?
I was outside on Friday raking the moss out of the grass on my side yard with ear buds IN MY EAR and not one, but two people came up to me and wanted to know WHAT I WAS DOING!!! Did I mention I had earbuds in my ears and was listening to music?
Nosy Nelly #1 Stood about 2 feet behind me shaking her head back and forth in a disproving matter when I noticed she was there. I looked up {irritated} and then went back to what I was doing. About 5 seconds later she was RIGHT BEHIND ME waiting for me to take my earbuds out so she could ask me questions.
I said nothing. I took a deep breath and walked around to the back of my house and waited for her to pass by.
Then, not even two minutes later, Nosy Nelly #2 walked by and started talking {while I had ear buds in}. He wanted to know what I was doing, where my husband worked, and what my plans were.
Thankfully a few minutes later Mrs. Hillbilly called to tell me she and the kids had just bought chicks. When I mentioned I had an extra stock tank in the garage if she wanted to use it until the chicks were ready to go outside, she decided to swing by to grab it.
While she was here I told her what had just happened with the Nosy Nelly{s}. She laughed, said “I told you so” and then made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.
She said I could babysit sit her chicks …
And dig up her yard… and plant whatever I want so I don’t shrivel up and die in Stepford waiting to serve out my sentence. 
The Hillbilly’s added a small garden plot to the side of their kids play-set last year that just did so-so. But now that they’ve got me on board to do all the vegetable gardening… I am going to triple their garden space and turn it into a 3 season backyard garden. Wahoooo! And as an added bonus, Lucy will have a weekly play date with her pal from the old neighborhood.
Yesterday we added 2 yards of soil and planted a few cold weather crops {radish, onions, Swiss chard and beets}.
If you can’t dig up your own yard… Find somewhere you can. Right?
Only 564 days to go! 🙂
~Mavis
This years garden is being sponsored by the awesome folks at Botanical Interests Seed Company. You can check out their website HERE, order their new 2015 Garden Seed Catalog, or see the seeds I’ll be growing in my garden this year HERE.
Up for a tour? Read about our behind the scenes tour of Botanical Interests Seed Company.
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Sara says
Oh my gosh, those two women make me want to cringe!! We looked at a home that was around the corner from you (I won’t give any location details) that my husband thought was really pretty. I knew it would not work for me simply due to what I knew would be a very strict HOA, and having just come from one of those I had no desire to jump back in. No sir, not for me. I spent 8 years in a neighborhood where my every move had to be approved or I got a nastygram. Every night one of the HOA members would walk the neighborhood while he pushed his little dog in a baby stroller, pen and paper in hand making notes of all the infractions. Good luck with the next 564 days.
Mavis says
Haha! That is not exactly what I picture when people “take their dog for a walk,” but it doesn’t exactly shock me either.
Maxine says
Hang in there Mavis! We’re rooting for you! Don’t waste money on the landscaping, just creat the boring cookie-cutter landscaping the busy bodies have and maybe volunteer your green thumb at a nearby school or community garden or botanical garden, greenhouse? Maybe indoor grow space in one of the garage bays. Tweak the busy bodies – they’ll think you’re growing marijuana! Ha!
Practical Parsimony says
Last sentence is best idea!
Mavis says
Mrs. Hillbilly certainly agrees too.
Laurie says
Oh my goodness! I think when I asked what I was doing I would say nunya. If they didn’t get what that meant I would say slowly, nun ya business. I’m so glad we have fences in CA. Fences make good neighbors :o) You have waaaaaay more patience with the nosy nellies than I would.
PattyB says
Wow. That’s harassment and bullying. Without even properly introducing themselves, they just harassed you and started asking you personal questions. I would watch for them again and start taking pictures of them if they hung around your yard snooping. I would be feeling real unsettled about then and a little unsafe on my own property. You should be able to go outside without neighbors pouncing on you demanding information.
The HOA should have contracted with a landscaping service to do all the yards in the neighborhood. I lived in a townhouse with a restrictive HOA. I paid high HOA dues but they took care of the yards, the trees, the painting of the house exterior and the roof. The backyard was my responsibility but I couldn’t have a vegetable garden either and I did get a lot of big pots and cultivated my food in them.
Cecily says
Yes, and take detailed notes about your encounters with your nosy neighbors including their names if you can get them to divulge them. Then, if necessary, you can go to the HOA and the authorities with a record of harassment.
peggyK says
Mavis – I have to wonder if someone on your blog list isn’t n the HOA. It does seem strange to me that people seems to know what you are doing almost real-time. Gotta love the Flamingo Sanctuary! And while it isn’t the same as being able to walk out in your own yard, your friends offer of gardening her yard is a Godsend!! Get a count down clock from Amazon and the days will pass faster than you think!
And if I don’t see a Lucy the Puggle Princess picture every day I go thru withdrawals.
Loking forward to the battle of wills: Mavis vs the Peksy HOA. Remember that which is not expressly prohibited is permitted!.
Maxine says
Concur on Lucy pics! Serious withdrawal.
Mavis Butterfield says
Well, the very first night I walked Lucy in the neighborhood a lady who was walking her dog did shout across the street “I know you, you’re on facebook.” But I can’t imagine it’s her. Not even for a second. I think I know who turned me in actually. {That’s another story in an of itself}.
Practical Parsimony says
But, it may be someone she innocently shared with.
jestjack says
At the risk of sounding like a “nosy neighbor”….why did you move from the place with no restrictions to the place where you have to wear a “straight-jacket”? And why for 2 years….did I miss something on the blog? Why the time restriction? Thanks in advance for your candor…
Mavis Butterfield says
It is visually a great neighborhood, with great walking trails and it’s super close to amenities. Our plan was to fix it up and re-sell it, and that is what we are going to do. The 2 years is for capital gains taxes as a primary residence. Bottom line is that my husband did not want to rent while I found the “perfect” house. So we decided to flip a house instead.
jestjack says
Thanks for sharing your plan…Sounds ambitious….good luck on the “flip”…
Karen says
Miss Mavis, you are way nicer than me. I usually have a great snarky response ready at the drop of the hat. Which is why I keep to myself. I bet there is no rule about sitting in your yard, reading a book, while wearing a shirt that has a hand flipping the bird. Or you can just make them think your nuts….. Rake wearing a funky costume, dance around in a tu tu getting the mail,….. All for great stories and blogging material. As for what your husband does….. Try this….. He sharpens axes for a living, boy does he have some strange customers. LOL
Mavis Butterfield says
I’m already looking for a lawn chair for the front yard. 🙂
Lynne says
And you already have a pilgrim outfit, a beautiful evening gown, and a kick-ass pair of green plaid pants (that we know about)!
Practical Parsimony says
Dress like a muggle–kilts and poncho type outfits.
Helen in Meridian says
Don’t forget your Where is Waldo red and white t shirt and hat. Also most memorable is the Elf outfit you wore to Albertsons back in your super couponing days. What about a fainting couch and borrow back the most wonderful blue formal you took back east to your friend’s children. You could have a big fake brewski or wine goblet, your formal and lounge on your fainting couch while secretly taking pictures of all the neighbors who come snooping by.
Melissa Schad says
If I had pink flamingos and garden gnomes, or even fairy doors for your trees, and mushrooms some ceramic frogs and even some of those dog butts I would send them to you.
Carolyn says
Think positive , time will fly and now you will truly understand freedom ! It amazes me on how many people live that type of life !
Nicole says
we don’t have an HOA in the neighborhood we live in but we have a neighbor who think he is the neighborhood HOA. we have had a few rounds with him in the last few years b/c he did not “approve” of what we were doing. AND the big thing being he can not even see our house from his. this HOA want to be even got in to it with our landscaper. so this go around i’m going to turn my front flower bed in to a veggie bed just to see what he has to say. HA.
Karin Carson says
The ivy that you transplanted came from your yard correct? It was there when you moved in? Why would it suddenly not be aloud if it was in place when you bought the place? For the noses nellies I would have said working in My yard smiled and turned away.
felicia callahan says
Twenty eight plus years as an AF spouse, living on military bases with pretty restrictive rules as well as HOA’s around the country where I was the dreaded “renter”, and NEVER have I heard of anything near what you are going through. It is a terrible thing to feel you are a prisoner to your housing situation, but you will have a reader in NM counting down the days with you.
Patti says
Ugh, poor you. What is wrong with people? I can’t imagine anyone wanting to live in Stepford. We moved to middle TN a year and a half ago, and we didn’t have a lot of choices with homes that didn’t have HOA,, but we got lucky. Most of my neighbors are in their 80’s and grew up on farms and love my big garden and chickens. Many of them still garden as well, and they are all awesome neighbors.
Sammie says
Why don’t you kill them with kindness? Take out the earbuds, smile, and be a friendly neighbor.
Mavis Butterfield says
On average… at least 50+ people walk by my place every hour. And they are ALL happy to stop and chat. Would you have time for that? It’s not that I am being rude, but it would seriously be nice to be able to spend {at a minimum} 30 minutes in my own front yard uninterrupted. I can’t imagine going up to someone I do not know, who has ear buds in and who is working in their yard to inquire what they are doing {on their own property}. It’s weird. And Nosy. And it’s getting old. Quick.
Terri says
I hear Ya! When I am in my yard, digging in my dirt..I am in my zone! I don’t like being disturbed by my own “peeps”, much less nosey people. Hang in there! Would a “No Tresspass” sign work?
Mavis Butterfield says
I don’t thing they are allowed. Ha!
Practical Parsimony says
How about a sign that said: “I cannot talk during my gardening therapy session.”? Or, et them disrupt you, snatch out the earbuds and rave like a maniac in jumbles of words and numbers, smile and replace the earbuds and return to your work.
Sher says
You are a saint. I would’ve turned the hose on them! Busybodies have no life.
Diana says
Wow. I’m glad you are blogging about the HOA stuff for two reasons: First, for your own sanity; and second, so people know to never, ever, ever, buy into an HOA. I’d suggest you consider calling the police if you have someone approach you in that manner again. And have your lawyer on standby.
RebekahU says
Well! All I can say is God Bless Mrs. Hillbilly! I can hear the theme music from The Wonder Years playing in my head… I get by with a little help from my friends…! I am so happy that you will have a good garden to distract you. That is probably your neighbors problems – they have never had any connection to the land in a real way. They have lived too long with a ChemPro, artificially perfect home. Sad, sad, sad – for THEM! YOU have an escape plan! Hooray!! When we lived in our HOA neighborhood, any flower pot visible from the road had to be approved… and, the HOA is probably going to complain about the patchy lawn from the moss removal. Forewarned is forearmed.
Meredith says
Maybe you could go to a meeting and explain that you are a gardening expert that has been on tv? You’re not trying to do anything that would make the place look bad…they are harassing you. 🙁
Melissa Schad says
OMG Mavis you totally crack me up……………I lived in a neighborhood with an HOA and I will never again live in one. This is not (and no offence munt) England in the 1600’s. We fought a revolution just so we didn’t have to be told what to do, how to do it, etc.
As it is this country is going to end up having another one probably not in your time or even our childrens time but I believe it is coming. My husband and I (and you would never belive this) actually live like we were living in the mid 1700’s with only as you can see by the computer response very few modern amenaties. That is the way we like it.
Keep up the GOOD work, and confound them HOA snoops and nosey nellies.
Ashley says
There’s a blog that I’ve come across a couple times that you might enjoy exploring a bit. It’s outlawgarden.com. I haven’t visited it lately, but I do remember a lot of tips on hiding edible plants from strict HOA’s.
Julie says
Your post is giving me flashbacks, and my heart is aching for you! Fingers are crossed that those 564 days go somewhat quickly.
We lived in Mountlake Terrace where we had a little 1/5 of an acre lot that I grew as much as I could on. Cute house, okay land (didn’t get quite enough sunlight but it had SOME growing space, yay!), great location, but my neighbors were horribly snoopy. We lived there for 3 years and got the hell out.
Some quality examples:
Working on a project in the backyard involving epoxy that cured quickly, so wearing respirator, long sleeves, trying to focus. I look up and there’s my half dressed retired neighbor drinking his beer IN MY BACKYARD staring at me. Just watching. I ask him if I can help him, and nope, he’s just invited himself over to watch me work. Not cool, man.
Same guy would creep around other people’s properties as soon as they would leave. I caught him red handed and read him the riot act. He pulled the whole “I’ve been living here before you were born so I own this area,” attitude and I had to put up no trespassing signs/ video surveillance AND tell him that if I caught him on our property, we’d prosecute to even have him -begin- to take our property lines seriously.
Once he stopped roaming our property, he decided that just setting up his chair facing my backyard would be the best means of keeping an eye on what I was working on.
When I moved my trash bins/got my mail/walked my dog, my other neighbor (very sweet lady though) would fly out of the house to talk. She’d literally watch out of the window for any movement and then strike. I felt horrible that she was that lonely, but usually I was trying to get stuff done and I eventually became a hermit. I’d wait until dusk to go outside. Or, I’d do all of my outdoor chores when it was raining, just to avoid getting roped in.
Our happily ever after started when we bought 2 1/2 acres in the outskirts of a very small town in SW Washington. It gets beautiful light and my neighbors leave me alone. I do miss the Seattle area for the cultural opportunities and the awesome food, but I don’t know if I can ever deal with suburbia again!
Nancy D says
I was wondering about putting privacy fence that at least blocks the view on the side of your yard and also part if the backyard? I think I understand you’re on a corner lot. I was just thinking of somehow giving at least a portion of your yard some privacy.
Kim C says
Maybe you should go have an orange or yellow tshirt made that says NO TRESSPASSING and wear it while you work in the yard! Ha!
Or…’PLEASE DON’T INTERRUPT ME UNLESS IT’S AN EMERGENCY’
Sometimes I can be um…not so nice. 🙂
Practical Parsimony says
I live in an Historic District with no HOA. However, my new next door neighbor only spoke to me when she saw workers in my yard and rushed over to tell them not to cut privit hedge in my yard because it shaded her house. Since I am very allergic to it, before it blooms it will be cut or dead. I cannot imagine the harassment you are bearing. Is it the business of the whole neighborhood to admonish you in this manner?
Stan Appling says
Mavis I’m a guy, I imagine most of your followers are gals, but I have followed you daily for probably 2 years and have shared you with other like minded people. I LOVE all you do, I have 2 UNRESTRICTED acres in the country, so I don’t have HOA’s to deal with thank God. I started with three very large veggie gardens in ground, several in large containers and a couple smaller raised beds. The harvest was so plentiful I learned how to do home canning, bought a nice dehydrator and a large chest freezer. And – I gave away more than I kept. Now I am concentrating more on flowers, in the last year have planted over 50 rose bushes and here on the always beautiful Texas Gulf Coast they bloom all year. Last year three of the roses next to the house got taller than the eaves of the house. I pruned them back to about 3 feet tall and already this spring, new growth has them almost to the eaves again.
I am elated you got the spot in the country to continue doing what you love to do and – a place to get your hands dirty without the nosey neighbors. Luckily for me, since I had good successes for several consecutive years, several of my neighbors are now gardeners too. It is contagious and addicting. But it’s all good.
Hurry and finish your “time” and get outta there.
I’ll continue reading your educational and fun posts, and really appreciate you and your hard work.
Stan
Dawn says
When they ask what your husband does, tell them, “Not much while he’s on house-arrest. The feds will never be able to prove anything. Justice will prevail!!!!!” They will keep a respectful distance I’m sure! lol
Lauren says
Oh, dear. I’ve had those neighbors. I’ll never forget the man who walked up to me and my 1 year old in my backyard, pointed at a tomato plant and practically shouted, “What the f*ck is that?! This ain’t no farm!” Ugh. Enjoy the Stepford wives. Glad the Hillbilies are going to give you a garden plot. And I say go for the edible landscapes! Carrots look like ferns, berries loot like “exotic azaleas”, etc, etc. Hang in there! We’re counting down with you!!
Peggy says
Happy to see that you found some happiness around your terrible neighbors! And that you have friends who trust you to dig up their yard! 🙂
Alison R says
Oh Mavis, been there done that with an HOA before. We both got questioned 24/7 about everything we did in the yard. Our standard answer finally got down to “I’m so sorry, I would love to chat but I only have (insert time amount) to get this done and I have to finish.” We would always wave and say hi when spoken to but sometimes you just need to veg out and garden! We mulched the flower beds and minimally planted just to get the couple years living there over with before we moved where we currently reside.
We have an HOA here, a very laid back and inexpensive one. Unless you find something way out in the county you will have an HOA in this area of GA.
Sorry to hear that someone ratted you out as it were! Too bad no one can just have a conversation before they go to a board and complain.
Sarah says
This is why I live on a farm in the middle of nowhere. My neighbors are wonderful and 1/2 a mile away. We see each other every so often when we invite each other over, and they never raise an eyebrow at my 100+ chickens, or my greenhouse, or my 2 acres of gardens. I’m pretty sure living like you do now I’d go nucking futs.
Pam says
I’m still chuckling about the “What does your husband do?” question. In my household, I’m the one that works a “job”. Hubby retired for health reasons from his construction job and now takes custom work when he chooses too. I earn enough to easily support us both and I work from home – it’s an arrangement that’s worked well for us for almost a decade now. The last time someone was foolish enough to ask me what my husband did for a living, I looked them straight in the eye and told them he was my personal sex slave. Word spread through the neighborhood like wildfire and nobody asked me any more questions. Maybe your husband would be willing to be a condom tester……or a Brazilian wax technician. I know folks may think I’m rude but I’ve learned that the words “That’s really none of your business” are completely acceptable for use when someone is being rude enough to ask nosy questions.
Christy says
I’m floored that you were simply raking moss out of your lawn and they had to ask “what are you doing?” As if that was some kind of offense? Wacko!
Good luck with the rest of the flip and you better keep a sharp eye out for that “perfect” house you want next!
Butterflyweed says
Well Mavis, it looks like you will need to stop posting pics and telling us your plans for your yard. I’ll miss reading about it but you are just giving them the ammo they need to continue the harassment. Without a doubt, someone is a reader of your site. Just tell us your adventures in your vacation home garden and what you are doing over at the Hillbilly’s.
Cindy wood says
We have an hoa and never have this kind of harassment. I guess anonymity pays in this kind of sItuation. Somebody on the hoa must be reading your blog.
tia says
“What are you doing?”
“W o rkin’ on a grave…..what are you, 5′ 6”?
Karol says
Maybe you could enlist the help of everyone who stops by. For the nosy Nellies, leave the earbuds in after you hand them a rake. They will either stop coming by or become a true friend (and neighborhood ally!)
BT says
Bless your Little Heart!! I cannot believe you are going through this! The more I read, the more I cringed!! The gall of those Nosy neighbors!! Who do they think they are? I have never heard of such a thing, some people just don’t have anything better to do but try to mind someone’s business, they need to take care of their own!! Seems like some lazy people to me. Oh well, I have vented long enough. On the good side, I am so glad you have a garden to dig in, have fun!!
Jamie says
Not sure what is funnier the post or the comments! I have the best neighbors. We have an HÒA, but there are rarely issues. I think most people figure if it looks better then it did before, why stop them from changing it? We have smaller houses, bigger yards, a neighborhood park, and fences so I’m sure that helps a lot. The kids play outside together and we help with each others projects, gardens, share tools, bring each other cookies, and admire each other’s handiwork. Glad I won the lottery with neighbors apparently!
I admit I’m glad to hear about the drama, and I’m usually a no drama person, but since I’ve only had a positive experience with HÒA it’s good to see that it is not always the case and something to think about next time I move. Garden on!