Michael Sherman wanted to eat healthier and spend less at the supermarket.
In 2019, this 49-year-old landscaping contractor in Chino, California, tore out the traditional lawn in his yard and planted sweet potatoes, squash, bananas, and passion fruit. No pesticides, no grass that serves only to be looked at. He wanted a garden that would feed his family and his neighbors too.
The problem is that the city did not see it the same way. In April 2026, he received a $750 fine for ‘excessive vegetation.’ In August, another for $500. All this in a city whose official motto is ‘where everything grows.’ They required him to trim the crops, keep sightlines clear for pedestrians, and keep the plants more than 4 meters from neighboring properties.
Sherman has already trimmed part of his garden to comply with safety regulations, but he plans to appeal the remaining citations. ‘I don’t trust the system,’ he said, convinced that growing your own food shouldn’t cost you a fine.
