Elderly man who picked dandelions for food gets $75 ticket

[The Straight Story]

Most agree, dandelions are a notorious weed. But some recognize that dandelion greens can contribute to a tasty and nutritious meal.

Among the fans of the food is John Taris, a 75-year-old retiree who lives in the Chicago area with his wife on a $1,500-a-month social security payment. When the couple's food supply was a bit low recently, he volunteered to go pick some to provide a vegetable, writes columnist John Kass in the Chicago Tribune (sub. req.).

But, caught in the act of picking the weeds by a Cook County Forest Preserve cop, he was issued a $75 ticket. His court date is July 9.

A spokeswoman for the forest preserve district noted that foraging is prohibited there and called the practice "unsustainable, especially when it's done for commercial purposes," the article reports.

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/elderly_man_who_picked_dandelions_for_food_gets_75_ticket/

[Poll_Blind]

1. At least North Korea doesn't fine their starving citizens for eating grass.

A uniquely American twist with this story.

PB

[Rhiannon12866]

2. How awful! How can anyone take this seriously?!

When I was a kid, my grandmother took us to pick dandelion greens and she cooked them up. I thought it was great fun, but was disappointed that I didn't much like them.

[silverweb]

3. I'm speechless.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]And I suggest the gentleman and his wife plant some dandelions, in pots on the window sills if they have nowhere else.

That way, they can enjoy the tender young shoots whenever they wish without reprisal. Or is there a law against planting weeds for food in Chicago, too?

[pinboy3niner]

4. Gotta nip that dangerous criminal in the bud before he escalates to decimating Mint

Mint! Is nothing sacred?

[HiPointDem]

5. unbelievable. dandelions.

[Downwinder]

6. Most places I know would be happy to get rid of dandelions.

[napoleon_in_rags]

7. I hope this story is distributed far and wide locally.

Those are the people who can really act. But yeah, this is exactly the sort of thing people need to start pushing back against. Having governments let fraudsters who've made millions go, while punishing old men who pick weeds is pure poison for the well being of the people, the state, and those who believe the state can accomplish anything - large or small in its role - for the people. We can all see the weeds that need to pulled out here, and it ain't just the dandelions.

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

8. Did he dig up roots, or only pick some leaves? And picking for self is not commercial.

He should be paid for removing invasives if he dug the roots out, and if he didn't he hasn't hurt a perennial plant:
Dandelion
www.woodrow.org/teachers/bi/2000/ethnobotany/dandelion....
Origin: Native of Europe and Asia. Botanical description: The common dandelion is a perennial, herbaceous plant with long, lance-shaped leaves that are ...

[mnhtnbb]

9. Fined for picking dandelions? Going to jail for writing on the sidewalk in chalk?

This country has lost its way.

[surrealAmerican]

10. Dandelions are an invasive species.

Assuming he did no damage to the native plants, they should be thanking him, not fining him.

[Trillo]

11. "for commercial use", can that be used as precedent?

If food to sustain yourself is a commercial purpose, then everyone's food should be deductible.