Couple fight to keep front yard garden

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ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 10 (UPI) -- A Florida couple ordered to pull out their front yard vegetable garden have vowed to fight back against officials.

Jason and Jennifer Helvenston said they replaced their front lawn with a vegetable garden about a year ago to save on groceries and they have now received orders from Orlando City Hall to remove the garden and replace it with approved ground covers, meaning grass and shrubberies, in accordance with city codes, the Orlando Sentinel reported Thursday.

The couple, who have been threatened with fines of $500 per day, said they plan to "pack the house" with supporters when a proposal goes before the Municipal Planning Board next week that would allow residents to use half of their front yards for gardening.

"They'll take our house before they take our garden," Jason said.

The Helvenstons said they are hoping to convince officials to alter the proposal to allow them to use the whole yard for their garden, or else they could still face fines for going over the allowed garden size.

"They need to treat our vegetables fairly," Jason said. "We are fighting to the end."