Hello all,
I haven't posted a diary in a while, but some of you may recall I am the uninsured cancer chick in Los Angeles who got riled up during the 2009/2010 health care debates.
I now find myself about to lose the hobby I took up during my initial diagnosis in 2004 and have found nothing but joy in for the past 9 years: Gardening, or more specifically, balcony gardening (urban gardening). More below the squiggly thingy - -
I have lived in my apartment building in N. Hollywood since 1994 when I first moved out here for college. I haven't always loved my building or my neighborhood, it has its good days and bad days, the occasional police/gang situation, but for the most part I like living here. And we are in a rent control area so it's pretty much the only thing in LA I could ever afford on my meager salary,
One of the big draws for me was the big roomy balcony to sit on and watch the sunset off in the distance or more often than that watch the police activity.
After my diagnosis with the "Big C" in 2004 I took up gardening on my balcony to keep my mind occupied and to start to grow my own organic vegetables and herbs. For the past 9 years I have been happy as a clam with my hobby. It's just so rewarding to grow vegetables yourself and they taste so good.
About 7 months ago, my building, which for 19 years had been owned by a single private owner. He was a nice guy but didn't have much money to put into the building for improvements. That was okay by me, the main issues were always taken care of and the handyman was always prompt and knowledgeable.
He sold the building to a "giant evil corporation." They put tons of money into the building these past few months, although the timetable we were given is way, way off course and way, way beyond the expected end date.
All the balconies in the front were renovated, yipee. Nothing spectacular just an update in the look from the original balconies built in 1964 to black wrought iron railings and a different color scheme.
I happily plunked my beautiful garden back out there and started my summer crop. I must point out that this garden is quite organized and the planters are all uniform, and nothing looks clunky and cluttered and out of place. I also had a nice new outside chair from Target that's a pretty fuscia color, and a couple of nice windchimes.
The evil corporation decreed that they didn't want anything at all on the balconies, nothing, nada, zip, zilch. Everything effective immediately had to be removed. I pressed the building manager to explain why, what's the reason? He just said because that's what he was told to say. I said well what am I supposed to use the balcony for? Total silence, he didn't know. So I asked him to go to the owner and ask if I can get a reduction in the rent. I mean if I can't use the balcony then I don't wat to pay for it. Why pay for something I'm not allowed to use, when for nearly 20 years I used it happily without incident or complaint?
Any advice? Any ideas? I'm really just heartbroken that my hobby I discovered and enjoyed during my cancer drama, that I found I was actually good at, has been cruelly and without explanation ripped from me.
Help Kossacks! I am desperate to garden again.
3:27 AM PT: It's about 3:26 AM - Just as I was writing this I heard a commotion on my downstairs neighbors balcony. He began to violently rip apart his plants and he threw some things into the street. Manager must have talked to him too. I'm not alone in my anger. .