A military spouse recently made headlines for her creative response to a housing directive that required her to plant her garden directly in the ground. After receiving notice from base housing that her potted plants had to be removed, she decided to plant a mass of invasive oregano instead.
During her husband’s deployment, this sub wife found herself with plenty of time to fill. Initially, she had set up a small garden with basil, tomatoes, and oregano in pots. The pandemic then made her situation even more complicated when they were informed they would not be moving as planned. With the world shutting down, gardening became a sanctuary during the uncertainty.
<p”The notice was frustrating,” she recounted. “I was getting told to remove the AC units because it was October, but the temperatures were still hovering in the 80s.” She felt the housing authority was being unreasonable while neglecting more pressing issues. For instance, when a hornet’s nest the size of a basketball appeared near her home, it was the fire department, not housing officials, who took care of the problem.
In another incident, when pipes burst in her home, she felt unfairly criticized. “They berated me about my dog peeing in the house. That was a low blow, particularly since I was having my own health issues and the noise likely scared my dog,” she explained. After years of dealing with these small but irritating issues, she had had enough.
When the housing office demanded that her garden be planted in the ground, she saw it as an opportunity. She decided to go with oregano, a choice she believed they would regret down the line. “You’re going to have to deal with it when I leave,” she said, knowing how invasive oregano is. Over the next two years, she nurtured her oregano patch, and it thrived. As she left, she removed any barriers she had put in place to contain it.
Upon moving out, she left behind a sprawling, untamed oregano garden that had likely taken over a significant portion of the yard. She even pulled up the mini dividers she had originally used to keep it in check. “They’re going to have to get REALLY creative to get rid of it,” she joked.
After relocating, she learned from her neighbor that the new family was thrilled with what they found. “When I found out the wife was ecstatic about the oregano, I couldn’t help but laugh. It’s still there and HUGE!” she shared. Her petty act of defiance transformed into a gift for another family, who now enjoys the bountiful herb patch.
Many are relating to her experience. One person told her, “I love how you turned their rules back on them!” Another reader praised her for being witty and resourceful, commenting, “That’s the best kind of revenge.” The responses reflect a sense of camaraderie among those who understand the unique challenges faced by military families.
Her story illustrates how the stress of deployments and military housing rules can lead to creative, if not cheeky, solutions in challenging circumstances. Rather than simply uprooting her plants, she took a stand against what she viewed as unreasonable demands.
As for whether she would approach the housing authority to highlight the absurdity of their regulations, she remains undecided. The satisfaction she gets from knowing her oregano thrives is strong. Yet, part of her still considers informing them of the situation, weighing the potential nuisance against a sense of justice.
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