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“The bok choy is pretty much done, and it’s flowers on each side,” she said, adding that the only crop that has yet to yield is the jalapeño peppers. Those will be re-planted in the centre section of the garden.

The agreement came after a social media blitz to #saveourgarden got a huge response in Ottawa, drawing Ottawa bylaw’s attention and spawning a variety of opinions throughout the city, including some strong anti-bylaw opinions that Lough thought were unfair.

“They’re just doing their job,” Lough said. “You could tell they were so reticent. They didn’t really want to do this. They’re really reasonable, genuine human beings that don’t want to be part of this. But they’re doing their jobs.

“They’re not the big, bad wolf or anything, I wouldn’t say.”

Despite the success of her social media campaign, if Lough had to do it over again she said she would have changed her approach.

“When I finally got through to (chief bylaw officer) Roger Chapman and we both had a civil discussion, we were both like, ‘What the hell?’ This is fine,” she said. “If we just spoke in the first place, it probably would have been OK. We probably could have seen through some kind of deal.”

Now that the issue has been resolved, Lough said she is happy to put it all behind her and focus on what she fought so hard for: her crops.

Lough and her boyfriend will have to remove the planters at the end of the harvest, and while Lough is still unclear on where the property line is, she said she would petition city councillor Allan Hubley to implement a community garden nearby.

“There’s a park right by our house that they’re just building up now. Why don’t you just put community gardens there next year? Because then it’s two doors down from us, and I can just tend that garden,” she said, adding that it would also create more green space and help foster more of a community feel.

Ottawa bylaw could not be reached for comment.

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