Suburban Farmer Can Keep Growing His Persimmons...For Now

The agricultural efforts of La Cañada Flintridge resident William Johnson have gotten a reprieve, though the suburban farmer isn't out of the woods--or persimmon grove--yet.

Johnson has been tending to 78 acres of land that run alongside the Angeles Crest Highway on which he's planted 475 persimmon trees. It takes 7 years to bear fruit, but recently Johnson learned the city might give him the boot before a single persimmon could be harvested; La Cañada is considering a new general plan that would ban agricultural activity from the land where the persimmons are growing.

This week Johnson says he "has signed a memorandum with the city that allows him to continue his operation," reports the Glendale News-Press, though city officials say they've only "agreed to consider his request."

Johnson has the option to further pursue the matter with the Planning Commission, but luckily--at least for now--the trees are going to stay put.

Neighbors are divided on their support of Johnson and his farming efforts, which also happen to include the more problematic presence of alpacas and, in the past, cows. Folks in LCF tend to not like stepping in cow pies near their driveways, reportedly.

The city isn't going to act against Johnson now, but do caution eventually they "will have to take some sort of action."