You no longer have to pay the city to grow food on the parking strip in front of your house. Today, Mayor Greg Nickels killed a requirement for $225 permits to garden in raised beds in the city-owned land between the sidewalk and the street.

But how healthy is food grown in dog piss and car exhaust?

"Please note that the City of Seattle and SDOT are not responsible for the quality of food that is produced," says a handy brochure (.pdf) on the new rules from city's Department of Transportation. "Also, if you have any concerns about the quality of the soil, you may want to have your soil tested prior to planting edible foods." It adds: "It is important to wash all produce before consuming."

"When you say you are planting veggies in that strip, the common reaction is 'What about dogs?'" says mayor's office spokesman Alex Fryer. "But it hasn’t been a problem for me. I have peas growing in my right of way, and I don't really worry about it."

Now urban farmers need only a free permit, which are over here (click "apply now").