Gardening can put green back in your wallet

If you’re looking for more ways to stay healthy, and save money, look no further than your own backyard. Growing a simple vegetable garden can save hundreds of dollars in food costs—and more Americans are catching on. According to a recent National Gardening Association (NGA) study, 43 million U.S. households plan to grow their own garden this year, up 19 percent from last year. And gardening is appealing to an increasingly broad group—21 percent are new to gardening. Over half (54 percent) of gardeners say their main reason for growing their own food is to save money on food bills, and 34 percent say the current recession is motivating them to garden.

And in case saving money isn’t reason enough to get your hands in the dirt, gardening can provide exercise, and it can aid your social life—particularly if you swap fruits and veggies with your neighbors or volunteer at your nearest community garden.

Don’t have a green thumb? Short on time? Start small, with fresh herbs or simple vegetables like tomatoes. Visit the NGA for tools and tips on starting a garden, and get planting!

We’d like to hear from you: Do you have a garden of your own? Have you saved money by planting your own fruits and veggies?

—Ginger Skinner

Get more ideas on healthful eating on a budget, and see our Home & Garden blog for more gardening advice.

Comments

[Diane]

Wouldn't be without my dill and chives. Easy to cut up and freeze in baggie and use all winter. You only have to plant them once. And there's nothing like a ripe tomato or cucumber fresh from the plant.

[Hilary]

Hi Ginger,

I've been a professional landscaper and certified organic gardener for over 20 years.

Yes you can save quite a bit of money by growing your own vegetables. I mean think about it. Tomatoes can be around $3 a pound at the market, more or less, and you can get pounds and pounds of tomatoes off your vines all summer long from just one plant.

The small amount of time, money and water is nothing to the amount of produce you can harvest.

Even if you just grow basic vegetables that your family normally eats like carrots, peas, beans, squash, lettuce, onions, tomaotes you an save an enormous amount of money at the store.

Plus if you dry herbs, as the post above mentioned, or can, pickle or preserve, it is just that much more cost effective.

For people who would like to learn more and start their own garden, I would like to suggest a great free, step-by-step tutorial with picures at:

How To Start A Vegetable Garden (part 1):
http://www.weekendgardener.net/vegetable-gardening-tips/starting-garden-050705.htm

How To Maintain A Vegetable Garden (part 2):
http://www.weekendgardener.net/vegetable-gardening-tips/maintain-garden-060706.htm

Good luck!

[Joene]

I doubt one comment from a seasoned gardener will convince skeptics that gardening and, yes, with herbs, can save money. I've grown oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme, chives, basil, cilantro and other herbs for more than 30 years. All but basil, cilantro, and rosemary are perennial in my zone 6 garden. Since they come back each year and can be divided, I have a very extensive collection from which I harvest for fresh use, and for drying (a very simple process). I don't buy any of these dry herbs ... Good Grief! they are expensive ... at a grocery store, yet I use herbs almost daily when cooking.

[eric]

I always see this recommendation to "start with herbs." First, that's going to save next to nothing in money. Second, how many people REALLY cook with a lot of herbs anyway. Good grief!