Rising Food Costs Mean there’s Gold in your Garden

The How Do Gardener ^ | May 5, 2011 | Rick Bickling

[orsonwb]

Unless you haven’t eaten in the past several months, or you already grow all of your own produce, you’ve probably noticed that food prices have been rising dramatically. According to the USDA, the average cost to the U.S. consumer of Lettuce is up 4.5%, and fresh Tomatoes are up 4.7% from the same time last year. The recently released U.S. Labor Department consumer price index survey reports that the price of grains such as corn, wheat and soybeans has roughly doubled since last summer...

[RoseyT]

I grow herbs in containers on the deck, which is partially covered with shade cloth.

[RoseyT]

:::swoon::: *Someday* I will have a cottage garden to lose myself in.

[greeneyes]

I grew spinach, lettuce, and other salad fixin’s (including tomatoes) in side the house. I put the plants in front of my patio doors which face southwest.

When the days were short, I added a few hours of full spectrum grow light after sundown. It worked pretty well.

You might be able to grow a few things indoors, if the heat is too bad outdoors.

[ladyjane]

Can you use regular curling ribbon or does it have to be metallic?

[greeneyes]

I make Salad soup. Use 1 cup chicken broth and 1 potato per serving. Add your favorite seasonings and veggies like lettuce, carrots onions etc.

When the potato is done, whirl in a blender until smooth. Add a little cream, and garnish with parsley or cheese and bacon.

This works for leftover salad too.

[freedommom]

I think the point is to make noise which the curling ribbon does. I don’t think color is important but the metallic
might make more noise.

[Califreak]

I have spinach and lettuce growing in 5 gallon buckets on the back porch. I’ve only been able to cut them down twice for salads. They aren’t very big. I’m wondering if the pot is too small, they are overcrowded or should I feed them more and of what.

I wish I could grow beets. Before mine get big enough to be worth growing, they go to seed. I wonder if they need to be trimmed regularly?

[Califreak]

LOL!

I just threw a cup of shredded iceberg(leftover from taco night)into the borscht I made yesterday because I couldn’t bear to throw it out.

[bgill]

High 5!