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Growing trend: Financial slump prompts gardening craze
By KATHY MELLOTT
The Tribune-Democrat

For those weary of sky-high food prices, a walk into the backyard could be the beginning of a little extra cash in the pocketbook.

The financial pinch has record numbers of people turning to seed catalogs and garden Web sites, prompting predictions that 43 million U.S. households will grow vegetables, fruit, berries or herbs this year.

That figure is up 6 percent over 2008, with 11 percent of veteran gardeners increasing the amount and variety they will grow, according to Bruce Butterfield, National Gardening Association research director.

The increased gardening interest is prompting local commercial growers and greenhouses to gear up for what promises to be a busy year.

“We’re looking at having more vegetables, fruit trees and berry bushes,” said Eric Stuver, the third-generation owner of Stuver’s Riverside Nursery Inc.

“It’s similar to the 1970s. I remember it when people were trying to be more self-sufficient.”

Pennsylvania’s own Burpee Seed Co., one of the country’s largest mail-order seed sources, is finding vegetables are taking priority over flowers.

Burpee spokeswoman Kristin Grilli said flower seed orders are flat but vegetable seed and plant sales have increased by 20 percent over last year.

“Seed and vegetable transplant sales are up. They were up last year, but they are really up this year,” she said. “We definitely think the economy is a huge part of it.”

Gas prices driving up food prices prompted last year’s hike in gardening. This year it is the economy in general and concerns over food safety issues because of the rash of food- recalls, Grilli said.

Those flower seeds showing good sales at Burpee include sunflowers, zinnias and marigolds, important for discouraging vegetable garden attacks by insects and small animals.

People with space problems are becoming more creative by planting vegetable seeds and plants at the bases of rose bushes and other ornamentals, Grilli said.

Complaints Tom Ford is hearing from residential gardeners and commercial growers about slow seed and plant orders supports national predictions. The number of questions also are on the increase.

“We’re getting more inquiries about organic gardening. More people are concerned about food safety, but there is also the economic advantage,” said Ford, the regional vegetable expert with Penn State Cooperative Extension.

With careful planning, faithful maintenance, and timely harvesting and canning, the savings with a vegetable garden over purchased vegetables can be significant, Ford said.

National estimates are that the average gardener planting a 600-square-foot plot invests $70 to get a garden in the ground.

The 300 pounds of fresh produce it yields has a value of $600 and a $530 return based on that investment, according to Butterfield.

The garden craze has even reached Pennsylvania Avenue, where first lady Michelle Obama and her staff are planting an organic garden on the south lawn of the White House.

Home gardens are even generating support from commercial growers, said William Troxell, executive director of the 900-member Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association.

“People are trying to reduce their carbon footprint. Buying locally grown produce helps that and a home garden lowers it even more,” Troxell said.

Meanwhile, the gardening craze is opening doors for community outreach, said the Rev. William Thwing of the First United Church of Christ in Ebensburg.

An avid gardner for years, Thwing said his church is looking at reaching out to help gardeners, especially the novices.

“We’re talking of having canning classes and gardening classes,” he said. “How do you garden, how do you can?”

http://www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_102234607.html