Does Growing a Vegetable Garden Really Save You Money?

I will try neglecting them more then.

I’ve been dabbling in it for years but getting serious this year. Learned quite a bit dabbling which should help this year. Started prepping things last year. Got a spot out in front of the house that I tilled, put a layer of goat manure on and covered with black plastic film. Just came back in from uncovering and raking it smooth. Nice brown fluffy stuff.

I’ve got a big area out back where I’ve gardened before and over this winter have been feeding the goats hay on it. That will need black plastic mulch because there will be a ton of grass seed there now. The spot where I fed them hay in the winter before that was super rich and had the biggest worms I’d seen here when I dragged the spent hay off of it. Poop and pee and mulched heavily. That out back garden area is 24x35 or 840 sq ft. The area out front here is about 10x16 so I’m right at the 1,000 sq ft mark and I plan on turning the whole front yard into garden which will put me up around 2,000 sq ft.

For the two existing areas, the one out front can be planted immediately. The one in the back will need the spent hay dragged off, a quick tilling, smoothing and cover with plastic mulch quick.

Got a nice pile of goat manure to shovel up from in and around the goat shed and got some 2 year old chicken manure raked up into the corner of the coop. Goat manure can be used fresh. I plan on composting this year. Haven’t done it in a few years. Only got one hen right now but will be getting a dozen fertilized eggs from the neighbor and this hen is a bit on the broody side so I’ll lock her in the coop with the eggs, food and water and I’m pretty sure she’ll hatch and raise them. With several birds, I’ll have plenty of manure for the compost pile(s).

Now if it would just warm up. Snow Friday with 12 degrees for a low Fri night.

If market gardeners can make a decent living, then there is a ROI. That requires volume, organization, equipment and a streamlined process though, plus, they’re just selling in season. They don’t have to put up food for the winter. Most are using high tunnels to extend the season and maybe row covers inside of that so they can grow a few things year round like baby greens.

Where I live in Missouri, I could probably succession plant potatoes and grow them close to year round. When/if the last planting died off due to short days, I could leave the tubers in the ground and dig as needed. I missed some when digging one year and found them the next Spring and they were in perfect condition. It was a mild winter and Fall leaves had mulched the garden for me. Our frost line is maybe 6 inches at most but mulch fixes that. We’ve been down to 10 this year and if I rake some leaves, I find green grass under them. Places that have never been mowed also have green grass down at the bottom and really don’t freeze.

I think there is no question that if you are organized as small farm that you can earn a good living. (Provided you know what you are doing! See all the “$250,000 per year income on 1 acre farm!” You tube videos!)

I think the question raised in this article is more for the the average gardener rather than market gardener or motivated prepper. (You are the last!) I would say that as Inflation increases farm input costs increase (fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, equipment expense and capex, crop insurance and front end bank loan interest) a capable home gardener’s produce value will approach or exceed rising food costs. (At least for those things she or he chooses to grow.) It sounds like you are doing very well! Lets hope for a good year!

I do not grow potatoes or cabbage here on “Acre o’ Clay” here just west of KCMO. I can buy them cheaply and there is not that much room in my 450 sq ft garden. (I would grow potatoes if I had space.)

I am fortunate to live within 10 miles of an Associated Wholesale Grocers Regional distribution warehouse. I think there will be potatoes here when they start to run out in other places.

Diana iW. has a way of growing potatoes which involves a quick till, some fertilizer (Phosphate and Potassium and minor minerals) and cover them with straw. Plants grow, in fall you harvest by raking off the straw and collecting your potatoes. She could add more.

I have grown things like lettuce and spinch and leeks through the winter in a low tunnel. They don’t really grow much after November 1st, They do keep though.) I am very good at growing leeks, but for some reason not at growing onions.

Goats. My Swedish g-grandmother raised goats. My Grandfather reportedly complained because they jumped on and scratched his ford touring car!

You do not have to purchase fertilizer because you produce it the old european farmer way!

Well, I suspect you are looking at some snow right now. There was a heavy band in Harrisonville MO heading your way!

Well, in looking at what you are doing I am impressed! You are doing great! (Diana is too!)

Goats milk cheese I imagine, chicken, and eggs. (And vegetables.)

Good night!

"when the world worries and ceases to satisfy,there is always the garden"......

from a woodcut bought back in the 70's in Vermont.....I always loved it.

Nice!

L

No cheese. I’ve got meat goats. The does produce just enough milk for their kids.

I think there is no question that if you are organized as small farm that you can earn a good living. (Provided you know what you are doing! See all the “$250,000 per year income on 1 acre farm!” You tube videos!)

Six figure Farming. I think a lot of them make more money from youtube, holding classes, speaking engagements and writing books than farming. Or at least get worn out from farming and transition to the other things. Seems fun when in their 20s and then they get to mid 30s and realize it will suck when they're in their 40s, 50s etc.

I love my little garden very much. Perhaps planting different vegetables, daily care is more expensive if I just bought vegetables at the nearest market. But I like the process ))