Posted on 03/10/2022 6:43:41 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Also, years ago, when I gardened, I tried a small patch of corn...didn't work out well for me. It seems corn has to be grown at a certain size/amount to be worth it...do you grow corn, or buy it from someone who does?
While there may not be a really significant difference btwn many store-bought veggies and home-grown, with tomatoes (though technically a fruit) you are essentially dealing with a different species, cold flesh vs. flavor, praise God.
And it is good that the article takes into account things like tools, fertilizer, water and pest control costs, and time traded from paid labor, whilr the reason for growing your own is usually not to necessarily save money, and which reasons warrant the work, thank God.
(Rolls eyes)...I was referring to the Krazy Koupon lady, NOT Diana. Ye gads...I have been posting (now and then) to the garden thread since the days of Red Devil 232...
I buy it locally right off the truck from a local farm.
However - Beau LOVES to grow Sweet Corn, so he tries, usually in vain, because it seems the raccoons get to it before he does. He likes growing things I find a waste of time - watermelons, musk melon, corn, okra & sweet potatoes. For someone who lived in Alabama for one short year and HATED every minute of it, he sure loves that food, LOL! Have at it, Sweetheart! Now, get out of my way while I grow the REAL value crops, LOL!
This past year we moved his corn patch up closer to the house to see if THAT would help. Of course, the guy who rents our crop land planted field corn about 10 feet away, so our sweet corn was AWFUL - tough and NOT sweet - because it crossed with that field corn. Blech! The mule and the steer were happy though, so it didn’t go to waste.
This year, Farmer Dan should be planting soybeans in that field, so his Sweet Corn crop MIGHT have a fighting chance this season. I bought him seed. I pick my battles around here. ;)
Contrarianism is a gift from above. :-)
Another article from 2020. THIS guy says you can save up to $500 by growing your own:
https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money/grow-your-own-food/
Gardening is war. The first battle is with the frost. Next, you attack the insects, the mites, midges. aphids, weevils, and beetles, with chemical weapons. Then, it’s hand-to-hand with the weeds. The crows and squirrels try to ambush attacks and have to be contended with. Finally, it’s back to chemical warfare against the molds and a host of other plant diseases.
I have always been a contrarian when it comes to two things: Mother Government and Investing.
Both have served me well; I have no plans to change. :)
I was going to ping you to this thread, then saw you had posted it LOL.
Quit eating crap. You won't be so fat and you won't get so many diseases.
But what do I know. I'm 127 years old, on my 4th wife whose having our sixth child.
Yeah, but she's only 83 you cradle robber, you.
My apologies. That is why I asked if.
Yeah, the author may have both oars, but not in the water, together.
And not one sticker of product of Mexico.
I’m in zone 9b, I can grow tomatoes close to 10 months of the year with just minimal frost protection. Unless I shade them they will not set fruit in really hot weather, but using medium to small types I can get 10 months of production. Tomatoes are easy to can and we eat a lot of Salsa. Jalapeno and Serrano peppers I treat as perennial. Those are my basics but always try something different this year sweet potatoes.
Yes, that makes a difference in MA (hope you do not mind all the images). From Winter to Fall (not all the same years):
"
"
![610temp.new[1]](https://live.staticflickr.com/7822/32600433507_e2e3dcc224.jpg)
All glory and thanks be to God! Grown in a city with about 20k ppl per mile.
And here is a neighbor's (brother Gabriel) container garden:
Back to planting. :-)
Hearing about everyone’s soil or lack of makes me glad I took two years to find land. It was a rough two years off grid with two heat wave summers. BUT, I have 1-2 foot of clayey loam top soil that USGS rates as Prime Farmland.
Since this article is from 2017, you could probably double that $200 savings to $400 or maybe more by the end of the year and if some things simply become unavailable...
Can you put a price on variety and taste?
My selection here in the boonies is slim.
Maters: slicing, plum, vine and cherry - no varieties listed
Peppers: bell or jalapeno for the most part, occasionally banana and serrano.
Lettuce: Iceberg and Romaine plus red and green leaf, no variety given.
Prepackaged baby greens mix. Available but pricey and quality is poor in winter. Meanwhile, can be grown year round indoors.
https://www.botanicalinterests.com/product/Chefs-Choice-Mesclun-Lettuce-Seeds
Chef’s Choice Large Packet #7301 - 4.5 grams (~2,660 seeds) $3.99
2,660 seeds for the price of one package of baby greens mix that makes 3-4 salads. $4/wk for salad four days a week is $208/yr. I’m thinking those packaged baby salad greens will be $5.00 sometime this year. They might already be. I haven’t bought any since last Fall due to the quality going downhill during Winter.
I TRY to stay one step ahead of the rest of the pack. Not always easy around here! :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.