Posted on 04/05/2010 11:30:57 AM PDT by Graybeard58
With today’s tight economy, everyone is looking for ways to cut expenses. Growing a garden has the potential to reduce the amount of money spent on groceries. But this “potential” depends on the costs involved in growing the crops, types and amounts of vegetables grown, yields that are derived from the garden, and other factors. So, the answer to the above question is “yes” – if done correctly.
It’s possible to spend a small fortune on a garden. The humorous book, "The $64 Tomato" by William Alexander, discusses one man’s quest for the perfect garden and how it ended up costing him $64 per tomato (among other things). This astonishing figure is the result of all of the input costs (tools and equipment, fertilizers, pesticides, water, etc.) associated with gardening. These costs can add up quickly, even for a small vegetable garden. The trick to saving money with a vegetable garden is limiting the costs while maximizing yield.
While saving money may be one of the benefits to growing a vegetable garden – let’s not forget that there are others as well. Gardens are a potential means to increase our confidence in food safety and security. We know where the food is coming from and all the history of plants grown in our own gardens. We know what chemicals were used, we know what pests were problems and we essentially eliminated the whole resource-gobbling transportation chain to get the food to your plate. And all that gardening is good for you. It is a great form of physical exercise, and I haven’t met a nutritionist yet who didn’t think that fresh produce was “good for you” too!
So, growing your own vegetables can be rewarding, regardless of the potential savings. But with a few tips, it can save you some money on a grocery bill or two. First – you have to know a couple of basics of growing vegetables.
Vegetable Growing Basics
There are a wide variety of vegetables that can be successfully grown in Iowa. As I walk through the produce section of my grocery store, there are only a few things I see that are difficult to grow in Iowa. The location of the vegetable garden is crucial. Nearly all vegetables need full-sun and a well-drained soil. The vegetable garden also should be located near a source of water. Iowa’s climate allows production of both cool and warm season vegetables.
Cool season vegetables (carrots, beets, lettuce, cauliflower, etc.) are planted in early spring and harvested by mid-summer. Warm season vegetables (tomatoes, pepper, eggplant, squash, etc.) are planted after the danger of frost has passed and harvested by early fall. With proper planning, it’s possible to grow two or three crops in a given area during the growing season. Using the same space for two or more crops is called succession planting. Other techniques, such as interplanting and companion planting, are other ways to make efficient use of garden space. The more efficiently you use garden space and resources the larger the potential savings.
Below are several other important factors to consider when growing a vegetable garden to save you money.
Select vegetables that you like. This is simple – you’re not likely to take care of …or eat things you don’t like. So don’t waste your time or money planting them in the garden.
Select vegetables that can be easily stored or preserved. Selecting vegetables that have a long storage life or that can easily be canned or frozen is a great way to stretch your grocery dollar. Potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, and winter squash can be stored for several months when stored at the appropriate temperature. Other vegetables, like beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, beets and sweet corn, can be preserved by canning or freezing. Preserving vegetables is a great way to enjoy the “extra” produce later in the year.
Select vegetables that are expensive to buy in the grocery store. To save money, grow more expensive items, like tomatoes and melons, or large quantities of vegetables that you purchase regularly. Consider vegetables like beans, beets, onions, spinach, broccoli, peppers, carrots, summer squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, peas, and Swiss chard. These vegetables provide the biggest returns on your investment of space and time in the garden.
Do some research and start with a plan. Decide what you want to grow and determine what will be necessary to be successful. Plan the garden on paper first. Establish a network of family members, neighbors, or friends that can help you answer your questions. Don’t forget about your local county extension office. There are more than 20 vegetable gardening publications from Iowa State University Extension that can help you (see table below). Each of these can be picked up at your county extension office. They can also be ordered or downloaded online at www.extension.iastate.edu/store. County extension offices are also the meeting centers for Master Gardeners – many of whom have the knowledge and experience to keep your garden growing successfully.
Research and consider ways to reduce your inputs. Collect rainwater for irrigation. Add compost and well-rotted manure to the garden to improve the soil and reduce the use of fertilizers. Practice the principles of Integrated Pest Management to control insects and diseases, reducing your reliance on pesticides. Start with high quality seeds – most are relatively inexpensive, and most can be stored for at least one or two years. Find ways to reuse containers, flats, stakes, ties, etc. Remember that saving money with vegetables usually means keeping the costs as low as possible while still growing productive plants.
Start small. Like many things, gardening takes practice. Plants will require regular watering, maintenance and harvesting. Growing many different vegetables in a large garden can be overwhelming for new gardeners and can ultimately lead to failure. Limit yourself to just a few types of vegetables the first year. When you become more confident in your abilities and resources, you can increase the size of your vegetable garden and grow a wider variety of crops.
Finally, have fun growing your own vegetables. Encourage your neighbors to grow a few vegetables as well. Visit each other’s gardens and trade “extra produce” regularly. It’s surprising how something as simple as a vegetable garden can impact your life...and hopefully your pocketbook as well!
Wow, you two are making me hungry for a tomato sandwich!
I will be this year. When I worked afternoons, I couldn’t get up at would be my “6AM” to work on a garden.
Now I have to find some rabbits, that poop work the best.
You can get some greenhouse grown ones, cost an arm and a leg, but grown in ON!!!
You’re welcome. We use the raised beds for things that need covering or get ‘lost’ in a regular garden. We use the lasagna garden method for just about everything else (corn, peanuts (just mulch, thinly, no papers), beans, peas, etc) that we grow lots of.
Might have to give a couple a try next year. I want a few more blue berries too.
The division of labor is what made us rich. You're thinking like an economist -- a good one -- not Paul Krugman or any of Obama's advisers.
Blueberries are easy. Find out (via farmers almanac) which days are good for ‘root things’. Then cut you a few pieces of a blueberry bush (friends hopefully) and stick them down in a pot. Water them every single day (make sure pot has good drainage). I’ve got 19 new blueberry bushes going this way this spring. For ‘free’ from my parents blueberry bushes.
Plant two different kinds for pollination/etc.
If I get any cherries off my cherry bushes I’ll save a few pits for you to plant.
I remember that email and I thought I had responded ... I certainly had intended on doing so. I'm so glad that the pickles were popular.
I've done two things with that recipe that have improved the results somewhat. I started crinkle-cutting the cukes on my mandoline slicer and I began using exclusively the turmeric and mustard seeds from Penzey's, which BTW is MUCH cheaper than buying the brands in the stores. In addition to the yellow mustard seed, I also add a few brown mustard seed which have a little heat to them. Adds a good flavor, but I don't add enough to make them hot.
i.e. the time otherwise spent butt sitting watching sports, butt sitting playing video games, "working out" on the Wii, or spent manicuring flowerbeds and grass in the space the garden would otherwise occupy.
It counts, at least partially, as entertainment/recreational time, that provides both exercise and other benefits. Sized reasonably, it also doesn't take that much time, averaged over the growing season.
Thanks for pinging this, Red_Devil 232!
Pinging Gabz. Last reply Dec.28th? What gives?
I’m excited to hear about your success with the Topsy Turvy grower. I have one that I’m going to do this year. How did you hang it? I don’t want squirrels eating my tomatoes. What about a tall shepherd’s hook?
Oh I agree. And have you seen the cost of cut, packaged “fresh” herbs at the grocery store (produce section)?? You’ll end up paying $4 for a few sprigs of dill! I’ve got dill growing voluntarily in my garden every year as it reseeds very well. I grow dill, basil, chives, garlic, mint (not by choice anymore lol), thyme, oregano. parsley, stevia, rosemary....
I’ve read where you can grow potato plants in bags of dirt. I’ve never tried it but it sounds interesting.
As for your pickles, my pickle making is very limited. My sisterinlaw makes pickles but they are the sweet kind and you don't have to have special equipment. I made pickle relish 2 years ago and just prepped it like tomato sauce, I believe. I think I used a hotwater bath as I think it had enough acid in it to not require a pressure canner. Don't quote me on that, though. lol
That’s a fact!
I’ve gotten many jars at auctions, garage sales, or from old people who don’t can any more. I have maybe 500 or more jars, and I’ve only bought a few cases of them.
I got two canning kettles at thrift stores.
I made pickles for the first time last summer; I made brine pickles without vinegar. To my surprise, they worked. Still eating them.
I made pickles just using regular canning lids.
I am dirt poor and have accumulated the necessary canning and processing equipment, keep an eye out for auctions, garage sales, craigslist, and oh - thrift stores. Got lots of jars there.
I actually probably have about 700 or 800 jars. I use them for storing herbs and dry foods, especially 1/2 gallon jars, as well as canning. I also re-use glass juice jars like Knudsen, for grape and other fruit juice. Works perfectly well.
Even though some stuff is expensive to buy the first time, like a steamer juicer, it does save money. I never ever buy any juice, just make my own. It’s hard work in summer but I’d rather make my own stuff and know what’s in it, then have to spend more on stuff that is not as good anyway.
I still haven’t used a pressure canner, working up to it if I get enough vegetables. Garden isn’t online yet.
My expenses are the cost of the seeds and the dirt. The jugs/bottles are recycled. ;)
Good for you!
As for a ‘hot water-bath canner’, in a pinch, just save money and use a large stock-pot.
A decent pressure canner (and garden tools) can be had at second hand stores or pawn shops IF one is careful to inspect it, knowing what to look for. A new seal is cheap, and the Extension service will check the gage for free in most places.
Dehydrators don't have to be fancy or expensive, either. This winter, we have dried about 100 pounds of potatoes, both slices and hash-browns. We bought our Waring dehydrator used from a neighbor over 20 years ago. I plan on building a largish solar dehydrator this summer, mainly using ‘scrap’ lumber stored in the barn. There IS a reason farmers and ranchers store crap, and never throw anything away!
When we bought this place, it had been abandoned for over 20 years, and everything had been left behind...including around 100 quarts of canned veggies, mostly corn. We dubbed it “botulism in a bottle”, then dumped the contents, and cleaned the jars. Since we already had our own jars, these have been boxed up until I can go through them with my ‘bottle books’, as some are ‘vintage’.
A deer and a half dozen wild turkeys a year, harvested on the ranch property, does go a long ways to providing high quality, inexpensive food. If we had to pay guides, travel to hunt, pay for processing, etc. that would be entirely different.
Along with the fruit trees and garden, we are spoiled.
...and it is amazing how smart some dumb blondes turn out to be; my wife is another!
I'm told I get about $100 worth of tomatoes. Pretty good ROI. Plus, it's fun.
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