Get some green by growing some…

By John | May 15, 2008

Get some green by growing some…

With people out of work, mortgages being foreclosed left and right, credit ratings going down at an ever-increasing rate, gas prices going up, and the stock market going down, every possible money-saving method needs to be used in order to survive. I know I am doing all that I can. I’ve changed all of my light bulbs to CFLs. I do my best to plan my trips so as to save gas. I am even taking my lunch to work. There are some people who have turned the clock back by 50 years and are planting their own vegetable gardens.

Planting a vegetable garden can save you lots of money. The price of produce is going up because of the high cost of transportation and due to the massive use of corn crops for ethanol. Produce is one of the few things where consumers have a choice as to buying it at the store or growing it at home.

Concerns for food safety is another reason why more and more people are starting to grow their own gardens. In a November, 2005 story on newsstandardnews.net, it is indicated that fruits and vegetables account for most major cases of Salmonella. Who wants that?

Home and garden stores are noticing an uptick in the number of people purchasing seeds and gardening supplies.

Getting the entire family involved in planting and taking care of the garden can be a good way to bond and become closer to one another.

For tips on specific vegetables, check this list, which includes depth, time to maturity, and spacing information. If you are planning on planting your own garden, here are some general gardening tips:

Choose a site that gets a lot of sunlight. 8 hours of sunlight should be the minimum.
Avoid steep slopes, as they will erode.
Avoid low ground, as it will retain too much water.
Plant your vegetables in rows.
Water your garden in the morning.

Here are some more gardening tip sites:

You can even turn the gardening task into and educational experience for kids; teaching them about how plants grow, alternative ways to obtain food, and much more. Kids will love to help because they love to get dirty. My girls have been bothering me to plant some flowers. I think I will steer them in the direction of a vegetable garden.

If you decide to plant a vegetable garden or you already have one, leave a comment with some of the following information for the discussion:

Why did you plant your garden?
What are you growing in your garden?
Who, in your family, takes care of the garden?
Will you increase the size of your garden next season?
Do you like gardening?

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