Comments on: Why Grow a Vegetable Garden? http://www.blisstree.com/thriftymommy/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/ Time and Money Saving Tips from Thrifty Mommy Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:21:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Cricket http://www.blisstree.com/thriftymommy/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/comment-page-1/#comment-14469 Cricket Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:31:04 +0000 http://www.simplythrifty.com/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/#comment-14469 I've never been able to save money by growing a vegetable garden. I go a little crazy buying starts, paying for disking and whatnot, soil amendments, soil testing, straw, containers, little signs sayin what's what, etc. I know that if I just stayed out of the garden center, I'd be okay! This last season I used my own compost (from the chicken coop) and scored free tomato starts from a friend in my master gardener group. I also got some free wire cages. So I really think there are ways to "do it" cheaper than just buying vegetables, you just have to consider all the costs. I get more value out of gardening "mentally" which is worth a LOT. So, I don't really compare it dollar-for-dollar Growing vs. Buying vegetables. To me, theres just no comparison to fresh off-the-vine or stalk grown-your-own goodness. I’ve never been able to save money by growing a vegetable garden. I go a little crazy buying starts, paying for disking and whatnot, soil amendments, soil testing, straw, containers, little signs sayin what’s what, etc. I know that if I just stayed out of the garden center, I’d be okay! This last season I used my own compost (from the chicken coop) and scored free tomato starts from a friend in my master gardener group. I also got some free wire cages. So I really think there are ways to “do it” cheaper than just buying vegetables, you just have to consider all the costs. I get more value out of gardening “mentally” which is worth a LOT. So, I don’t really compare it dollar-for-dollar Growing vs. Buying vegetables. To me, theres just no comparison to fresh off-the-vine or stalk grown-your-own goodness.

]]> By: Support Your Local Farmer and Save Money by Buying Local http://www.blisstree.com/thriftymommy/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/comment-page-1/#comment-14176 Support Your Local Farmer and Save Money by Buying Local Mon, 21 Jan 2008 11:09:11 +0000 http://www.simplythrifty.com/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/#comment-14176 [...] to them. While it’s nice to be able to see where the sales are, they don’t always have vegetables that impress me. Ideally I like to buy organic. The problem is organic is so expensive. My other [...] [...] to them. While it’s nice to be able to see where the sales are, they don’t always have vegetables that impress me. Ideally I like to buy organic. The problem is organic is so expensive. My other [...]

]]> By: How to Can Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce and Salsa http://www.blisstree.com/thriftymommy/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/comment-page-1/#comment-13289 How to Can Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce and Salsa Sat, 20 Oct 2007 16:38:45 +0000 http://www.simplythrifty.com/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/#comment-13289 [...] going to school in shorts. It’s so warm my grape hyacinth are coming up and I’m still harvesting tomatoes and peppers. I have lots of tomatoes! Mostly I’ve been making sauce and salsa. I haven’t been bold [...] [...] going to school in shorts. It’s so warm my grape hyacinth are coming up and I’m still harvesting tomatoes and peppers. I have lots of tomatoes! Mostly I’ve been making sauce and salsa. I haven’t been bold [...]

]]> By: I make lots of things myself! http://www.blisstree.com/thriftymommy/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/comment-page-1/#comment-13479 I make lots of things myself! Sat, 18 Aug 2007 21:28:02 +0000 http://www.simplythrifty.com/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/#comment-13479 [...] into DIY territory. Suffice it to say that I make my own salsa and spaghetti sauce from tomatoes I grow myself. I make my own guacamole and chocolate chip cookies, and just about all of my baking is from [...] [...] into DIY territory. Suffice it to say that I make my own salsa and spaghetti sauce from tomatoes I grow myself. I make my own guacamole and chocolate chip cookies, and just about all of my baking is from [...]

]]> By: Anna Hackman http://www.blisstree.com/thriftymommy/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/comment-page-1/#comment-13181 Anna Hackman Wed, 16 May 2007 05:29:33 +0000 http://www.simplythrifty.com/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/#comment-13181 I absolutely agree with yousaid about your own vegetable garden. A way to save money is to buy heirloom organic seeds and save the seeds from vegetable. I was told that heirlooms are the only ones that will produce the same variety as you had the previous year. I know hybrid tomatoes will not come back as the same as the previous year because they cross pollinate. I did this last year with my tomatoes and the seeds grew and are now seedlings! Instead of getting mulch you can save your leaves from the fall in bags and mulch them up in the spring. Plus the joy you get from gardening is just priceless. anna hackman www.green-talk.com I absolutely agree with yousaid about your own vegetable garden. A way to save money is to buy heirloom organic seeds and save the seeds from vegetable. I was told that heirlooms are the only ones that will produce the same variety as you had the previous year. I know hybrid tomatoes will not come back as the same as the previous year because they cross pollinate.

I did this last year with my tomatoes and the seeds grew and are now seedlings! Instead of getting mulch you can save your leaves from the fall in bags and mulch them up in the spring.

Plus the joy you get from gardening is just priceless. anna hackman http://www.green-talk.com

]]> By: Lou Paun http://www.blisstree.com/thriftymommy/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/comment-page-1/#comment-13396 Lou Paun Mon, 14 May 2007 16:38:47 +0000 http://www.simplythrifty.com/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/#comment-13396 I agree! Home-grown vegetables may not be cheaper (it depends - there are lots of variables) but they are always tastier. More important, they are healthier. The nutritional content of commercially-grown food has dropped sharply (some experts say by as much as 45%)over the last fifty years, as badly-managed soils have become depleted and agribusiness has used petrochemical fertilizers to create larger harvests. When you manage your own soil and grow your own food, you know you're eating something healthy for your whole family. I agree! Home-grown vegetables may not be cheaper (it depends – there are lots of variables) but they are always tastier. More important, they are healthier. The nutritional content of commercially-grown food has dropped sharply (some experts say by as much as 45%)over the last fifty years, as badly-managed soils have become depleted and agribusiness has used petrochemical fertilizers to create larger harvests. When you manage your own soil and grow your own food, you know you’re eating something healthy for your whole family.

]]> By: Mom2fur http://www.blisstree.com/thriftymommy/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/comment-page-1/#comment-13157 Mom2fur Sun, 13 May 2007 17:00:11 +0000 http://www.simplythrifty.com/why-grow-a-vegetable-garden/#comment-13157 Good luck with your garden! I think I'll get mine in next weekend. I'm going to look for the best tomato plants I can find. Every year, I learn something new. This time, I know to 'prune' away some of the tomatoes when they are little. Last year, I didn't and I had lots of green tomatoes--hardly any red ones. Good luck with your garden! I think I’ll get mine in next weekend. I’m going to look for the best tomato plants I can find. Every year, I learn something new. This time, I know to ‘prune’ away some of the tomatoes when they are little. Last year, I didn’t and I had lots of green tomatoes–hardly any red ones.

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