Dollars from dirt: Economy spurs home garden boom

[Dantheman62]

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- With the recession in full swing, many Americans are returning to their roots -- literally -- cultivating vegetables in their backyards to squeeze every penny out of their food budget.

Industry surveys show double-digit growth in the number of home gardeners this year and mail-order companies report such a tremendous demand that some have run out of seeds for basic vegetables such as onions, tomatoes and peppers.

"People's home grocery budget got absolutely shredded and now we've seen just this dramatic increase in the demand for our vegetable seeds. We're selling out," said George Ball, CEO of Burpee Seeds, the largest mail-order seed company in the U.S. "I've never seen anything like it."

But for many Americans, the appeal of backyard gardening isn't in its history -- it's in the savings.

The National Gardening Association estimates that a well-maintained vegetable garden yields a $500 average return per year. A study by Burpee Seeds claims that $50 spent on gardening supplies can multiply into $1,250 worth of produce annually.

Doiron spent nine months weighing and recording each vegetable he pulled from his 1,600-square-foot garden outside Portland, Maine. After counting the final winter leaves of Belgian endive, he found he had saved about $2,150 by growing produce for his family of five instead of buying it.

Adriana Martinez, an accountant who reduced her grocery bill to $40 a week by gardening, said there's peace of mind in knowing where her food comes from. And she said the effort has fostered a sense of community through a neighborhood veggie co-op.

"We're helping to feed each other and what better time than now?" Martinez said.

A new report by the National Gardening Association predicts a 19 percent increase in home gardening in 2009, based on spring seed sales data and a telephone survey. One-fifth of respondents said they planned to start a food garden this year and more than half said they already were gardening to save on groceries.

Community gardens nationwide are also seeing a surge of interest. The waiting list at the 312-plot Long Beach Community Garden has nearly quadrupled -- and no one is leaving, said Lonnie Brundage, who runs the garden's membership list.

"They're growing for themselves, but you figure if they can use our community garden year-round they can save $2,000 or $3,000 or $4,000 a year," she said. "It doesn't take a lot for it to add up."

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/090315/recession_gardening.html

[BROOK]

I have my garden started

I don't have a whole lot of land...and someone was telling me about growing potatoes in stacks of tires...has anyone ever heard of this?

The potatoes grow upward..and don't take up much room...I'm looking into it, and she is supposed to email me a link that gives you directions ..
Just sharing...as I don't have a whole lot of room for expansive gardening.

[Dantheman62]

Here's a potato link amongst others for growing in tires.
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/sanders98.html

[Connecting with Sauce]

Based on it saving 3-4000 per year in food bills... this may be a good investment with a good payback period...

http://www.spiritofmaat.com/archive/aug3/domes.htm

Found from googling "thermal greenhouse all year round"

I'm sure from the research I've done on solar passive heating this is something for the future...

[sunflower]

That's a very good link, Dantheman. We could use old tires in tight sunny spots.

Our raised 16 x 20 plot is ready to go this spring. I wish we had more space though my husband says he'll make the garden larger this year. We found the old grow lamp in the basement and plan to start from seed. We ordered some heirloom packets to add to the mix. Can't wait.

[alyscat]

And for those who want to build an earth bermed animal shelter, you could get ideas from


http://www.earthship.net/

another excellent use of old tires.
alys

[BROOK]

Originally Posted by Dantheman62

Here's a potato link amongst others for growing in tires.
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/sanders98.html

Thanks Dan...that was what I was looking for....Great Idea huh!