Surviving the Economic Downturn: Grow A Backyard Vegetable Garden!

Costs of food, fuel and every thing else seems to be on the rise. To complicate matters, the economy is in the toilet. How can you make changes in your life to help alleviate the stress and strain on your budget? One of the greatest movements that is happening in the US is the movement towards growing your own vegetables in your own backyard. Is this viable? Is it cost effective. Let's look briefly at a recent article written by Alex Johnson for MSNBC.

Fighting the Recession, Armed with Seeds
Home gardening experiences a boom as families seek to cut food costs
April 7, 2009

"Kinne is part of a growing movement of Americans who are turning to their own resources to fight the economic recession, now in its 16th month. As paychecks and job opportunities shrink in tandem with rising prices at the store, more and more households are growing their own food in their backyards, in shared community-run gardens and even on their windowsills.
Kinne estimates that her garden saves her at least a $150 a month in grocery bills. And that doesn’t include the money she saves on services from professionals whom she pays with the fresh food she grows and the labor she provides helping them plant their own gardens
The National Gardening Association said its survey, conducted in January by Harris Interactive Inc., showed that 57 percent of American home gardens were smaller than 100 square feet. It projected that the average garden could produce 300 pounds of fresh produce worth $600, a return of $530 based on an average investment of $70."

As you can see, the investment and time put towards a home garden is not only economical, but is good for nutrition, a stress reduction, and just plain smart! I highly recommend you invest in heirloom seeds, as these seeds can be saved from year to year. Your initial investment in garden equipment and seeds for the first year may seem high, but this is an investment that will pay dividends in the years ahead. Please click on the banners SURVIVAL SEEDS, OR TOMATOFEST located to the right to get started on obtaining the best seeds possible for your garden! Make the right investment today!