 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.
My husband planted green peppers and tomatoes last year. It was our first garden at the townhouse. It didn't go super well, but it went well. We did get a lot of herbs, but there is a significant amount of shade and water drainage is an issue due to the slope of our tiny yard. But I think he plans on putting more in the garden this year, and I'm happy about this.
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."
Gardening advocates, who have long struggled to get America grubby, have dubbed the newly planted tracts "recession gardens" and hope to shape the interest into a movement similar to the victory gardens of World War II.
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.
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.
I know we're not in April yet, but keep in mind April is National Garden Month. With a tough economy and concerns about global warming, pollution, and health on the rise, April is the perfect time to kick off some new habits that address these issues, while making your lifestyle healthier and your community stronger.Labels: garden, organic food |
