THREE QUESTIONS…

Are higher food costs getting old?

Do you have a small piece of land at your home you aren’t using?

Are you interested in growing food for your family from that land?

If I still have your attention, let’s dig in to a few words about growing your own garden

LIFE’S A GARDEN, DIG IT!

Preparing a vegetable garden can seem like an overwhelming task, but it doesn’t have to be.  Traditional gardens are usually more labor intensive with plowing, weed pulling, etc. but tend to be cheaper starting up.  Generally speaking, the only limitations in what you can grow in a traditional vegetable garden are environmental and seasonal temperatures.

Becoming more popular these days for smaller garden areas are raised beds, hydroponic growing, or tower gardens.  These options all tend to be higher yield per square foot and potentially less maintenance although there are some limitations on what plants you can grow in these setups and the startup expense can be greater.

With either setup, you are sure to grow healthy food for your family and create memories with your family that will last a lifetime!

DUDE, WHERE’S MY GARDEN?

Selecting a location for your garden is relatively simple concept but may be challenging depending on your available space.  There are ways to solve issues with locations, but you can make the task easier in the long run by thinking about a few simple things before getting started.

1. Follow the sun – your garden needs to have as much sun as possible
2. Availability of water- all plants need it so make sure it is readily available
3. Good foundations – your soil needs to be rich in nutrients and well draining
4. Let it flow – good air flow is key so do not plant among other dense plants
5. Convenience – you are less likely to work your garden properly if it a chore to access it

GROWING GREENS TO SAVE SOME GREEN

A well-maintained food garden yields approximately ½ pound of produce per square foot per growing season, according to a 2016 study by The National Gardening Association.  Let’s put that into a more practical formula.  If a family has a 30’x20’ garden space (600 square feet), that garden can produce approximately 300 pounds of fresh produce for an average total out-of-pocket expense of $70.  If we take a conservative cost of $2 per pound for vegetables and a total cost of $600 for the garden, that’s a savings of $530 for that family.

Take a look at our vegetable seed page here for more information and to view our seed planting chart or drop in to see us at 1830 Dacusville Hwy in Easley, SC for all of your vegetable seed needs!  In the meantime, we are running short on vegetable jokes.  If you have some, lettuce know.