The Rising Cost of Food

Most of you budget-conscience people will agree that the price of store-bought produce (fruits and veggies), both locally grown and commercial has gone WAY up in the last few years.  Not only that, I feel that the quality of store-bought produce just isn't the same.

At publix last week, commercially grown "on-the-vine" tomatoes were $3.99 per pound! Seriously!

Think about if you could grow your own tomatoes...For $4 for a packet of Beefsteak Tomatoes at Mary's Heirloom Seeds you get 65 seeds!!!  That's potentially 65 initial plants and possibly THOUSANDS of future plants if you practice seed-saving techniques.  Did you know that Beefsteak Tomatoes can grow up to 2 pounds EACH tomato???  
That's not 2 pounds per plant but per tomato.  Growing your own can save some serious cash!

But the thing is, it's not just about saving money.  Starting a garden is more than just buying seeds and {poof} you have tomatoes.  Starting a garden takes time, money, knowledge (although I've learned a lot by trial and error) and space (even just for a potted herb). 

When you take into account the rising cost of raw goods for farms, cost of wages plus expenses and a rising demand for food it looks like prices are going to get worse.  Add in the major drought we had in 2012 and we may be looking at even higher costs for produce or even food shortages.

I recommend reading  
"Why grow a veggie garden when I can just go to the store?"  
My reasons are nutrition, money, survival and stress relief.  
You can follow the series I wrote in 2011:
-What's in your Vegetables? 
-How much does a garden really cost? 
-What if I can't get food at the store? 
-Stressed Out? 

If you're still not sure about HOW to get started or WHAT you need to get started just ASK!  
Also read Mary's Top 5 Veggies and How to Grow Them.

Growing your own produce, even just an herb garden, is very rewarding.  Most importantly, I know where my food has been and that NO chemicals where used in the process. 

Gardening is a great activity to get the entire family involved and active.  I send my sister heirloom seeds and her kids just love to plant them and watch them grow.  The kids were so excited to harvest a Black Beauty Zucchini that was almost as long as my 2 year old niece!

Did your parents ever tell you 
"Money doesn't grow on trees"?
Well, I grow as much of my own veggies as possible at that means saving money!




I'll continue to share region-specific veggie garden info in the next few days: 
Veggie Garden in the Southern US (Gulf Coast)

Veggie Garden in the Southwest US 

Veggie Garden in the Southern Interior 

Linking up HERE!