Are you going to grow more of your own food?

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 02-22-2008, 03:08 PM

I was just thinking that with food prices expected to rise another 3-4% this year, on top of the 4% last year, are you changing anything? If you have never gardened, are you planning on starting? If you do normally garden, are you planning on doing more of that?

I am planning on enlarging our garden as well as plant some blueberry bushes. I know the bushes will take a few years, but you have to start sometime and I wanted to raise more berries anyway, since the kids love them so much. I am really hoping to get more of my own food put up next fall so that we can eat on that all winter.

How about you?

Jennifer

**DaisySue** · 02-22-2008, 03:12 PM

I was thinking about blueberries this year also! Hubby wants to do grapes, but we are not that big on eating jelly, although I could use it for Christmas presents. I wonder if blueberries do well in Illinois.

We canned a lot of green beans and a little bit of salsa last year. We will do more of that, plus we froze a lot of corn on the cob. Would like to grow more potatoes, but don't have a basement to keep them in. Anyone have any suggestions for keeping potatoes in your home or a shed?

We always put out a garden, but we have always let a lot go to waste, also, and last year we didn't. We canned and it wasn't that hard, kind of fun to do together!

**IntlMom** · 02-22-2008, 03:17 PM

we have blueberry bushes ready to plant, along with a rasp, blackberrie, and strawberries. we just moved into our home in aug, and the garden was prepped last fall. I will be putting in lettuce in a few weeks and maybe some peas too. then when the heat kicks in, I'll put in the tomatoes, summer and winter squashes, beans and everything else.

**PAVallygrl** · 02-22-2008, 03:59 PM

Absolutely! I've already started Winter Sowing. Have a bunch of Milk Jugs sitting out in the veggie patch. Have to enlarge the patch and I can't wait to get started!

**nesta67** · 02-22-2008, 04:04 PM

I am definitely planning to grow more in my garden this year - just wish I had more room. I would like to be able to buy/eat all organic produce, but it is just SO expensive, so growing my own will help a lot.

I am also doing a lot more cooking and baking from scratch. It's a lot cheaper AND a lot healthier.

**FrugalWitch** · 02-22-2008, 04:15 PM

Yes, and this year we are going to try planting old-timey heirloom tomatoes. We don't plant much but do like raising our own maters and herbs. This year I think it will be:
Heirloom tomatoes
Yellow crookneck squash
Peppers (an assortment)
Herbs
Salad greens (assorted)

Later we plan to do winter squashes

**Moor** · 02-22-2008, 04:22 PM

i really don't have room for a garden in back. but guess what, i will be making on in the front yard. my neighbors aren't going to like it, but wth! i have two tires that i am going to put some tomatoes in. i don't have any space for corn, but i am going to do some peppers and hopefully, some onions and green beans.

**sdrjeolsen** · 02-22-2008, 04:28 PM

Absolutely, I'm planning on a bigger garden than I've had before. Also am switching over to heirloom varieties so I can save seeds each year.

**julieb** · 02-22-2008, 04:35 PM

My dh and I were just talking about this!! We want to put in more rhubarb, we love the stuff and can more this year. I didn't can last year because we thought we were moving and didn't want to move the stuff. We can really tell the difference in our grocery bill too!!

**peanut** · 02-22-2008, 04:48 PM

We have too many trees in our yard to garden. I've tried a patio garden for 3 years now. But we get next to nothing from it. It's frustrating. Weather has been crappy. Sun is poor. If we take down the trees, we will either have to install air conditioning (they shelter the house on the south side), or build a new fence (the one on the north side is right in the middle of a fence). So we aren't terribly enthusiastic about removing trees. It just means a lot of money for us.

Jean

**Persimmon Lace** · 02-22-2008, 04:54 PM

We planted blackberry bushes last year and started a square foot garden. We are putting in 2 more gardens and I have planted more jerusalem artichokes. We buy from the growers around our town and the farmer's market. I froze alot of stuff last year and am hoping to can this year.

**momofslg** · 02-22-2008, 05:18 PM

I did a very small garden with my 5 year old son last year and he loved it. He is already talking about what he will grow this year. I do plan to add a couple of raised beds this year too. I plan on trying to use "Square Foot Gardening "and see if we can harvest more in less space. Unfortunately our back yard isn't that big and the kids would freak out if I didn't set up their pool.
I hope to freeze lots of zucchini, green peppers, and diced tomatoes (we use tons in our cooking).

**suki** · 02-22-2008, 05:27 PM

We always grow quite a bit, but this year I believe we'll take more to the farmer's market to sell rather than give away our excess.

Hubby has seedlings started already. I believe he has artichokes, celery, and asparagus sprouting already. I have no idea what else he has seeded. I believe he's already planted potatoes. I'm not sure what else... I have to peak at his plans.

**prairiewife** · 02-22-2008, 05:35 PM

I didn't get to have a garden last year, but this year plan on a large one like I used to have. Will grow and can green beans and tomatoes, peas for freezing, onions and garlic for winter storage and lots of veggies for fresh eating.

I'm also starting herbs from seed this year. I like using fresh herbs and used to buy plants, but they are expensive so am starting from seeds. I'll either grow some in pots also or transplant into pots this fall so I can have fresh herbs during the winter months.

**anna021** · 02-22-2008, 06:13 PM

Just would like to encourage anyone who is on the fence about growing some veggies this year to give it a try. If not in the ground try container gardening, you wouldn't believe what I grow in containers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, and most are being grown in old 5 gallon sheet rock plaster pails that I got from the dump. I also grow lots of herbs. I have 2 raised beds that are 4x8, thats where I grow my lettuce, beans, and squashes. If your yard is very shady, a container is great because you can move it around so your plants get at least 6-8 hours of sun. I have a feeling this year more than ever we have to help ourselves get through these bad times. Gardening will help our budgets as well as being good exercise. I find it very rewarding. Try it, start with 1 tomato plant.