Yes, a garden is labor-intensive and time-consuming, but in the end, it's all worth it. And if you need to leave for a while, don't be afraid to lean on your friends. Growing your own food is a healthy way to save money and enjoy fresh produce at home. When done correctly, even the smallest backyard plot can produce large quantities of fruits and vegetables and possibly even significant savings in the grocery budget.
If you keep gardening year after year, you'll really see that gardening pays off financially. If you only grow things for a year, it may not be worth your time or money to set up a garden. There is no exact answer to this question. It depends on many factors, such as installation cost, location, and crop choices.
However, if you use your garden wisely, grow efficient crops, and apply smart gardening techniques, you'll get your money back. It may take a few years before that happens, but it will happen. Keep in mind that the garden is here to grow alongside you, and as your experience grows, your cost will decrease. I agree with the authors' point that, over time, you can break even and even get ahead financially, but the second biggest benefit, especially with vegetables, is that you can't buy the quality and health benefits with garden-grown products.
When I started I had to buy wood to build my garden bed, soil, compost, cages for tomatoes, nets (to keep the birds out) and plants. Another advantage of home gardening? Growing your favorite vegetables and fruits can isolate you from the impact of drought and diseases that slow production in the fields and orchards of large-scale producers across the country who ship and sell produce. Gardening is an investment that really pays multiple dividends and for those who are willing to invest time they benefit. If you live in an apartment or have a small backyard, square foot gardening is also a space-saving garden.
Having a garden at home means you don't have to drive to the store to buy certain vegetables, which saves time, money and gas. There are ways to stretch your money and it's possible to start a food garden on a small budget. First, let's take a look at some of the expenses you'll encounter when starting a backyard garden. The costs associated with a square foot garden vary wildly, depending on the materials (garden box versus soil) and what you are planting, but a small square foot garden measures 4 feet by 4 feet.
Aaren Topley, 28, is a local food activist and organizer of a farm-to-school program that teaches gardening skills and food literacy to high school students in Victoria. With all the potential a garden can bring to the average enthusiast's bottom line, it helps research where to get affordable plants and seeds for your garden. If you share a north-facing studio in Halifax, don't read gardening blogs aimed at wealthy homeowners in Southern California. While it's good to have a lot of products to share with family and friends, maintaining a large garden might be too expensive and too difficult to maintain.
There are many options that will make your garden unique, such as choosing between raised garden beds, pot gardening, or flat beds. The National Garden Association reported that the average garden home experiences a positive return on investment.