With inflation still higher than expected, many people are looking for ways to cut their costs. One of the places we feel inflation the most is at the grocery store. Within the past three years from January 2020 to January 2023, the average cost of fruits and vegetables alone has risen nearly 17%. With inflation, you generally have to suck it up and pay for necessities no matter the cost, but with at least some fruits and veggies you have an alternative—grow your own! Here is what to consider if you are thinking of starting your own food garden:
Step 1: Assess Your Space
Space will be a major factor in how much you can grow, but there are options even if your space is small and doesn’t include much (or any) outdoor space.
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Yard: If you’re lucky enough to have your own yard, carving out space for a food garden is definitely easier but you’ll still need to consider what else your yard is used for.
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Balcony: Urban dwellers with a little bit of outdoor space can delve into fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers, beans, and peas. For fruits, strawberries tend to grow well in containers.
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Indoors: For an indoor-only environment, gardening experts recommend growing plants that don’t need pollination to thrive. This includes herbs like basil, cilantro, dill, rosemary, and thyme along with leafy greens such as kale, microgreens, cabbage, and lettuce.
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Community Garden: If you don’t have your own plot of land, you can still garden outside through a community garden that allows local residents to rent a plot on privately, or publicly, owned land.
Step 2: Know Your Climate
It’s essential to take your local climate into account when you’re planning what to grow. No matter how much you might want to grow avocados, that is just not going to be a fruitful endeavor in most places. Research your local growing seasons or ask for recommendations at your local gardening shop.
Step 3: Account For Your Personal Preferences
Once you narrow down what you can actually grow in your space and climate, take your personal preferences into account. If you think cilantro tastes like soap or can’t stand kale, don’t grow them! Instead, focus on plants you’re excited to consume.
Step 4: Take Advantage of Local Resources
When you start gardening for the first time, you’ll likely have some upfront costs for seeds, tools, pots, and other gardening items. To keep the costs down, see what is available to you in your local community including:
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Tool Library: Many public libraries and non-profit organizations now lend out gardening tools. This is helpful when you are getting started or for tools that you don’t need very often.
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Seed Libraries: Just like with tools, you can sometimes “borrow” actual seeds. And by “borrow” we mean that you can check out seeds, grow them, and return some of your harvested seeds at the end of the season.
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Gardening Clubs: Through local gardening clubs, you can connect with experienced gardeners who are more than happy to share their expertise.
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Neighborhood Groups: Online neighborhood forums like NextDoor and Buy Nothing groups are useful resources for specific items you’re looking to borrow or acquire.
Final Thoughts
Although growing your own food won’t banish all of your inflation woes, it can be a fun and potentially cost-effective way to lower your grocery bill—especially if you take advantage of your local resources.
