I garden but not as much as I should or could. It's good exercise, cheap and gets you tasty stuff. It's easy - I stuff bottles of olive oil with herbs I grow and use that all winter. I am a star. Apparently my hobby is taking off:
Seed companies and garden shops say that not since the rampant inflation of the 1970s has there been such an uptick in interest in growing food at home. Space in community gardens across the country has been sold out for several months. In Austin, Tex., some of the gardens have a three-year waiting list. George C. Ball Jr., owner of the W. Atlee Burpee Company, said sales of vegetable and herb seeds and plants are up by 40 percent over last year, double the annual growth for the last five years. “You don’t see this kind of thing but once in a career,” he said. Mr. Ball offers half a dozen reasons for the phenomenon, some of which have been building for the last few years, like taste, health and food safety, plus concern, especially among young people, about global warming. But, Mr. Ball said, “The big one is the price spike.” The striking rise in the cost of staples like bread and milk has been accompanied by increases in the price of fruits and vegetables.Start with onions as well as the herbs. Onions, baby. Spend twenty bucks and get 1500 to 2000 onions to braid and hang in the basement. Lasts you a year and a half. Saves billions. Hard to do in an apartment but I know you. You're smart. You can do it.
Comments
ry - June 11, 2008 2:30 PM
Actually, it is taking off. And not just as a hobby either. Futurist/Strategist John Robb has been pushing this as part of the 'Resilient Community' concept for a little bit. He even notes a US Navy family in NY that makes money by selling to local resteraunts. They only use half their yard for crops.
I could do something like lettuce and such on the balcony. BUt, I'm lazy.
Mike - June 12, 2008 8:23 AM
'shoes were'
Good stuff to think about. I have been making bread more lately. I need a dairy cow. And a rooster.
Alan - June 12, 2008 8:33 AM
Errr...I think you need a hen, Mike. Not a rooster.
sean liddle - June 12, 2008 9:36 AM
We gave up growing potatoes and onions. We just don't use enough of them to make it worthwhile filling the basement with em. I stick to specialty things that cost a fair bit to save moolah plus they taste better. ANd Garlic. I am gowing it just because I love Garlic Scapes and miss them every year, being one who avoids the hades that is otherwise known as downtown kingston parking on a saturday morning and resultingly, the market. Garlic itself is not cost effective to grow for itself as you can get three bulbs worth from china for $0.99.
Alan - June 12, 2008 9:52 AM
Yes, and all that comes with Chinese garlic.
sean liddle - June 12, 2008 12:37 PM
True, but it is good enough for soups and roasts. My morals take a hit but still, 99 cents. What we do grow a lot of are herbs. I grow lavender, oregano, sage, basil, cilantro, parsley, rosemary etc etc etc.. Use em all summer and fall, bag and freze em for winter. A small bag costs $4 at Loblaws. I figure I save a million bucks a year doing this. Okay, maybe $50.
My yellow zucchini are doing quite well. Expect a mysterious loaf in your in-box this fall.
Alan - June 12, 2008 12:53 PM
Mmm...whatever's in Chinese soil is even better in a stew.
ry - June 12, 2008 3:12 PM
http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2008/06/rc-journal-diy.html
Here you go, Al. do it yourself, easy to make tractor. Well, the link that gives you the link to it anyway. Dude, your own well. Why pay for municipal?
Alan - June 12, 2008 3:16 PM
You haven't checked out the local watertable, ry. Water treatment is a good thing, especially with a lake draw and return as well as a good treatment facility, too.
Jay Currie - June 13, 2008 1:05 AM
Well, annoyingly, our landlord is selling our house, but we have a gorgeous spinach patch and carrots which we should be able to harvest before we move.
The small boys are utterly amazed that they will be eating things which they planted a few weeks ago. That is very much worth the million.
sean liddle - June 13, 2008 11:24 AM
Kids love fast growing things that they can eat, like radishes, carrots and baby spinach or if you have weird kids like me, bush beans and absolutely NOT tomatoes..