Does a Poor Economy Call for a Vegetable Garden?

on October 14, 2008 at 11:30 AM

The economic news is just plain bad, and everyone is, well, FREAKED OUT. That's why the idea of planting a "recession garden" has been popping up all over the Internet lately. This idea stems from the "victory gardens" grown during the first and second World Wars to ease the pressures of the public food supply burden. Today, it holds similar meaning: You grow your own food because the grocery bill is killing you!

How bad does it have to get for you before you'll start planting your own vegetable garden and growing your own food?

Over at Salon, Steve Almond has a whole series of essays called Pinched, about living in an economic downturn. His essay "Dirt cheap - Step one in the battle against soaring food prices: Start your own recession garden" is a hilarious tale about one "lazy" dad's journey into vegetable and herb gardening. Urged by his household's growing grocery bill and his wife's love for Whole Foods, he turns his secret love for weeding and complaining about the weather into real food for his family.

Almond takes it from funny to serious too:

"Just as I grew up watching my dad sowing strawberries and snap peas, I want my kids to see me hoeing and planting and weeding. And I want them to help when they’re old enough. (At the moment, my daughter’s contribution to the garden consists of picking green tomatoes, which she calls “potatoes.”) I truly believe they’re going to need these skills in the decades to come, as our society turns away from the impossibilities of convenience and back toward a more humble, self-sustaining manner of living."

By the end of his piece, I have to say, I'm a little inspired to get my own family out there to plant a little something. Now I just have to figure out when to start.

Hey, this Vegetable Garden Calendar posted by Austinka will help. Looks like I'm off the hook on planting until January. Thanks, Austinka!

Don't miss the Food & Party Buzz post: Smart Foods for Tough Economic Times.

Do you grow your own food or do you plan to start? How much has the poor economy played a part in your decision to do so?

About the author Sheri Reed

is a writer and the Entertainment, News & Sports editor for The Stir. She loves a good film, watches lots of good TV and follows Ryan Gosling's every move because she has to -- for work.

Filed Under: gardening, home finances, thrifty solutions

Comments (8)

ToddlerBrain82

on Oct 14, 2008 at 3:13 PM

Thanks for this. I tried growing a vegetable garden this year but didn't have much success. Last year I grew some nice tomatoes, lettuce, and other salad veggies. I am going to make some modifications and try again next year. My husband and I were just talking about this the other day - we really need to pinch some pennies, and shrinking our food bill will be a great way to do that.

Report this comment

Cafe Sheri

on Oct 14, 2008 at 3:23 PM

ToddlerBrain82, tomatoes, lettuce, and other salad veggies sounds like great success to me! Good for you.

LancesMom

on Oct 14, 2008 at 7:21 PM

If I could only have the green thumb and the land to garden in. I would love to can and put away alot of things. Unfortunately I have Blue Clay which is like cement in the summer. But I do have a raised garden and every year I get a few cukes and tomatoes. Yummo.. They make our favorite "Summers here" salad.. Chop the tomatoes and cukes and add some minced onion and garlic salt. Stir in some Mayo and top with a few bacon bits.

Hubby and I always look forward to our first ripe tomato for this one!

Coffeebandit

on Oct 14, 2008 at 11:59 PM

We grew tomatoes this year but my cousin grew just about everything and we canned and canned. I think we baked at least 350 loaves of zuccuchin bread and that's not all we did. it was a lot of fun too. We canned to get ready for the winter months. We even made spaghetti sauce, ketchup, jams, jelly, green beans, salsa. It will help, that's for sure.

on Oct 15, 2008 at 10:18 AM

Wow, I'm so inspired by you gardeners! 350 loaves of zucchini bread. Whoah!

jewjewbee

on Oct 15, 2008 at 11:14 AM

i can remember my dad watching on pbs "victory garden' when i was young and am aware of the theory behind it. i have had small gardens wherever i have lived but this last residence was impossible to grow anything but herbs in pots. and i even have a green thumb! we are moving to GA in 2 weeks and most of all excited about gardening in a new spot believe it or not. having already picked out new fruit trees, vines and vegetables for next spring. my parents froze or canned everything they grew in the early 70's thru 2005. Their frugality was more of an experiment than necessity and am glad for it, now I know how to survive frugally before the economy ever turned bad.

fungrandma07

on Oct 21, 2008 at 7:26 AM

I do agree. I planted tomatoes this year and squash and cucumber watermelon and eggplant. the squash and cucumber didn't do so well.

how soon can we plant again.? I know we are doing it again this coming year. the ecomomy is hurting all so bad. Planting is rewarding all on its own. Thanks

marlarrie

on Feb 9, 2009 at 6:03 PM

I love gardening. I just planted collard seeds in my Jiffy mini-greenhouse containers today....yes all 72 of 'em and I'll do the same tomorrow....I'll do 1/2 with collard seeds and the other with cabbage seeds. Let's go Green Thumbs!