Comments about ‘Americans buying up seeds to plant 'recession gardens'’

this consitutes an unfair advantage for people who have enough land to allow them to grow their own food. We need to construct a more equitable tax structure to assess produce from home gardens to offset the loss of government revenue when these folks stop visiting the local supermarket. Another way to do this is to give people who do not own land access to other people's land so they can also grow a garden. It is absolutely essential that we create a fair system that gives equal access to land for all people regardless of ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. If we employ these simple suggestions we can restore the promise of the American dream to millions of Americans who want to grow a garden but lack the means to do so. This "yes we can" attitude will enhance individual worth and lead to stronger families.

You don't need a huge plot of land to grow a garden. Container gardens on patios, balconys and front stoops are as productive with high yeild plants like tomatoes and peppers - some of the most used produce anyway. We have an ample yard but it is mostly trees thus taking away the large yield we could have. It is certainly not someone elses responsiblity to give me land to grow on because I chose to live on a wooded lot. If communities have open, unused land, allowing garden plots works great - and many areas do that. Gardening is DEFINATELY not a gender or age specific hobby. Our container tomatoes were started because of our 7 year old who wanted to start growing some of our food.

So we should be made to give up our own land to provide for others? Isn't that against the whole purpose of American freedom. It can be suggested that we help our neighbors- yes, but be made to? And then on top of that be taxed for our frugal venture? I understand the concern for a balance in economics, but not at the cost of others hard labor. So if I hang my clothes to dry in my back yard and save money on electricity am I then suppose to provide my backyard to others that don't have that space and on top of that be taxed for it? I'm sorry this concerns the commenter above, but I don't agree with their solution.

You are joking, right?! Sounds like you would fit in real well down in Cuba, Venezuela or over in China with that theory!

Obviously the first comment was pulled from Obama's policies and was making a point, a good one I might add. (In other words done tongue in cheek).

Daybreak has community gardens and I think it would be a great idea for other communities to have garden areas--especially town homes and condos.

After all of the costs for water, soil, fertilizer, tools, and time gardening does not save you as much money as people claim...especially in Utah. $40 a week?! $1000's a year?? My foot!!

Good article and great sarcasm & commentary by poster #1.

It is still good to learn ways to provide for oneself, whether growing a garden, or canning produce, or even (gasp!) learning to cook one's own meals instead of going out to eat all the time or heating up prepared food from Sam's or Costco and calling that cooking.

some towns around here have community plots. check it out. we did about 4 years ago. it was great! had to quit due to circumstances beyond our control at the time. would do it again. now have a large yard to plant goodies in. try the heirloom seeds, they are worth it. and there is not not not a lot of work for a garden in your yard, even so, you will probably enjoy every single moment of it!!

Not only can you save money by growing a garden, the food you grow tastes better and is better for you than food shipped half way across the world to your local supermarket.

To:Not a $ saver!
We figured out our produce was something like $20 a pound when we grew it ourselves. Homegrown tastes better and is fun to grow, but other than that it's an expensive hobby that primarily gives people the right to fingerwave, tut-tut and talk about self reliance in a loud voice.

Google the above, especially if you are limited on land or time. Basic idea is a 4 foot by 4 foot box per person in the family will supply fresh produce for one person. Even if that's all the space you can get out of a patio, that will get you fresh tomatoes and greens all summer. You plant thick (no bare dirt tempting weeds to sprout, you keep it small (no acre to weed and water), and you replant as soon as you harvest something, adding some compost at the same time. Uses a lot less water too, because you aren't watering bare dirt. You can put a 6 inch deep box up on sawhorses if you can't bend over.

No rototilling, maybe a shovel and definitely a hand trowel. Put in a frame and use some twine to make a trellis to grow any vines straight up so you don't waste space with sprawling stuff - and it keeps the veggies off the dirt and away from half the bugs too.

To "Not a $ saver! | 8:49 a.m." explain your calculation better. For August through October, I spend about $40 a week on food for my family of 4. Normally I spend $100 to $130 per week. During that time alone, I save over $700 on food. Typically, my garden only costs about $150 to get going each year. Other costs are harder to figure out because the plants are still producing, so it cannot have a "yearly" cost. That savings does not include the potatoes, tomatoes, peaches, grape juice, and pears that we store.

Yes it takes time, but if you set things up right, it only takes 15 minutes a day to look for ripe fruits and vegetables and pull out any weed growing.

As one who has gardened all over the world I am happy to see the renewed interest in gardening here at home. Last year and this year I have seen a demand for me to teach various classes on soil development and sustainable gardening. The article on chickens show this same demand and I have had a lot of people ask about that too. And this coming weekend I and others will be teaching basic beekeeping and our class size has doubled compared to last year which was double of the year before.
It is real encourageing to see people get down to basics again. It is a healthy change for the body, and the environment. Keep it up folks!!

Uh water cost--you'd be paying the same for lawn; Soil--garden or lawn; fertilizer--garden or lawn; tools--lawn and flower beds or garden; time--TV or exercise. Your choice Nebuchadnezzar--eat grass!

Another benefit of gardening for me is stress relief. While I'm working in my garden, I forget about the things that have caused me stress during the day. Also, the veggies sure do taste better and the compliments from family and friends build my self-esteem!

Granding grumblers,

You are sooooo wrong. My garden is 80 feet wide and 50 feet deep. I grow enough produce for several families to can from it. My only costs are a tiller ($300 six years ago), a bag of potting soil for starting seedlings, and a couple bags of ammonium sulphate. Manure is free for a local horseman. Persticides are rarely used. If I need to I use an organic pesticide like Neem oil.

Try purchasing fresh, ripe produce at the local store. The price per pound, even in the summer, is around $2. One picking of tomatoes from my garden weighs around 80 pounds, and this is twice a week for several months. Even at wholesale prices (by the bushel) I raise $1,000's of dollars of produce with this formula: Sweat + manure(fertilizer) + water & sunshine = life.

I believe that many of you lack the ability to perform physical labor. That's the real source of your grumbling. And gardeining is a great hobby. Wnat some solitude? Not even the visiting and home teachers hang with a person who is weeding.

I tried the 'box on sawhorse' method of gardening a few years ago. The only thing I could get to grow where beets. They were delicious. It was very handy to not have to bend over. I was surprised that everything else failed - even - GASP - the zuchinni. I didn't know it was possible to kill zuchinni. :)I don't have the space now to garden. I hope in the future to have a place where I can put a few pots of tomatoes.

Too many people think you put in seeds and water a time or two and they will reap lots and save money. Not so! Gardens take time and attention (work!) and then the benefits are great....your own organic food not from pesticide ridden fields here and in foreign countries. Gardens are great exercise (a no cost fitness place) and can indeed save money. We've been gardening for 40 years...we know.

a $3 tomato plant means no buying tomatoes for about 8 weeks. I could easily spend $5 a week on tomatoes. That's $3 for $40 bucks of tomatoes.

A few plants in the beginning. When you try to get a large amount of veggies your just end up with a mess. Start with 2-4 individuals crops of just one plant: a cucumber, zucchini, tomato and maybe yellow squash or a strawberry or a pepper. Chances are 3 of the 4 will take on. And don't buy tomato seeds. Buy the plant started. Put in containers or a small garden bed. See what grows and you will eat. See your ability to handle a garden. Also have a neighbor willing to take on some extra veggies.

Kristine