With the increase in grocery store prices lately many people are seriously considering the home garden in an effort to cut the budget a bit. This is all well and good however one must fully realize that with certain foods it may be more cost effective to purchase the cans as opposed to canning them yourself.
Being a survivalist I fully believe that we should be capable of taking care of ourselves so gardening was one of the first skills I learned. There are some foods that it just is not practical to grow myself. First off watch the sale items in the stores. Perhaps you will come across canned foods for 3 for a dollar. With today's prices I would consider this to be a real bargain. In other cases take a stroll down the produce section of the grocery store and glance at some of these high prices.
When planning your personal victory garden you have to consider the cost to you for raising the vegetables. Garden seeds are very inexpensive. In many cases you can find them selling at 10 for one dollar. However the seeds are merely the tip of the iceberg.
When considering whether you will save money by garden depends upon where you live and particularly what you plan to grow. I have listed several crops here that may be cheaper for you to grow then to purchase at the grocery store.
The first item that I would recommend would be herbs. Being of a survivalist nature I fully believe that the well supplied herb garden can not only add adventure to the taste of your food but also supply a means of healthy remedies should the need arrive. Herbs tend to grow quickly and can be preserved in several ways. Most herbal plants will cost you approximately the same as you would pay for the fresh cut bunch at your grocery store. Many of the herbs come back year after year. These are a good investment.
One of my personal favorites is Bell peppers. In the grocery store one bell pepper can easily cost you $1.50 whereas you can purchase a living plant for the same amount.
Another popular item in the home garden which is becoming very costly in the grocery store is the tomato. Tomatoes are usually considered a weed of some sort so raising them will present no particular problem.
Crops such as Zucchini can easily be converted to tasty zucchini bread. Cucumbers can be canned for some very tasty relishes. I would venture to guess that you could raise more zucchini from a single plant then you could possibly eat. You will end up giving much of it away. With your cucumbers you should never have to purchase another jar of pickles.
With a single packet of lettuce you will be supplied with fresh greens for many months. When you consider the grocery store cost for this delightful green salad maker the cost of a packet of seeds is more then a bargain it is a steal.
So now you have an idea of what to plant. Remember items such as peas, carrots, etc are generally simpler to purchase in the can and usually cheaper. Good luck with your new garden.
