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Infographic: Home gardening in the U.S.
As more and more Americans grow their own fruits and vegetables, MNN digs up some dirt on this DIY food revolution.
Mon, Jun 06 2011 at 10:55 AM
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We have had an urban garden for almost fifteen years and every year we have some success and some loss. Last year was a banner tomato year.
I can, grow herbs and try to stretch my garden into the other seasons by doing a number of things. It's such a great thing to teach your children and to do for yourself.
This year I am keeping track of the financial investment to see how much I get back. No matter what - growing your own food is a great thing to do.
My husband and I have ample vegetable gardens & I don't think we spend any 5 hours per week taking care of it. As long as we repurpose newspapers or shredded paper for mulch to keep the weeds down, all it needs is an occasional watering during a dry spell. At the end of the season, the repurposed papers just till right in.
I think growing your own food is absolutely wonderful. Being a senior citizen, I have grown my vegetables and fruits for years. One of the best aspects of this is the exercise it gives the body. What a great way to begin the day heading to the garden early in the morning to see to the crops. I agree, one can grow herbs, tomatoes, almost anything in pots on the deck, balcony or patio. It is fun!!! Grandkids love it too.!!
Growing my vegetables for the two years now. I simply love it. What's better than growing and eating your own artichokes, corn on the cob, fresh garlic, lettuce, squash, broccoli, califlower, cabbage, green onion, tomatoes, grapes, peaches, apples, and herbs?
You don't have to have a yard to grow veggies. Many of them, like tomatoes, grow well in pots on an apartment patio. Just add sunshine and water.
depending on the amount of direct sun: lettuces, mustards and other greens, peppers, herbs, radishes . . .
The numbers tell me that gardening is a better investment than the stock/bond market. Put in $70 and have a net profit of $530.
We're encouraging millions of Americans who grow food in home gardens to donate their excess garden produce to a local food pantry... easily found at www.AmpleHarvest.org.
For many people who have a hard time right now donating to charity, AmpleHarvest.org enables people to reach into their backyard instead of their back pocket to help their neighbors in need.
Love your organization, been following it for a long time. Great job.
By the way, home garden "net profit" of $570 is not taxed by the IRS. (yet)
Ok gardeners, remember to keep your environments as organic as possible. Pesticides, herbicides, and even commercial fertilizers can make your yard a toxic landmine. http://www.gardenview.com
http://thebayougardener.com - Click on the forum link
I'm not surprised that the number of home gardens has gone up. I travel a lot and I've noticed that a high percentage of back yards have gardens in them these days. It's a good idea to know how to support yourself to some degree.
I took up gardening again as soon as I saw Obama was going to win the election. Good thing. Food prices are predictably skyrocketing. Also, there's just something not right about not knowing how to grow your own food. You never know when it might be vital that you can do so.
what about us who are trying but having no luck....I wanna be part of the averages!! Stupid tomatoes won't turn red and I think I cut the wrong stem on the berrie bush...aauugghhh!
Maybe we can help? Go to www.smartgardener.com. We help make it much easier and more convenient to grow your own vegetables. This product came out of my own personal frustration - just like yours! We help you create the garden according to your growing conditions and then send you weekly To Dos. Try it out and let me know if it helps you become more successful at gardening.
Kristee - Founder, Designer, CEO, Gardener, Beekeeper
paper bag, in the dark...give them 6 weeks (assuming they are slightly tinged orange or yellow) and they will be awesome. In NY, I ate my harvest in mid-december after 2 months almost in paper bags. Have faith. You will learn...
tomatoes don't turn red because you've got too much nitrogen in the garden, or you've not waited long enough.
you can eat them green, though
We all learn from our mistakes. That black thumb will be green in no time. Don't give up!
everybody is growing vegetables like crazy....but i"m terrible at it!! LOL....good thing people like me exist...we keep farmers' markets in business.
My garden last year took a lot of work and didn't produce very many "edible" veges. This year I bought a load of manure and tilled it in about a month before planting. Then I went to a local landscape company and bought a load of very rich dirt they use for potting plants. I put a little bit of this dirt on top of each row after I had planted and my garden is beautiful this year. I really believe proper soil preparation is the key to a successful garden. Hope this helps.
In the plant nursery were I worked the mantra was: 50 cent plan in $5 dirt will outperform a $5.00 plant in 50 cent dirt.
make sure you know the manure source and what the animals are eating. some herbicides pass through into the manure and kill your garden. it's tragic. google " clopyralid compost " for a sample of academic articles.
Good idea, I'll check out the articles. Thanks!
... and how long before local .gov gets involved and starts some kind of a control process? common folks growing their own food cuts into the corporate profit & control model. can't have that ...
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