Recently, I have been upset about the price of food, which has gone up too much. I've cut back on grocery shopping and try to cook for myself. I'm also looking for ways to save money. Besides, a report from a coupon site to help people save money, stated those who grow vegetables and food at home can save $500 a year. So, I'm curious if anyone has the experience of growing their own food, and if a home garden can really save money.
Agreed. Not only that, the amount of time it takes, oh my! And nothing is guaranteed. Some disease or bug can destroy the whole thing. I'd still grow it for fun, but that's about it.
And your crops will all come through at the same time, not when you need them. However you'll find better forums and social media to give you advice than an internet marketing forum.
I laugh about the saving money part. I am an avid gardener facing the worst drought I have experienced in my lifetime. My last two water bills have been $266 and $336 each. That said, with the food shortages we are facing it might be a good time to dip your toe in the water so to speak and try a small fall garden. I am hanging in with the watering, if I discontinue it at this point I will loose all my lawn and perennial plants. The cost to replace them will be astronomical. Many of which I can not easily replace. To preserve your excess food grown, you either need a freezer, a pressure caner, or a dehydrator. For the last two years canning jars have been hard to acquire in the sizes you may want. I don't have much experience with a dehydrator but what experience I have had is not very positive. I understand you can dehydrate using your car and a cookie sheet placed on the dashboard. I have not tried that.
A few crops such as ginger will grow easily without much effort in your home garden. But takes 6-7 months to harvest. You can grow coriander easily and it will be ready for consumption in 15-20days. Grow a lemon tree. Don't store extra in freezers. Try to sell to the local shopkeepers or look for local buyers online. But as said this takes lot of time.
There is little that you can do agriculturally at home that can compete with commercially produced food prices and availability. That is why Big Ag is so dominant and successful: economies of scale. You would be best off to search for cost savings elsewhere.
Losing your reliance on a vehicle would be my first suggestion. By the time you've bought it, maintained it, insured it, fueled it you could have paid for a nice bike or e-bike and a lot of ubers. If you're geographically mobile consider moving to a more bike-friendly town/city, even a different country. Study in your own time so that you can earn a promotion, or move to a new career path. Be fit - you don't have to join a gym or buy masses of "active wear" but by being healthy you'll have fewer sick days and spend less on medication & medical services - especially if you're in a country that doesn't have universal healthcare. After that, all the money-saving tips are things that reduce your quality of life. Stop drinking coffee, going to the movies, and buying clothes... I'd be ok but most people wouldn't.
You can grow some vegetables or green at home, but it is just for fun, as your hobby, because it requires so much time and money. Buying at the grocery with discounts much better and cheaper!
At least much better than me. I am in Singapore, imagine entire country is 700 sq kilometers with 6 million population. No place to grow a pea.
There's still room for forestry! We did a night tour of the zoo many years ago and were impressed on the drive out by the park land/forest that we passed. But apartment living certainly makes it impossible. A vertical vege garden isn't going to be enough.
Growing food in your yard its not easy ,needs hard work ,water for plants and many others so its not easy
Of course, homemade fruits and vegetables are much tastier than store-bought. But to grow them, you need to put a lot of effort physically and financially. In the end, it will be more expensive than buying ready-made in the store. Expenses, from what I could now quickly remember: the purchase of seeds, seedlings, fertilizers, tools, water for irrigation, treatment against pests. And you should always take into account that there may be a crop failure for various reasons that do not depend on you.
Absolutely! You took the words right out of my mouth.Sometimes, depending on how much you plant,you end up with more than you need and so there's enough to share with others.That's the cool part because you may be able to barter with your neighbors. Win-Win