My family and I decided to try something a little different this year. We usually start a garden around the end of May because in Idaho, the ground doesn't thaw before Mother's Day. We typically plant our garden using starts we buy from a local nursery, but this year, we decided to try planting seeds early. We found the kids were really excited to participate (bonus number one) plus the cost difference is huge. So this year we tried this !
 |
| we bought indoor boxes and planted them to grow inside until they are ready to transplant outside to the garden |
This is how the cost comparison panned out:
$5 per each plastic greenhouse box (we bought 3)
$2 for each packet of seeds (we used about 8 packets of seeds in 2.5 greenhouse boxes)
$4 for the bag of soil
Essentially, we ended up planting around 175 plants for about a total of $40.00.
Now if we were to do what we normally do and buy the starts from a nursery, we would pay about $4 for a pony pack of 4 plants, meaning 175 plants would cost us up around $175.00 (assuming we buy the small, cheap starts).
In addition to the cost benefit and involving the kids, the other benefit we get from starting our planting now (especially for someone like us living in Idaho were it stays colder longer) is we can actually start harvesting earlier than if we planted it in the ground. The other fun thing is the kids get involved. They get to see the seeds sprout, watch the seeds grow, and get excited about the whole process from start to finish.
*on a side note, my husband is a food law guru, so I will add little tid bits here and there. One interesting thing research is showing is that if a fruit or vegetable is not in season, buying frozen produce is more nutritious than the "fresh" in the produce department. Essentially, farmers will pick produce when it is not ripe, chemically ripen it, then ship it, meaning by the time it gets to you, most of the vitamins and beneficial nutrients have depleted and are gone. Yet another great reason to grow a garden in order to have the fresh food on hand (and to freeze or can your product so you can have great fruits and vegetables through out the year).
Now if we were to do what we normally do and buy the starts from a nursery, we would pay about $4 for a pony pack of 4 plants, meaning 175 plants would cost us up around $175.00 (assuming we buy the small, cheap starts).
In addition to the cost benefit and involving the kids, the other benefit we get from starting our planting now (especially for someone like us living in Idaho were it stays colder longer) is we can actually start harvesting earlier than if we planted it in the ground. The other fun thing is the kids get involved. They get to see the seeds sprout, watch the seeds grow, and get excited about the whole process from start to finish.
*on a side note, my husband is a food law guru, so I will add little tid bits here and there. One interesting thing research is showing is that if a fruit or vegetable is not in season, buying frozen produce is more nutritious than the "fresh" in the produce department. Essentially, farmers will pick produce when it is not ripe, chemically ripen it, then ship it, meaning by the time it gets to you, most of the vitamins and beneficial nutrients have depleted and are gone. Yet another great reason to grow a garden in order to have the fresh food on hand (and to freeze or can your product so you can have great fruits and vegetables through out the year).
No comments:
Post a Comment