Are you going to join the trend? Vegetable gardens are the new must have for the thrifty homeowner. Fuel prices have played a direct role in the increase of food costs, which, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, have risen nearly 4 percent in the last year. Many people are turning to modern day Victory Gardens (made popular during World War I and II) to offer some relief from the sticker shock of food prices...
The Pittsburgh Tribune article on backyard gardens quotes Jay W. Sukits description of the "triple whammy" effect of rising gasoline prices, the shifting of corn from food to fuel and record high diesel prices as factors that are driving up food costs.
All over the country there has been a surge in vegetable seed sales. W. Atlee Burpee & Co., the nation's largest seed company, has sold twice as many seeds this year as it did last year. The company’s president, George Ball estimates half of the increase is from new customers. Their customer hotline in Warminster, Pa., has been inundated with calls from novice gardeners trying to learn the basics of soil acidity and seed starting.
In our neighborhood there is ample evidence of this new development. It seems like every other backyard has some sort of small vegetable garden. We have to admit feeling some garden envy on our evening walks -seeing the fruits of our neighbor’s labors. We can only hope our little tomato plants do us proud!
- Caroline Vollmer
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Comments (10)
I love the idea, but I live in such an arid environment that it takes constant, constant watering to make veggies grow. Then my water bill is huge, offsetting any potential savings and environmental benefits. Bummer.
Does anybody else think it's a little tacky to refer to these as "Victory Gardens" when they have no reference to the current war effort? It's a nostalgic term, made attractive no doubt by the current popularity of all things vintage, but I don't think the current trend for backyard gardens is political or civic in the way Victory Gardens were.
Just a thought. I would really like to have a backyard garden myself, but the best I can do for now is a couple of plants out on the fire escape.
i live in dc and i'm thinking of starting one in my building's front yard (everyone's cool with it). do i need to do some sort of soil test?
what else do i need to consider/prepare for? i'm guessing rats, squirrels, and random passers-by will be a menace. anyone have general tips on urban gardening?
thanks.
Peaceyall -
You don't need a soil test but it is helpful, esp. if what is growing there now doesn't look too great. If there are pine trees in the yard then the soil will probably be on the acidic side. If what is there now looks pretty good I would still add some compost (either your own or bagged from the store) but not do too much else.
I share a community garden at my apartment complex and the biggest problems I have found beside the poor clay type soil is turning up the soil deep enough for the roots of the plants.
I would conside a fence, even a small one, a good idea. It will tell passers-by this is not a free-for-all though i doubt it would do much good for rats or squirrels. I have been told, do not know if it is true, that squirrels do not like the smell of marigolds.
I've managed to have a fairly successful balcony container garden. If I ever own land of any size, there will be a garden there. If I can grow seeds into veggies in a pot on a balcony, then I can expand.
Peaceyall: the squirrels are the worst. You're going to want to invest in wire or netting of some sort and you might want soil treatments or potting soil. Ask a local nursery what their advice is and see what grows in what kind of conditions.
I live in Pittsburgh in the city and I just put in these great garden beds I purchased from the Farmstead ( a small little farm in MA). These beds are cedar so they won't rot and the install in minutes, the best part is they are very inexpensive compared to the other ready to assemble garden bed kits. On their website the say you can assemble the garden beds, add top soil, then plant. It was super easy and I already have my beans and tomatoes growing.
The Farmstead website: http://gardenraisedbeds.com/
They're great if you want start gardening right away! Just one note, they don't take credit cards, you have to order over the phone and then pay by check once you receive the beds....very old school, but endearing. : )
I also started container gardening this year, and the YGG website (www.yougrowgirl.com) has become just as useful (and addictive) as AT. Those seasoned gardeners in the forums have really helped me out!
I've always wondered about the rats.
This is funny because I was joking with my coworkers that I'd start a backyard garden...I found the idea funny because I was picturing my landlord coming to do yard work and seeing the backyard full of rows of corn...
For anyone who is concerned about the water bill...
I keep a bucket in the shower to catch the water while it heats up. Once the water is warm enough for me to get in I put the lid on the bucket to keep soap/shampoo out. When the bucket is full I pour the water into my watering can.
This method keeps my entire container garden of herbs, root veggies, salad greens, tomatoes, ferns and meyer lemon tree watered.
slim, thats a brilliant idea!
i've got a small garden (two tomato plants, jalepeno, green onion, chives and a kabocha plant). this weekend i'll be adding herbs. my choices were all about planing things that i use frequently. sure 99 cents for a bundle of cilantro is nothing, but i feel horrible when i can't/won't/don't use it all and it goes bad.