Economy turns gardening into growth industry

[GG]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29708619/

Seed sales surge as consumers look to cut costs at the grocery store

LONG BEACH, California - With the recession in full swing, many Americans are returning to their roots — literally — cultivating vegetables in their backyards to squeeze every penny out of their food budget.

Industry surveys show double-digit growth in the number of home gardeners this year and mail-order companies report such a tremendous demand that some have run out of seeds for basic vegetables such as onions, tomatoes and peppers.

"People's home grocery budget got absolutely shredded and now we've seen just this dramatic increase in the demand for our vegetable seeds. We're selling out," said George Ball, CEO of Burpee Seeds, the largest mail-order seed company in the U.S. "I've never seen anything like it."

Gardening advocates, who have long struggled to get America grubby, have dubbed the newly planted tracts "recession gardens" and hope to shape the interest into a movement similar to the victory gardens of World War II.

Those gardens, modeled after a White House patch planted by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1943, were intended to inspire self-sufficiency, and at their peak supplied 40 percent of the nation's fresh produce, said Roger Doiron, founding director of Kitchen Gardeners International.

Doiron and several colleagues are petitioning President Obama to plant a similar garden at the White House as part of his call for a responsible, eco-friendly economic turnaround. Proponents have collected 75,000 signatures on an online petition.

"It's really part of our history and it's part of the White House's history," Doiron said. "When I found out why it had been done over the course of history and I looked at where we are now, it makes sense again."

But for many Americans, the appeal of backyard gardening isn't in its history — it's in the savings.

The National Gardening Association estimates that a well-maintained vegetable garden yields a $500 average return per year. A study by Burpee Seeds claims that $50 spent on gardening supplies can multiply into $1,250 worth of produce annually.

Doiron spent nine months weighing and recording each vegetable he pulled from his 1,600-square-foot (150-sq. meter) garden outside Portland, Maine. After counting the final winter leaves of Belgian endive, he found he had saved about $2,150 by growing produce for his family of five instead of buying it.

Adriana Martinez, an accountant who reduced her grocery bill to $40 a week by gardening, said there's peace of mind in knowing where her food comes from. And she said the effort has fostered a sense of community through a neighborhood veggie co-op.

"We're helping to feed each other and what better time than now?" Martinez said.

A new report by the National Gardening Association predicts a 19 percent increase in home gardening in 2009, based on spring seed sales data and a telephone survey. One-fifth of respondents said they planned to start a food garden this year and more than half said they already were gardening to save on groceries.

Community gardens nationwide are also seeing a surge of interest. The waiting list at the 312-plot Long Beach Community Garden has nearly quadrupled — and no one is leaving, said Lonnie Brundage, who runs the garden's membership list.

"They're growing for themselves, but you figure if they can use our community garden year-round they can save $2,000 or $3,000 or $4,000 a year," she said. "It doesn't take a lot for it to add up."

Seed companies say this renaissance has rescued their vegetable business after years of drooping sales. Orders for vegetable seeds have skyrocketed, while orders for ornamental flowers are flat or down, said Richard Chamberlin, president of Harris Seeds in Rochester, New York.

Business there has increased 40 percent in the last year, with the most growth among vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes and kitchen herbs that can thrive in small urban plots or patio containers, he said. Harris Seeds recently had to reorder pepper and tomato seeds.

"I think if things were fine, you wouldn't see people doing this. They're just too busy," Chamberlin said. "Gardening for most Americans was a dirty word because it meant work and nobody wanted more work — but that's changed."

[cannon_fodder]

I just planted seeds this weekend for various greens, broccoli, and herbs.  In a couple weeks I'll get small plants for tomatoes, peppers, onions, etc.  We plant a small garden of about 250sq feet in the back and are planning to replace a small flower bed in front with an herb garden this year.

Fun gardening things:

We do a salsa garden:  Roma tomatoes, cilantro, peppers, and onions.  Dice, add salt, mmmm.

Also everything you need for bruscheta.  Add in some home made bread and your set.

In the herb garden, include mint.  Nothing begs for a mojito like working in a garden int he Oklahoma summer.  Pineapple mojitos are particularly awesome.

Personally, I think I spend more money gardening than I get back.  Maybe a break even (when my fruit is ripe everyone elses is and its dirt cheap).  But it is an excuse to mess around outside.  Even I went full fledge grandpa and had a seed starter unit in my house it would probably pay more, but every time I try to start tomatoes they end up scrawny and worthless.

(I completely felt like my grandpa this weekend as I messed around all day planting starter seeds.  Even the smell of cups full of wet dirt reminded me of my grandparents house from 20 years ago.  They had a victory garden of probably 1200 sq feet and were always trying to give stuff away.  It worked well when they fed 16 kids from the garden, but when it was just the two of 'em it was a bit much.  How many times did I get yelled at for screwing off in the garden?  Many.)

[nathanm]

How many times did I get yelled at for screwing ... in the garden?  Many.)

But what did the girl think? 

[cannon_fodder]

Who do you think was yelling at me?

[nathanm]

Who do you think was yelling at me?

Leave your family out of this! 

[RecycleMichael]

Up with Salads!

[guido911]

Up with Salads!

Where have you been lately?

[RecycleMichael]

Unbelievably busy.

I have goofed off my entire life and now suddenly I have to work. I have no stamina.

[Enid]

You guys should come in the store and see my hydroponic lettuce.  I've been growing all the gourmet micro-greens and lettuces!  I've even brought some salad dressing to work because I'm being overwhelmed by lettuce.  I was growing it for a demo for my hydroponic display and its been very productive and tasty.  Come check it out, its kinda cool.