amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

keikihula · 07-17-2008, 10:26 PM

My main reason for wanting to garden is so I know exactly what is in and on my produce, and also for taste. The stuff I have been getting fro the grocery store for the past couple years is just junk. Even organics in the grocery store aren't very good. I try to buy as much as I can from local farmers, and we have a great little farmers market twice a week that makes it very easy. I am doing a CSA this year through my favorite farm. It's the ultimate in convenience. I show up Wednesday afternoon, had her 20 bucks and she hands me a big bag of produce.

It's been stupid to try to grow a garden in the past few years, b/c we have been moving so much. Twice now I have had to leave stuff behind. I think we are here in this house pretty permanently though, so I'm thinking about doing a garden next season.

There are definite pluses to growing my own, vs continuing with the CSA, mainly that I can grow exactly what I know we will eat, and I can grow enough to have a surplus to be able to can/freeze for winter.

I'm wondering though if it's cost effective. Our water is free, and I have access to any gardening tool I might need. The soil here is AWESOME, so I can basically just plant directly in the ground with no soil prep other than tilling. I also have access to a small green house. Once I factor in the costs of seeds and esp my time, I'm wondering if I should just stick with the CSA, but get a full share ($40/week) so I have extra to preserve. I'm not sure I'm ready for the commitment that a garden takes.

Aidansmommy · 07-18-2008, 08:55 AM

Each pack of seeds is $1.50- $2.50 at our local stores and my seed wish list for a Fall garden equals about $40 from Johnny's Select Seeds Catalog, so if you don't need soil amendments or mulch, that would be the only cost. The composted cow manure I purchased from Lowes was $1.49 for a 40 pound bag.
It takes a lot of time and work, though, and there is no guarantee that the seeds will sprout and that the plants will be healthy.
If you buy seedlings, it's pricier.

keikihula · 07-19-2008, 04:37 AM

yeah, that was another thing I was thinking about, and another reason I went with the CSA this year. It's nice to just be able to show up and be handed a bag of produce, rather than worry about whether or not anything will even grow. For instance, any time I have tried to grow squash or zucchini, I have failed miserably!

mamabear · 07-19-2008, 10:51 PM

It is really about the time/commitment more than the $. Without amending soil and if you already have the spot and everything, it's definitely cheaper to garden, but if you count paying yourself for labor, it's cheaper to do the CSA.

I enjoy gardening and find it therapeutic; if you don't, get the CSA and don't look back. Not everyone has to do everything, kwim?

keikihula · 07-20-2008, 02:07 PM

I guess I'm not too worried about my time commitment, other than that we do take off for a long weekend a couple times during the summer, and I'm not sure I could count on anyone being able to water for me.

My biggest concern is that I would put all the time and energy and money for seeds into it, and then I would end up killing everything, or that nothing would grow.