(www.sass-pants.com) — If you’re looking for a way to save on your grocery bills during the recession, growing your own produce may be the answer. A recently completed cost-analysis by Burpee reveals major savings for people who grow their own vegetables.
According to W. Atlee Burpee & Co., a well-planned garden will result in a 1 to 25 cost-savings ratio, meaning $50 in seeds and fertilizer can produce $1,250 worth of groceries purchased at a supermarket. “And all you need is a small, sunny plot to enjoy these big savings,” says Burpee Chairman George Ball.
To arrive at the 1 to 25 ratio, Burpee planted a series of test gardens during 2008 at its main research facility, Fordhook Farm, in Bucks County, PA. “A hundred dollars will produce $2,500 in groceries,” Mr. Ball concludes. “That’s $2,400 a family can save in five months.”
For 2009, Burpee is planning a new seed packet offer, appropriately termed “The Money Garden.” Each Money Garden packet will contain packages of six easy-to-grow varieties capable of producing at least $500 worth of groceries. The Money Garden will have a special $10 price and will be available on the company website (www.burpee.com) exclusively.
The Money Garden packet will include the following varieties: Bell Peppers, Beefsteak Tomatoes, Sugar Snap Peas, French Green Beans, Butterhead Lettuces and large Nantes-type carrots. If purchased individually, the six items would retail for $20.
Crucial to attaining enormous savings is succession planting, Mr. Ball says. “Too often home gardeners plant an item such as lettuce early in the season and then leave the site fallow after harvesting a month later.” Much of the success in The Money Garden results from extending the season from early planting to late harvesting, according to Mr. Ball. Burpee will help gardeners learn “staggered sowing” and the best vegetables to plant in succession in their locale and when to start for maximum results. Also, which varieties actually do better in colder weather. The Money Garden can be cultivated in a relatively small garden of approximately 200-225 square feet.
To make it easier for home gardeners to plant The Money Garden, Burpee plans to post how-to information on the company website, www.Burpee.com. A toll free Money Garden hotline has been established, 1-800-333-5808, to answer questions about varieties that work best and when to plant in different regions of the United States.
If you live in an area with limited planting space, check out these resources on container gardening:
Contents Copyright © 2009 Kristen King
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Great post, Kristen. I can attest to the financial savings to be had through growing your own food (not that I had time to garden last spring and summer, though). And what a cool idea the Money Garden is. It will help individuals and probably increase sales for Burpee.
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