Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you, too, are shocked and dismayed at the rapid rise in food costs. But there is a way we can all fight back that’s not only good for our wallets but our bodies, too.
This is one day’s haul from my grape and berry patch: 3.5 lbs of raspberries and 4.75 lbs of Concord grapes.
Let’s do the math.
Today’s price for 6 oz of organic store-bought raspberries is roughly $5.99, and for organic grapes, it’s about $6.99 lb.
3.5 lbs = nine 6 oz containers x let’s say $6 = $54.
4.75 lbs = 4.75 1lb containers x let’s say $7 = $33.25.
That’s a haul worth $87.25 in one day just for my berries. And there will be lots more to come. As well, there will be at least 30 lbs of Asian Pears. And I haven’t added up how many pounds of, say, green beans I’ve picked so far. You get the idea.
I’ve probably saved a few thousand dollars in groceries, and it cost me almost nothing since I also save my own seeds. I invested approximately $75 in total for vegetable seedlings that I didn’t already have, as well as a few bags of compost to supplement my existing supply.
So, let’s say it cost me $75 to keep a few thousand dollars in my pocket and to eat well. Yes, I have to tend, weed, and water my gardens, but I enjoy that. It’s a kind of meditative practice for me. And there are plenty of perennials that I’ve planted once and am still enjoying year after year, like berries, grapes, asparagus, rhubarb, apples, peaches, etc.
So, if you haven’t, give growing your own food a try. Yes, it’s late in the season, but this is the perfect time to start planning your garden for next Spring.
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