With most people working from home, a vegetable garden seems like the next hobby to take on! First came the banana bread and watching Tiger King, now it’s time for growing your own veggies! There’s just something special about unplugging, getting your hands dirty and leaving the stresses behind you. Some of my happiest memories are during my engineering service trips to Nicaragua where I was away from the hustle and bustle of the real world and seeing the progress of our project every day. Being outside and putting in real, physical labor is therapeutic and something a lot of us are craving right now.
Did you know that “35% of households in the US grow food?” I am sure the number has grown significantly over the last month. If you’re looking for a new hobby, gardening might be it – it’s productive, mentally liberating, thrifty, and is something you can do with the whole family!
Pros of having your own vegetable garden
Having a vegetable garden has monumental benefits ranging from saving you hundreds of dollars annually, to giving you a sense of security knowing you have a supply of vegetables coming. Gardening has been known to show – “reductions in depression, anxiety, and body mass index, as well as increases in life satisfaction, quality of life, and sense of community.” Not only that, but it gives you a sense of ownership and pride in your achievements. Imagine having your friends over for a stirfry you made from your own garden?! They’ll be begging for more!
Running out of things to do with your kids? Gardening is a great activity that you can introduce into your routines! (You can also check out these 5 kid friendly activities). The organization, Kids Gardening offers activities and grants to help increase the positive effects of gardening. Gardening can teach kids numerous skills like “measurements, addition, subtraction, counting, sorting into categories and colors. Practicing motor skills and learning work ethic are also life skills taught through gardening.” Math would be a lot more fun if it meant you get to play in the dirt and grow something!
What Type Of Garden Should You Start?
There are a number of garden options you can choose from! I personally would start with the container garden as it seems to be the cheapest and easiest one to dive into!
- Backyard Garden ($100-$200)– You can either plant directly in your yard or plant in a raised bed to protect from pests and wild animals!
- Community Garden (cost varies based on local membership fees)– ask your neighbors and locals where you can find a community garden!
- Balcony & Container Garden ($50-$100) – This will allow you to still garden even if you don’t have a backyard! It also allows you to move the containers to follow the sun and weather patterns. You can even use household objects as containers to save money.
How To Start A Vegetable Garden
Starting a vegetable garden can seem daunting! How many of you picture rows upon rows of plants growing and think you don’t have time to maintain that? You get to decide how big your garden grows! If you only want to plant tomatoes, that is okay! You don’t have to be an expert to start a garden, and there are lots of resources out there to guide you every step of the way. Rutgers University recently released a series that educates you on the process of starting your own garden!
Here are the basic steps towards starting your vegetable garden! (You can also get a free guide from The Almanac)
- Decide what you want to grow – what type of vegetables are you craving to have in your garden? Make sure to research what conditions they need! Some common vegetables are tomatoes, zucchini squash, and peppers! Here is a list of the easiest vegetables to grow. There are also vegetable starter kits you can purchase online! I have seen people plant vegetables in old egg cartons too (not the plastic ones)!
- Find a place to plant – whether it is in a community garden or your backyard, make sure the conditions are perfect!
- Know when to plant – The Almanac also has a guide for that!
- Harvest- you might even get multiple harvests in a season!
- Enjoy your vegetables!!
Once you’re ready to get started, you can visualize and organize your garden with this planner, (has a 7 day free trial!)
Budgeting For A Garden
How much does a vegetable garden really cost? According to Investopedia, the expenses for gardening are:
- Cost of plants or seeds
- Cost to provide nutrient-rich soil (dirt, fertilizer, and worms)
- Cost to protect and structure plants (cages, coverings, and fences)
- Cost to water plants
- Cost of tools and accessories (tiller, gloves, and spade)
- Compost (you can make your own!)
On average, those costs will run you around $238, but your garden might still produce $677 worth of fruits and vegetables. If you are upcycling containers, doing seed swaps with friends, and buying used tools, a container garden shouldn’t cost you more than $100. I would recommend finding a Facebook group of local gardeners who can give you tips and spare some of their unused tools and materials.
There are numerous ways to save costs on gardening- you can purchase seeds instead of seedlings, find free mulch (my parents get theirs from their local recycling center), use a rain barrel to collect water, and even make your own insect repellant! At the end of the day, if you are willing to put in the work, you will reap the rewards with fresh vegetables, less anxiety, and a cheaper food budget!