Food

Save On Groceries, Grow Your Own Garden

BOSTON (WBZ) ― The high cost of groceries is creating a new generation of gardeners.

Eating healthy has always been important for Michele Von Turkovich. The recent spike in the cost of groceries finally prompted her to starting digging in her own backyard. "It seems like everything is creeping up."

Government figures confirm her belief. Food prices shot up fast this past spring than they have in 18 years.

Michele's goal was simple: To minimize the amount of money that went into the garden and maximize the money she got out of it.

Charlie Nardozzi of the National Gardening Association is seeing more people like Michele.

Not only are there more new gardeners, but he says veteran gardeners are planting more crops. He believes it makes economic sense. "If you buy a $2 tomato transplant, you can probably get about $10 worth of tomatoes off that one plant. So even though across the country and depending on the plant, it is going to vary, you can save probably hundreds of dollars by growing your own food."

Costs to get started include soil, mulch, and planting materials. Nardozzi expects most gardeners to come out ahead despite those costs.

For many, this isn't about saving money. More consumers want to avoid contamination, increase nutrition, and go green. "They're wanting to have some kind of impact on global warming. They're wanting to reduce their carbon footprint."

For Michele, the motives are simpler. "I'm just hoping to be able to afford healthy, local organic food out of my own garden for as much of the season as I can, before I have to jump back into the grocery store."

And don't forget just how good food this fresh can taste. It's never too early to start planning a garden for next year.

For some ideas, click on www.garden.org.

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