Is Growing Your Own Vegetables Worth It?

The average American is spending 25% more on groceries than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, so folks are looking for ways to save money. Growing your own vegetables is rewarding, but is it worth the cost? What's the cheapest vegetable to grow? Get tips on deciding what to plant and whether growing your own veg will save you some dough in your favorite sustainability podcast. 

NOTE: Some of the links below contain affiliate links, which we make a little cash from.

Sources:

• LA Food Bank - https://www.lafoodbank.org/stories/usa-food-prices-rose-by-25-percent-from-2019-to-2023/
• Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/gardening/comments/19a7tbm/best_food_to_grow_to_save_money/
• USDA Prices - https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/fruit-and-vegetable-prices
• Harvard Health Letter - https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/backyard-gardening-grow-your-own-food-improve-your-health-201206294984
• USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map - https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
• The Farmers Almanac Planting Calendar – https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar
• Ecology Center - Organic Fertilizers - https://www.ecocenter.org/avoid-greenwashing-gardening-ecolive-event
• Grow Safe - https://amzn.to/47sxWPb

Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact
Instagram: @greeningupmyact
Facebook: Greening Up My Act
Email us with questions: greeningupmyact@gmail.com
YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 6:40 Sources
• 7:16 How much do vegetables cost?
• 12:56 What's the cheapest vegetable to grow?
• 17:57 How do you decide what veggies to grow?
• 21:54 What about fruit trees?
• 23:39 Are homegrown veggies more nutritious?
• 25:25 How to grow your own vegetables
• 30:30 Seasons and what to plant (use the Farmer's Almanac!)
• 35:19 Fertilizers (especially "organic" fertilizer) and compost
• 38:52 Eco-friendly pesticides and keeping critters at bay
• 42:46 Watering your veggie garden
• 44:21 So, is it worth it to grow your own vegetables?
• 49:45 Next week: Food dyes