Growing Dinner at Home

With rising food prices, growing your own vegetables at home is a good way to reduce your expenses.

Vegetable gardening is rewarding on many fronts, reducing your food bill is just one benefit. You’ll get to spend time outside in the fresh air, get some exercise, have better tasting food, and make the world a little greener.

One of the downsides of vegetable gardening is that you may spend a lot of time loving and caring for your garden, only to find that the wild neighborhood animals are enjoying the fruits of your labor. I read this book two summers ago and related very well to the author. After working all summer on a bountiful crop of tomatoes, Kyle and I came out one morning to find all of them missing. Well, except for the ones with one small bite taken out and dropped to the ground. Grrrr….I had some choice words for little furry animals that day.

Since then, Kyle and I have taken a minimalist approach and grow basil on our porch…




Kyle’s parents who live in Vermont have gone to the other extreme with their rooftop garden. They grow swiss chard, lettuce, green beans, and a host of other veggies…



A good tomato crop is on the way…



You really don’t need to worry about squirrels, deer, and bunnies eating from your rooftop garden…



While we all can’t enjoy rooftop gardens, outside container gardening may be something you’d like to consider for next year, or inside for this coming winter. It’s easy enough to fill some pots and get started (as long as you have adequate sunlight). Here’s an excellent book that got Kyle’s parents started on their journey.

Have fun and eat fresh!