During the great depression, my grand parents knew it was going on. But it did not effect them whatsoever. They grew their own vegetables and grain. Grandma knew how to sew, cook, and take care of 8 children. Grandpa knew how to raise cattle, hunt, and fish. And take care of 8 children. They didn't only survive, they thrived.
First rule of vegetable gardening is to grow what you love. BUT if you're looking to save costs, grow veggies that are expensive to buy. Vegetables like lettuces, basil, parsley, coriander and other herbs and leafy greens which can be picked multiple times can yield a lot. I've harvested multiple kilos per square meter. And don't forget about succession crops: beetroot and radishes can be grown in a matter of weeks, so they can go before or after a crop, like your potato bed. Garlic doesn't need its own bed, they need so little space that they can be planted between other veggies, like fennel or carrots. Plant sprawling plants at the edges of your beds and let them trail across the ground or better yet, train them up your fence, where they'll stay out of the way and get extra warmth. Lastly, you can easily grow veggies through the winter, if you get them in by August or September. For next year: either top up with a healthy dose of compost or amend with fertiliser (chicken manure pellets are cheap and work just fine). You had a great start (onions are not that easy!) but you can definitely triple or quadruple your savings with a little more time investment and smart planting :)!
Recently I found out if you crush eggshells and sprinke them around your plants it will stop slugs and snails from going all over them. I had a similar issue last year.
I'm a biologist. I know how it works...but growing plants is still like magic to me! The Royal Horticultural Society has some great tips to get buddy gardeners started and it's all free.
I love how you added it all up and showed how much money you saved or didn't save, but the true value of this experience is your new knowledge and the joy of watching something grow from your own yard, free from chemicals and growth hormones. I would pay double for that, well done!!
Depending on resourcefulness you can definitely cut down on the start up costs. There's videos of people making beds from wooden pallets, you can get seeds from other gardeners or the foods you eat, I even saw a video of someone making their own fertilizers. I think gardening is really beneficial physically and psychologically. Getting outside and moving and breathing the fresh air... watching something you have invested in grow and produce...it's an accomplishment. Theres also the mental stimulation from learning new skills.
The literal cost of the vegetables you grew may have been only 64 pounds, but the feeling of happiness, self-satisfaction, and self-reliance were worth at least a million pounds, easily! Great job, my friend!
It is not always about saving money. When it comes to food, it tastes just so much better to grow your own food than the stuff from the supermarket. Great video for sure.
Totally inspirational! I built my first raised bed last year and felt the same satisfaction as you growing tomatoes, onions, courgettes, spinach, red cabbage and parsnips. Also planted 15 fruit trees and I’m 68. I love feeling more self sufficient especially as there are shortages in the supermarket fruit and veg isles. Looking forward to year two. Congratulations!
You might have lost money growing your own but it looks pretty organic which is priceless. Save your good stock for another crop..overall you did well and I found the video inspiring!
I love the way you went about this. So many gardeners seem to be professionals who know all there is to know, rather intimidating. You give me courage to give it a try. Thank you!
While you didn't turn a profit, you created something you'll enjoy for years to come, and created something for millions to enjoy. I can really appreciate this type of video, something that takes a year to make is no small task. Keep doing what your doing.
Potatoes have turned out to be my favorite vegetable to grow, because I always assumed you needed a big farm to get a decent amount of potatoes, but I've grown them in grow bags and planter boxes, and they take no care at all, really. It does feel like magic, a bit, growing our own food.
