Too Expensive to Grow Your Own Food? 

I am 75 years old and wasn't planning on doing much because an accident left me with little use of my right arm and hand.I live in Florida and after watching some of your videos I realized that our weather is very alike. You have inspired me to renew my love of gardening in spite of my disability and I have planned the garden out and I planned for success. I will plant in the fall with all the heirloom seeds I had saved up before my accident. A few raised beds to start and progress from there and I am no longer wasting away doing nothing each day. You have a way in your videos that makes me feel challenged to live to my fullest no matter my circumstance.Thank you for your inspiration and knowledge .Keep it up.

I remember visiting my Greatpa when I was very young, he had a small veggie patch in his backyard. It was not that long ago when it was normal for families to grow some of their own food in suburban areas. We have lost so many skills over the last few generations. Not knowing how to grow, preserve & cook healthy meals. I love your videos, they have inspired me to start to grow my own over the last few years. Thank you!

I remember my parents growing tomatoes and peppers on the side of the house, and what was funny was when I was babysitting a family friend's kid and brought him to their house. I showed him the small tomatoes, not quite ripe, and him, who loves tomatoes, grabbed one and bit into it. He was four, and it was cute. He seemed to like it, but I did take it away [wasn't sure if he should eat it or not] and explained to him we'll come back another day so when they were red and he can pick as many as he wanted. We did and we let him pick a basket of them. He was super happy about it. That was years ago, kid's like 15 now I think. I'm starting a veggie garden soon myself. Gonna put together a raised bed as soon as we close on our property/house we're buying.

I tell the trolls its a "Hobby" for me, a stress reliever, something that makes me happy like how the trolls hobby is how they use their previous time to make other feel bad than looking after themselves with their well earned money I procastinate a lot and watch a lot of diy videos especially selfsufficientme for quail and garden stuff (which I have a mini version) but far from as good still I try my hardest despite my lack of time working too much and taking care of my kid.... I struggle with finances but I do gardening n have my birds n other pets.... why its a hobby... its good for my heart.. my health.. my head

I fully agree to everything you are saying. It's unfortunate I live in a colder climate so it's more different to growing for garden. I love your channel and even tho I'm Canadian. I like everything you say. Your efforts on your garden deserves more than just being on a RU-vid channel. It is so worth it growing you own garden!!!! Anyone that saying other wise Cleary is incompetent. We all appreciate your channel and the contents you work hard on uploading. Please don't stop!!!!!

Our veggie garden cost more this year because we had to replace the plant supports. Actually, I'm not sure if we have even saved $$ growing our own because we don't think of it that way, We only have 34 square feet of sunny garden space here in zone 6 USA, so we couldn't produce enough food without the grocery store anyway. Growing delicious, fresh food is just a healthy hobby for us that provides happiness and better-tasting veggies.

Well, I think you do a marvelous job inspiring us all to get out there and Dig! And its brilliant you keep me smiling cos, I agree with all you say about the silliness surrounding " too expensive to grow your own food." Its just how nature intended for goodness sake. And I mean that literally...... What could be better than getting in the garden, enjoying fresh air and exercise, and eating the fruits of your labour. Marvellous! We've only got a small patch of garden, but trying to grow at least a few basic veggies and herbs. And the English weather doesn't help sometimes, but nevertheless its folks like you keep us informed and inspired. Thank so much. Love your sense of humour too. 😀

Another aspect is... I love gardening. If it didn't save me $$$ I'd still be doing it. Not many hobbies feed your body and your wallet!!!!!

I love your videos! From Maine USA zone 5! I wish we could grow citrus here! Have you ever heard of a fiddle head?? Have a happy new year!!

It's too expensive to grow your own food if you don't have a green thumb. 5 years ago I broke my back, moved away from my established garden to a more jungle like area with tons and tons of weeds, and had very little money to invest in the garden. My attempts the first few years were all failures, and I wasted a good $50-100 a year on seeds, soil, etc thinking too big for my wallet and physical condition. My garden keeps getting wiped out by pests, rodents/animals (deer, resident groundhog under my shed, gopher, birds, or the insane squirrels that also get into my attic somehow), or my inability to water (I was flat on my back for 3 years, and even now I can't do things some days) However I still have seeds, and I still have containers to start in, and I have more nutrients than I can shake a stick at. The one good thing I did was plant a couple of peach trees, but I've yet to get a harvest from it. Something always gets to the peaches before I do.. (fungus, frost, birds, etc) But this year thankfully I put part of my stimulus toward actual raised beds and soil, big long beds, with wire mesh on the bottom to stop digging critters, and 16 feet of cattle panel for a bean/cuke/melon tunnel.. Perhaps if I do it right this year I can convince the family to help me build more next year. And even if I do it wrong, this time I'll have several feet of soil in a raised bed, instead of a couple inches in the ground.. I also got good lights for starting indoor so I can plan ahead for seasons. I didn't start spring veggies but I got 3 weeks on the summer season already with tomatoes, peppers, kale, melons, cukes, herbs like basil, cilantro, oregano, thyme, etc. Even bought two bags of onion sets.. although now idk where I'm going to put 160 onions! WHOOPS! I may start making beds for onions simply by running the mower down a strip on lowest setting, then laying down plastic, and only enriching the soil in a row.. We'll see. But I'd rather keep trying to build raise beds and import soil. I can get woody compost for $15 a cube, and it's nice black stuff without no large wood chunks.. It's a good start, and I can always amend it. This is definitely the year that I dig into the compost pile I've been adding to for the last 5 years. Thanks for so much inspiration.

I started mine back up to help me mentally alone, at first. If they ask about labor I would just say, "Well, that's why I buy so many dogs? WHAT, it makes no sense, well neither do you, so." But seriously, I wake up now and want to check on my garden straight away. I play music while I'm out there, call me crazy but I figured if it calms me....well maybe my plants will like it also. 🤪😜🤪😁

Used to everyone had their own garden and grew their food. We did! I'm in my 50's so it wasnt that long ago.

Gathering wild food is also a good idea

Interesting. This was uploaded 3 odd years ago and it’s now more relevant than ever with escalating costs of living. Would love to see some videos on how to save in the edible garden. I have to admit, I spend a lot. But I do look at it as an investment. I live in rural NSW and I noticed a tonne of new poly tunnels and greenhouses going up when I went into town recently. It’s born of not just cost, but also availability. Or lack thereof. I remember when Corona was new in about 2020 the local supermarket was charging $15 for an iceberg lettuce and $100 kg fresh Ginger. For a region that’s predominantly pensioners it’s bloody criminal. I hope to one day have enough produce to share. Can’t imagine anything more satisfying.

A cynic knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing.

One of my fondest memories is picking carrots from the garden with my father when I was a child. No amount of money or modern entertainment is better than that. I am bingewatching some of your older videos today because it is too rainy to be outdoors. Your channel is excellent now and always has been.

The mental health benefit is worth it alone. How much does therapy cost vs. doing some gardening?

Imagine those people who criticized you watching this video during the quarantine (lockdown) and wishing they actually had a backyard garden and invested on it 😆

I can absolutely say it’s very therapeutic- I have severe depression, anxiety and used to self harm and although the antidepressants help, gardening makes me feel like I’m doing something! It helps that I’m always learning and gives me a reason to get out of bed and smile at my growing babies! :)

I have a 4 year old that no matter what I did our how I cooked vegetables she would not eat any of it. Last year we decided to start a container garden our daughter comes out every day to check her veggies and she is now eating vegetables that I could not get her to eat (tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, lettuce, Brussel sprouts).. growing our own food no matter the cost is worth it knowing our daughter is eating healthy fresh fruit and vegetables that she has watched and help grow..

18 months later, I wonder how many of those naysayers are now putting in gardens...

As a combat vet with baggage as well, i appreciate how you take time to mention the mental health benefits of gardening. I don't have a green thumb at all and I know I don't save money with my small garden but it helps with my mental health. That's what matters to me.

My favourite part of growing my own food is when I give some to a friend who doesn't…the look on their face when they bite into a homegrown tomato and realise that's what a tomato should taste like! Priceless 😃

depends on yield or beliefs. Spend $100 on $25 worth of corn etc etc....I have my own backyard garden because I enjoy the process as a hobby and its cheaper than hookers and cocaine...

I remember as a child I went out to the garden with friends that had never grown anything. The look on their faces when they had fresh strawberries still warm from sunlight was priceless. We sat outside the whole afternoon. They wanted to taste everything. :)

Most people garden as a hobby at a time of day they would not be working. So compared to "free time" spent watching TV they are active, saving on gym membership, and producing organic food.

i have naught but a windowsill available, where i grow herbs in a planter. it's humble, but i honestly treasure that tiny plot of earth.

The old adage: “there are those that know the cost of everything but the value of nothing” applies here I think. Love your videos!

I started gardening for one main goal: a hobby to get my lazy pale ass out of the house. And Boy did it work well. There's something utterly satisfying and rewarding to see the first crops break through the earth or watch the buds of your trees unfold after a cold winter. There's no price to put on that experience.

my wife goes with my grandchildren to the garden when they come over. I hear the laughter, and see the smiles as they munch on fresh fruit and veg as they pick for the house for lunch. no dollar whatever can be put on the joy I feel when I see this and I know this is good. home-grown-knockers go get some sense in your heads!!!

When I realized what I get in return, gardening became my biggest hobby, addiction, pride whatever you would call it! I can never forget my first attempt with pumpkins and tomatoes where I ended up with loads of fruits with just watering (did not even bother feeding them or anything because my full time job and 2 kids kept me busy enough)... I literally gave away loads of pumpkins to neighbors, colleagues, kids' school teachers and still ended up with excess at home !!🤩

You did not spend enough time on the number one clincher.. Gardening is not just a hobby its fun and makes us human. Humans have been growing everything since time began. I mean not only is it sustanable but its theraputical. Most start out by growing flowers & shrubs though quickly evolve to edibles.. Satisfaction quarrenteed best way to please ur neigbors with a basket of fresh fruit & veg. More much more than a hobby...gardening rules it makes you feel and be a better person..reap what you sow. Keep up the enjoyable uploads..

i totally agree with you Mark !! my mental health let alone my physical health is so much better since i been grow my own fruit and veggie !!

I think this idea comes from several sources: 1. Bad first attempts. Someone buys a lot of expensive stuff, uses it poorly, gets a tiny harvest, if any, and walks away bitter. They never get a chance to reuse the equipment (and spread out those initial investment costs) because they give up early. 2. Simplistic Economics. They assume an unlimited number of extra work hours are available at arbitrary times. I see this one a lot "You'd make more money getting a second job and just buying it!" yeah, what jobs are within 10 feet of my house and let me work any hours I want and take as many breaks as I want? 3. Failure to value side-benefits. Physical work is therapeutic, you feel better physically and emotionally. The feeling of making something improves ones sense of self worth. So many side benefits that get ignored most of the time.

also im a stay at home mom. my husband goes out busting his butt every day for me to have the chance to be with my babies. so as my part to help him i took up gardening. i believe you said in your blog (sorry if it wasnt you i watch so many youtube channels) but that its our duty being stay at home parents to do more around the house to make our spouses life easier who has to go out dealing idiot bosses and idiot people. just the way i see it as well.

I see gardening as a type of meditation. There is a sense of peace involved from being able to use your hands to grow life.

The claim that gardening is too expensive and too time consuming to be worth the effort is absolutely absurd. Like most hobbies, it can be as cheap or as expensive as you choose to make it, and you can spend as much or as little time doing it as you please. My husband and I both work full time (we actually both have 2 careers), are in our early 60's, and are extremely active (still run, hike, bike, open water swim, camp, ski, golf, kayak, raft - you name it). We also have two huge gardens at two different locations that produce so much food, we can't even eat enough, preserve enough, or find enough people to give it away to fast enough to not to end up with some in the compost pile. Cost wise, the gardens cost us next to nothing. We produce our own compost, save our seeds to regrow, the garden paths are heavily mulched with wood chips that are made from the tree branches and bark from fallen trees on the property that we hand chop up for firewood, the raised beds are made with logs from those trees as well. Granted, not everyone has a piece of forest property at their disposal, but wood chips can be had for free from your local tree trimming service. We use no sprays, fertilizers, or pesticides, and have incredibly healthy plants with delicious yields. We practically live on just what we grow, and only buy what we can't grow in the PNW. Don't eat meat or dairy, so our grocery bills are pretty darn low. I used to be a chef and don't feel like I have to sacrifice a darn thing living this way - in fact just the opposite. I wouldn't pay $100,000 to live for 5 more years of low quality living, but I would pay that amount to continue to feel good, be incredibly active, and enjoy the taste of real food for whatever amount of time that we do have left. Love your channel - keep up the great work!

I love this. I've been growing food for over 10 years, and like Mark, have been crowd growing for a long time before it had a name. I can very easily live off my garden with little to no effort due to just how much produce I grow. All of it is for free, I save seeds, mulch the ground yearly, and barely have to lift a finger to maintain it. I just walk outside every single day with a huge bowl and fill it to the brim. The number of vegetables I eat per meal would cost at least 10-20 dollars per meal at the supermarket due to just how much I am able to eat in one serving because it's so plentiful in my garden. Naysayers are dumb af.

Totally agree on the insanity of wanting perfectly even veggies on the supermarket shelf.

Mark all your points are valid. In addition, I want to say it is economical. Have you ever seen a pack of herbs in one of three big super markets? In average cost you 3au$ for 20gr. That is equal to 150$ a kilo. How many people ever calculated that? I grow all my herbs organically and allow a square meter for each yet harvest kilograms of each enough for my family and my friends as a gift. All I spend as organic food for my garden per year is way less than 100$. Labour cost you say? When you enjoy something of course you pay for it and this I think is the cheapest entertainment/ hobby which granteed my well-being as well as well being of my loved one.

I like ranty videos! And, sadly, I am one of those people who crunch the numbers to often and get self-defeated. But it's more than just numbers. Sure, you could save even more money by eating nothing but cheap Cup-o-Noodles... but what kind of life is that to live?! How healthy would you be? What's the point of saving a few dollars, if it requires you to lead a miserable life. And honestly, investments in growing your own food last beyond your years. I may seem crazy planting all these fruit trees, but they will be myself, my child and her children. Absolutely worth every penny.

Thanks for this video. I am originally from England but have spent the last seventeen years in California, in England I grew most of my own vegetables, I have recently bought a house with a large area and have been watching many of your videos. In part because I want to go back to growing some of my own food. Two years ago I was sick, weighed 375 pounds and was on all kinds of medications. I was told to eat the "Healthy foods" in the supermarket, the stuff labeled heart healthy or low fat, low salt. At 375 pounds I knew I was at the end of a road, continue and the result was going to be bad, so I went back to eating the fresh non processed foods. Two years later I have lost 130 pounds, many of my problems have gone away. Now I want to take another step growing and enjoying gardening again. Not just tsave money, I know growing vegetables is hardly cost effective in terms of cash. But just to enjoy eating something I grew, eating something so fresh the dew is still on it, going out and picking fruit, warm from that mornings sunshine, food I know is not riddled with chemicals other than those that nature made for the vegetables to grow. Thanks for inspiring me to create a garden again. All the best.

Working in your own veggie garden, plucking a ripe tomato off a vine, giving it a wipe on your shirt and munching it down. Priceless!

Do you know how much Mint, Basil, Tyme, or Rosemary cost from the supermarket? I'm growing my own, thank you very much.

The psychological impact of seeing your own food grow is immense and un-substitutable. The emotional well-being that one receives from gardening cannot be bought with money. When I watch your videos from ten years back and compare them with your current ones, I can clearly witness how much you have changed over the years as a human being, you used to be a bit rough and straight face on your earlier videos but now I see you constantly smiling, you are happy and content, and you have also developed an infectious sense of humour that brightens up every second of your videos, can this overall improvement in personality be achived with the money saved by filling the pockets of millionare corporations? Just ignore all these “cost-efficiency” argument from these corporations, no body judges the cost efficiency when those bloody millionaires ride limousines instead of bicycles, spend hundreds of dollars for dining at upscale restaurants than consuming the same “cost-friendly” supermarket gunk they suggest for us, and spend obscene amount of money on all other kinds of filthy habit-deteriorating luxuries. If they can spend so much on such aweful luxuries, we too can spend a little more on our healthy luxuries.

I couldn’t agree with you more Mark, there’s more to growing your own veggies than just cost saving, it’s also about relaxation, good health for your mind and satisfaction for your achievement

Very well said Mark - I'd give it 3 thumbs if I could! I particularly hate the line (which I have heard too many times) "I pulled out the veggie garden because I didn't want to spend my weekends pulling weeds" Sure, watching football and drinking beer is a much better use of ones weekend! Just how much time do you spend pulling weeds anyway? I doubt I spend 1/2 hour week!

Mark, I've been watching all your videos and just found this. Just wanted to say that I disagree with my husband all the time about the expense of growing our own veggies and am always looking for free materials. We just built 480 sq feet of raised beds and have filled them for free. Just this week, found a cuniculturer and got about 200 lbs of rabbit manure compost for FREE for my beds and now have a continuous source for good compost in her. The "too expensive" argument just on the money side of expense is bullcookies. There is free material everywhere. All we have to do is look for it.

Top man, "What a Wa"*^Ker" love it, you took the words right out of my mouth, great channel top man keep up the good work.. Best regards From England.

This was helpful. I just spent a fair bit of money to build a stand for my container garden. I still haven't gotten any produce from it, but I've been enjoying walking out there every day to take a peek at how all my little plants are doing. If you think about how much we spend on entertainment, going to the movies, for example. $12 for a ticket for 2 hours entertainment. The return on investment is much better with the garden. I'll be enjoying this for a long time. I hope. Your channel has given me so many ideas. Thank you for being inspiring.

Absolutely appreciated this video! There’s more to life than the $ cost like you mention. We are meant to care for the Earth and the animals. Some of us are still aware of this and are better for it. There is nothing more therapeutic than a chat with our Creator while I have my hands in the dirt. Thank you so much!

It's not that it's expensive, people are just to lazy.

This type of common sense should be mandatory education in schools 🤦🏻‍♂️

I don't think I've commented on youtube before. I watch Mark a lot and have employed his advice frequently as I build and learn about gardening for self-sufficience. I talk to my close friends about these videos and we agree that they are as life affirming as they are informative. This particular video though, really stirs me and I love it. Thank you, Mark.

It might sounds silly, but I feel like there’s a certain aspect of becoming more naturally self sufficient that extends the life even aside from the health benefits of physically gardening, sunshine and natural eating... “I can’t die today; who will water the plants?! I’ll have to push my death to tomorrow...”

I just moved into a new house with raised garden beds built into a deck and for the first time since I moved out of my parents, I've just today planted tomato's, parsley, Habaneros, eggplants and a fig tree. I'm going back to her a passionfruit vine and some watermelon seeds, and I have you to thank for fulfilling my gardening need for the last year or two. You're so inspiring. Thanks from Melbourne.

the labour costs always get me, lol, people pay to work out in a gym fhs

I tried to explain to my daughter the importance of extra food on hand. She said nothing will ever happen in her lifetime. I love a veg in my little garden. I love seeing a little extra food in my pantry. We just need it and it makes me happy seeing my first tomato turning red. The taste of a garden raised tomato is so much more flavorful than a store bought one. You are so right. Grow a veg or salad garden in a large pot. Just do something, NOW.

I am very overweight, I have a lot of medical issues. I've just started working in the garden growing fruit and vegetables. Although I'm unable to walk far around the block, I found I can work in the garden for 2 or more hours. It's like dancing, your having fun and it's holding your attention and you don't think of it as exercise. I'm learning so much by making mistakes and I don't worry about it because I view it as a tick off the list to failings. I love your sites, I love the 'no bullshit' talk.

I love that you talk about the non-financial benefits. I’m starting a garden to educate myself about where food comes from and if I’m ever in a bad spot, I have the skills to provide for myself food with a garden.

The main item I buy is coffee. I use a lot of it so it isn't feasible for me to grow. I live in town. My total acerage is 1/17th of an acre. I grow all our veggies on about half this area. I grow everything from asparagus to zucchini. I save my seeds and only buy seeds when I want to try a new variety. I use a lot of trellises in order to utilize as much space as I can to grow the amount of food that I produce. The bar and string trellises are a lot more economical than the cattle panels. I usually have enough to can and dehydrate but this year was an exceptionally bad year. Torrential rains, hail, high heat and humidity; and then the swarms of insects contributed to a decrease in production of my harvest. Lucky for my hubby and I that I know how to put food by for hard times. I will be doing small experimental sections of my garden next year for differing weather patterns and bug resistance to see what works well in my area. I also have a dozen chickens. They provide me with eggs and manure. The chickens get the bugs, caterpillars, worms, and weeds from the garden. At the end of the main growing season they are allowed to free range the garden and the compost area before I plant the fall garden or after I protect it with tunnels. Some years there is an overlap between summer and fall gardens. I also use rabbit manure that I get from two sources. I've never done a cost analysis but I know that I could not buy all the fresh organic produce I eat for less than $300 USD that I spend annually for the upkeep of my garden and chickens. The chickens are the majority of that cost. I do feed them my own blend of scratch feed. Organic eggs in my area are more than $3 a dozen. Times 2 dozen a week, which is what we eat, is more than $300 per year. Is it worth growing it yourself? YES And this isn't even taking into consideration all the health benefits!

This has to be one of my favorite videos ever! We have a garden and I”ve actually taken over part of our front yard for potatoes this year. I love taking my cup of coffee out every morning and checking on all my garden plants and the yard. I’ve never thought of calculating how much it all costs and I’m sad to see there are people out there that do. We just built all new raised beds out of metal roofing. I love them. My husband and I live in the pacific NW a stones throw from Puget Sound. We fish A LOT. Mostly salmon and halibut. We joke about the cost of it all but when you open your freezer and see it full of fresh salmon, it’s worth it. Besides, it’s our shared memories, fishing, hunting and gardening. So many life experiences are worth more than money can buy! I couldn’t agree with you more. There is also a lot of pride being able to bring food to the table to feed your family. I only shop at the market maybe once a month now. I’m hoping we have a successful fishing/hunting/gardening season so all I have to buy is flour, coffee and sugar. Oh and one more thing, I wouldn’t eat farm raised fish or shrimp (sold in the grocery stores here in the USA ‘Farm Raised’ doesn’t mean it’s good or healthy) if it was the last thing to eat on earth. So many things they say are safe are poison. People need to research what they are putting in their bodies! Thank you for letting me rant. Love your videos! I need to go through your list and find out how your arbor turned out!

Argument for growing your own food: Good for the soul. Argument against growing your own food: "Agree to be our slave, and you might save some time and a little bit of money."

There is a sense of peace in the garden. It is a stress reliever for me in general. Not only do you get food that actually has flavor, you are working in harmony with nature. Our small gardening has been going for about 10 years, and we learn something new every year. It is a bit of work and a bit of expense, but nothing compared to wasting your money on fake and/or tasteless food at the grocery store.

I love growing my own food and I don't always win. Sometimes I do though and I take a $2 packet of seeds and I'm able to grow myself months I mean months a fresh abundant greens. That $2 packet of greens I'm talking about right now has easily produced me this entire winter with close to $400 worth of produce and it is still producing I got about two more months out of these plants they're on their way to seed.

You are officially my favorite person on RU-vid! I have been binge watching you from Southern Illinois, USA for several days. My daughter and I are currently fixing up the old chicken coop and making a raised-bed garden. We got a few pullets today. I can't wait to start planting my veggies! Thank you for the inspiration and tips! ❤💗❤

I love the honesty in this video! Such great insight and advice. definitely motivated to grow my own. I can do it!! :-D

My husband Chris died two years ago... gardening has saved me thousands dollars on therapy.. plus the groceries plus the bonding family time. I totally agree with you. Gardening is priceless.

The best gardening channel I've ever come across great tips, amazing sense of humor and no matter how long the videos are I never get bored of them

I had a stroke a year ago, gardening not only makes me spend a lot of time outside but I eat heathy. 😘

The reason why the cost of mass produced veg is cheap is because of exploitation. Exploitation of very poorly paid workers (in some forms, slavery- yes in the 21st century), exploitation of pesticides and herbicides that cause problems for wildlife and consumers long term etc etc. We see how perfect food is on the shelf, but don't see the massive about of messiness and waste behind it. It's the cherry on top of a very, very disgusting cake. Growing our own food means giving ourselves choice again. The choice to have pesticide free food. The choice to avoid exploitation of hidden slavery. The choice to have food grown in a way that integrates the well being of wildlife in the area. The choice of having a nice garden to enjoy visually. So much choice and power back to the individual.

Thanks for your vids Mark. You've inspired me to get my garden producing as a hobby to help with stress from the ambulance service. Not sure I'll grow many bananas in the UK though. Cheers mate

There is no argument. Homegrown is the cheapest, best tasting, and healthiest route. The only merit point the " Garden Nazi's" might have is if there is an over abundance of certain crops in your particular area. For instance, during collard season here in North Florida they are everywhere...piled high at every fruit stand, over flowing the back of pickup trucks on corners, even the markets have carts full of them lined up in the produce sections. I still grow them, but not many, and not with much care when they can be had for pennies. ( of course like you said, you don't know what's on them, unless you know what farm they came from, I know everyone by name at our dinky little country market, and the produce guy always knows where he gets his stuff ).Other than a unique situation like that, the debunkers are wrong. Either they are corporate patsies, or they are nitpicking non issues and spouting BS trying to make some cash.

People are waking up mate. I have a weekly market stall selling my greens etc. The most my produce travels is 10mins to town . Customers constantly comment to all of us local farmers that the flavour, the quality is much more than any supermarket can offer. Anyway.. I have lots I could write to support your POV but I'm positive that major corps are just grabbing a 'last minute ' headline purely because so many are moving away from mass produced foods.. they are either growing there own or coming to us small passionate growers for their tucker .. Fresh is best ! Excellent video mate 👍🌱

I have just begun growing my own veggies, because all the prices for buying food at the supermarket is going up. And I have been wanting to go big with my garden for a few years now, and now I finally can. I have been saying these last couple of years, that the time where everyone keeps buying their food from the supermarkets is coming to an end, and growing our own food is going to become more important as the years progress. And I have to thank you for this awesome channel, I am learning so much by watching your videos, while I am busy growing my own veggie garden up as well.

I was depressed for a while and gardening and home brew actually changed my life around cheers mark on another awesome vid

Every hobby I'be ever heard of costs money, especially at the beginning during set up. I have a craft room that gives me countless hours of pleasure and helps me unwind. Could I buy some of the stuff I make cheaper? Sure, but I get so much satisfaction from making my own and I don't mind paying for my entertainment, and saving on therapy. I'm just in the planning stage of my vegie garden but I'm already enjoying it and am really looking forward to harvesting my own crops. Already it's getting me out in the fresh air more and got me moving. Some people pay a fortune on gym membership and see it as an investment in their future. I see my backyard veggie patch and chook run the same way. I have to say thank you for your videos. I was finding all the books and articles overwhelming, especially when it comes to climate but as we are practically neighbours (I'm on the Gold Coast) I realised that if you can grow it I can give it a go too and I love your straight forward style of teaching. I've been binge watching and getting so much inspiration. Thank you

Totally agree with you, I've started growing herbs and vegetables recently. I would lie if I didn't say that I never thought of the cost of fertilizer compare to store bought food, I think that there is also a problem where I live with the cost of gardening equipment and tools, and so fertilizer here is super expensive...

Hi Mark I enjoy your videos and I agree with all you said. Can I add one more positive point in growing your own produce. The satisfaction you get when you pick the fruits,(Literally) of your labour.

Me and the Wife love watching your videos, we recently moved to a semi- country home away from the city and are on 2 acres, which is a lot to us. I grew some small raised bed gardens in the city and they saved us a lot of money. Now out here it will save we estimate $150-200USD a month after ALL costs. Thank you for your service, I was in the US Army and have had met a few of your boys while over there in Iraq.Good boys that’s for sure. Me and the Wife love the videos, thanks for all the time you are taking to show, help and teach us. Much love brother.

As a fellow Australian I've found plenty of gardening supplies (even seeds!) in dollar stores, growing your own food doesn't have to be extremely expensive.

I look at backyard gardening like I look at home brewing and home cheese making. It may cost more in dollar value short term, but the knowledge, exercise and satisfaction you gain is priceless. You know exactly what goes into what you make and grow, and you know you've made or grown it how you like it. And at the end of the day you end up with fresh fruit and veg, fresh home made cheese, or a beer. What's not to love about that? A big thank you to Mark and the people like him that share their journeys and learnings to inspire and teach the rest of us.

It’s a shame that so much food is wasted there’s no good reason for food to go to waste in this day.

I love this channel - and this video especially! Only recently discovered you, and am learning so much! I live in South Africa, in a flat, with a courtyard that only gets summer sun and a front area that gets blasted with sun all year round! I'm trying for the first time to grow food in pots. Bless you, Mark. And thank you so much.

Excellent! I just started my garden and all of what you said here is exactly how I feel about the starting up costs. Love all of your videos... Cheers mate.

Gardening, for me, is exercise that also gives me food. I enjoy gardening. In time I'll be better at creating compost, keeping seeds, and diversifying the gardens so I'll get my produce for even cheaper than at a store even on sale.

I'm very much a beginner gardener. About 8 months ago, I planted my very first plant (from seed, I had other herbs that I got when they were fully grown). It was a jalapeno, and I keep it inside. A few weeks ago, I had my very first harvest of the jalapenos (I cut off the flowers before so the plant could get bigger instead) and wow were they spicy. Harvesting my own food for the first time was surreal, and I think I'm addicted now haha.

That little garden out back where all my little baby plants are waiting for me every day gives me a reason to get up and get cracking. 😎

The kids of yesterday where raised on sesame street,(tv parenting) who think nothing of there kids today being raised on video games ,There are States in the US where it is e legal to save even rain water ,why because of corporate farms need the water and buy up /lobby for water rights ,produce is a big game ,play by the middle men who get rich well the farmer struggles to make ends meet ,yes there maybe a few more things that cost extra ,(in our case water our gardens we have to pay for waste water that goes into it and never hits the street drains ),i use to haul produce all over north America ,and people think there buying fresh ,a green house tomatoes can sit in a middle mans cooler for 21 days before going the big chains who will keep them for a week or better ,red potatoes 3.00 a hundred weight (lbs )then sold for 3.00 a lb by the big chains those bananas and strawberries you love so much are gased to give them colour and ripen them,people should really read product of the country of origin , and if you can buy it from a local farmer ,buy it ,if you can grow it then by all means spend a few bucks and do it ,once you ve had a few meals and tasted what good food really taste like you will be hooked

So many times I have passed up something I wanted at the grocery store like fresh herbs because of the expense and when you grow yourself it is like a commitment to yourself to have it all

Interestingly. Here in the US they have had some massive recalls on veggies. It was traced back to workers pooping and peeing in the fields while harvesting lettuce and other crops. I grew up on a farm with a large garden. It was what keep feeding three large boys ,affordably fed. Love you channel and I am making plans for my retirement to look a lot like yours. Perhaps, even in Australia, up around the Gympie area.

Thanks Mark, you bring common sense and entertainment to the food gardening world, something that seems to be disappearing. I enjoy all your episode's and have now bought some raised beds. Its a great way for me to wind down after a tough day at work. The intro with the bird sounds soothes the soul and the episode's are more educational and down to earth than anything on tv. Big thumbs up! Simon.

Have they thought about the cost of their cancer treatment from the damn chemical sprays? How do I put a dollar figure on the fact that my food tastes amazing where the store fruit and veg is crap. I couldn't even eat a tomato until I grew my own. What's the cost of knowing that there isn't a heap of chemical numbers in my food? Take away just makes me crook these days. God only knows what they put in that crap. My biggest issue - what is it worth to me to know that I could go for at least a week without needing to leave home? I'd never even considered that until we had the Brisbane floods. I had no power for a week. Fruit and veg doesn't need power to stay fresh in the garden. Being "prepared" got a new perspective.

We've got to learn to grow food, even if we buy most of our food.. self survival is important to learn Also, organic food is better for our health

I totally agree! The pleasure of growing your own veggies and fruits is invaluable. Love this video thank you.

I have recently sowed some seeds and it's lovely seeing the seedlings grow each day! Can't wait for harvest!!!

Hey Mark, new subscriber here. Live not too far from you. My partner and I love watching you. We’ve always wanted to grow our own food. Not just for the delicious factor, but for health and environmental benefits as well. We’re finally doing it getting our own little piece of acreage in the Sunny Coast hinterland and your videos have been so helpful. I work in the financial services industry. Trust me. People crunching numbers about this have no idea. Thank you so much. We appreciate you.

Thank you for sharing this true and necessary perspective! As a newbie to home gardening I'm constantly becoming aware of the great number and diverse ways that engaging with this humble art is a benefit to me. Not just about the destination but the journey as well!

"They carry on like pork chops." LMAO!! Great video. I don't doubt many people only look to the immediate to calculate cost of gardening. What they overlook, as you so well stated, is the cost to BENEFIT of gardening. The bigger question, in my view, is 'what the hell do these negative Nelly's have to gain by discouraging gardening?' I've never heard any one person take that negative position. Therefore, is there an agenda of those in media to discourage self-sufficiency, better health, and a better planet? Are they in cahoots with "government" and "big corps" to make us beholding to someone's "system?" Throughout history there have been forces to keep the "little people" dependent on those in "power." We recently saw the devastation of this type of dependence in Venezuela. If those in "power" really cared about our welfare, they would advocate self-sufficiency. The good news is that since the internet, never before has it been easier to counter these "evil forces." Thank you for embarking on this vital discussion.

Hahaha. Made me laugh. Love the Aussie accent. “What a wanker”. Xx NZ