A Home Garden Can Save You Money and Beat Inflation

 

Families across the US are experiencing food shortages and rising food prices due to successive epidemics caused by COVID-19 and inflation. The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that food prices continue to rise, with the food price index increasing more than 9% in April 2022, the largest 12-month increase in 41 years. In 2022, food prices are predicted to increase between 7.5 and 8.5 percent, with pork prices predicted to increase between 7.0 and 8.0 percent, and other meat prices predicted to increase between 11.5 and 12.5 percent. Dairy product prices are predicted to increase between 10.5 and 11.5 percent, while fats and oils prices are predicted to increase between 14.0 and 15.0 percent. Processed fruits and vegetable prices are expected to increase between 7.5 and 8.5 percent, sugar and sweets prices between 6.5 and 7.5 percent, cereal and bakery product prices between 10.0 and 11.0 percent, and other food prices between 10.0 and 11.0 percent.

 

 

Home garden booms after the pandemic begins. Home garden is a soothing hobby for the whole family, a great way to get exercise, and improves self-sufficiency which is critical during this difficult period. People are starting to grow some fruits and vegetables in their home gardens to cope with rising food prices.

 

Back in 2009, the National Gardening Association published a report that showed a $70 initial investment in a home garden can yield on average, a $600 return on investment. Many Americans are turning to their backyards for relief. The National Gardening Association said almost 17 million people started growing their own food last year. COVID-19 created 18.3 million new gardeners, most of whom are millennials. Interest in gardening remains strong as gardening trends are driven by the pandemic. According to CouponBirds's data, people in Oregon, Kansas, Montana, and Ohio showed the most interest in gardening at home.

 

In 2021, National Gardening Association conducted a study on gardening statistics in the United States and found that gardening participation was way up from pre-pandemic years. A new survey by the National Gardening Association found that a third of U.S. households now grow their own food. There was a big demand for vegetables when the pandemic hit, and families that have continued growing produce since then could be saving hundreds of dollars. The National Gardening Association's survey found that the average household that grows fruits and veggies saves about $500 a year. Even if gardening doesn't immediately benefit your wallet, it'll still be good for your mental health. National Gardening Association Executive Director Dave Whitinger said the traffic to their sites doubled from 2019 to 2020 and they were already having like 7 million visitors a year to the sites. And it raised up again in 2021 and again in 2022.

 

While the home garden is already saving money in response to rising food prices, here are some ways we can make the home garden even more economical.

 

1. Buy smaller plants. If you're not the impatient type, buy smaller plants. A 4-inch pot instead of 1 gallon or a 1 gallon instead of a 5. It will save you a pretty penny.

 

2. Make your own compost. Making compost doesn't require a big yard! You can use grass clippings, kitchen waste, and twigs. 

 

3. DIY newspaper pots to start seeds. Don't spend money on buying seed starting trays and pots, there is a better way– Make newspaper pots. These pots are biodegradable and absolutely free.

 

4. Do mulching to save money. A layer of mulch can do wonders in the garden. First, it saves water. It also prevents unwanted plants from popping out here and there, which means less weeding and no herbicides. Mulching also improves soil fertility and its structure. Maintaining a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around your established trees and shrubs insulate their roots and save them from the exploits of weather.

 

In the face of rising food prices, in addition to the home gardens, you can save money in the following ways.

 

1. Eat at home. Dining out is an expensive proposition. Many of the meals that you pay for in a formal restaurant can be made at home for a fraction of the price. Even good coffee is cheaper to make if you do it yourself. 

 

2. Shop with a plan. If you stumble around the grocery store and fill your cart with everything that catches your eye, you'll spend more than if you prepared a shopping list in advance. Plan your meals for the week ahead and make careful notes of what ingredients you need to prepare those dishes. Once the list is made, purchase only the items on the list and avoid impulse buys.

 

3. Use store reward cards. If the store that you visit most frequently has a reward card, sign up. In some cases, stores raise their prices when they offer reward cards, and without the card, your bill will be higher. If the card offers other benefits, such as a ham for the holidays or a discount on gasoline, maximize your benefits by paying attention to the cutoff dates and cashing in your points before they expire.

 

References 

1. Gardenpals, Gardening Statistics in 2022 (incl. Covid & Millennials)”.

2. Erin Gottsacker, Fighting food inflation with a garden”.

 

 

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 Diana Howard