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Subject: Re: anyone saving $ by growing food?
From: gardenlen <gardenlen@optushome.com.au>
Organization: Deja.com - Before you buy.
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 00 14:22:59
Message-ID: <MOD$001115.27031@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$001115.16623@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



In article <MOD$001115.16623@rec.gardens.ecosystems>,
"Cathy Morgan" wrote:
>
> Have been interested in organic gardening for about 30
> years, and have had successful gardens for a few years at a
> time. But I'm not sure any of my vegetable gardens actually
> produced more in vegetables than I could have bought with
> the money I invested in organic fertilizers, organic
> solutions to pest and disease problems, etc. plus seeds and
> other supplies. Has anyone kept track of this and found
> that they really do save significant grocery money by
> growing vegetables and/or fruit? If so - what's the secret?
> TIA
>
>
g'day tia,

don't know that there is any secret but there are some things that need
to be done other than just not using poisons etc.,.

i use very little organic type fertilisers, in general there are 1 or 2
of my 6 vege beds that i have used any fertiliser in in the past 2
seasons. when i first started i was using a fair amount of
garlic/chillie spray but this only cost what ever it took to buy the
ingredients. my ongoing cost are seeds and seedlings.

now i use no sprays at all my ongoing controls are fruit fly traps
uisng various household ingredients and using a commercial wick that
costa me about $20aud per year.

through summer and right up to july (mid winter) we buy no tomatoes,
beans, zucchini's and varorious chinese cabbages. after winter we
harvested around 26 kilo of potatoes that will last us 3 months of the
year. so i'd say my garden is saving us some money but more importantly
it is giving us tastier man made chemically free food.

i also have developed an effective integrated pest management system,
relying on various frogs, beneficial insects, companion plants,
reptiles and birds to help control bugs and in this 3rd season that is
working very well as bug damage is minimal, and what damage there is is
necessary to the system.

with the lessons i have learnt i am now going to move to a rural area s
that i can grow more of our needs and save as much from the family
budget as what i can.

len

--
happy gardening 'it works for me it could work for you'
<http://members.optushome.com.au/gardenlen/index1.htm>
"in the end ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do!!"
but consider others and the environment.

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.