The dirt in my yard is perfect for a vegetable garden. We always plant tomatoes. My wife just put them in the ground yesterday. We have tried other things too, like cucumbers and green beans.

Yes. I am doing cucumbers, strawberries and okra. I do have one tomato plant and hope to do a trade on some of the others to get ‘maters or squash or zuchinni.

I’m 14 stories above ground, right in the middle of Clayton. I have enough room on my balcony for one plant, and I recently replaced it with a plastic clump of geraniums with a lead weight anchoring it in place, because the original, live plant kept blowing away!

I’d starve if I relied on my “farm” for food!

Why should you? The government is responsible for providing our food.

10 bucks says Johnh has a better garden than anyone else on here.

I’ve got a cherry tree, some currant bushes, and a few strawberry plants. Does that count? Mostly it’s for the birds, although I do wish they’d leave me a cherry or two. Many moons ago I used to have a vegetable garden. In addition to the usual tomatoes and green peppers, I had a wide assortment of “greens” and I’d always try something new like celery or brussel sprouts. I’ve even donkeyed around with soy beans and wheat. Corn was kind of a waste of time–took up too much room to be truly productive and the danged raccoons always got it all, plus strewed what was left of the corn plants from one end of the yard to the other. I got out of the vegetable garden mentality when a)my neighbor’s trees shaded out the perfect spot, and b)I realized that I could grow perennial flowers with a lot less work. (Think of them as food for the soul.)

I think it’s fun to grow something edible even if it’s just a small herb pot. But I don’t see it as saving much in the way of money unless you’re like my grandma who used to can everything in sight. It was nice to have your own plum preserves in January but–come on–it was extremely labor intensive and you had to buy the jars and the sealing wax and God knows what else. Probably cheaper to hit the local produce market.

Amazed… The best reason I can think of for growing a few veggies is that’s one form of productivity the government worshipers haven’t figured out how to tax.

I’ve been growing some kind of vegetable & herb garden in my yard for over 16 years now - I have an average job in healthcare, so I’m not too badly off right now. Being a cook with gourmet leanings I did’nt like the taste of storebought tomatoes, so started growing my own. I don’t have big plot - just a 4 by 8 foot raised bed. I choose interesting varieties of plants also. Try supporting a Missouri seed company called Baker Creek Seeds. If you like heirloom veggies or want to support genetic diversity this company is the thing! And yes, its saved me money over the years. Not a fortune, but even cutting a grocery bill by $10 a week helps on my average income of $35K. Oh yeah, they can’t tax me either!

I grow a very fine selection of clovers and other native plants. Some might call it a prairie rehab-type conglomoration. I like to think of it as my lawn.

I’d had one a couple of years ago. Produced more than we knew what to do with. Am going to try this year, but it’s going to be interesting considering my backyard is heavily shaded and very soupy right now. It’s interesting to note that a small garden can produce enough food for a family for a season. It doesn’t take all that much. That said, it takes a big garden and the willingness to can to have your own food for the whole year. I grew up on a lot of canned goods that my grandparents would make.

Tomatoes, peppers and green beans grow great down here in the rich soil, humidity and sunshine. I’ve got some seedless grapes that have never done well, and the peach trees get picked pretty good by the squirrels. I’m going to replant strawberries in the raised bed and looking forward to the perennial raspberries (both of which tend to spread on their own).

I grow fruit and vegetables because it is satisfying: they taste better and it’s free*. Plus my friends are impressed that when I bring over a fruit salad, it really is home-made, down to the ingredients.

* plus labor, tools, plant and seed costs, fertilizer, sweat, achy back, amused looks from the neighbors, etc.

I grow herbs in a window box, cherry tomatoes in a container, and lettuce in another window box.

We grow tomatoes (of all colors and shapes), peppers, strawberries, blackberries, and our own herbs. Nothing better than running out to the backyard to add something special to a mealtime dish.

It’s also a learning experience, as we have grown some interesting mixed combinations of veggies and fruit. (cucumbers planted too close to cantaloupes = yuck)

We’ve had a vegetable and herb garden in our back yard for years. It’s only 16 feet by 8 feet, but by using the square foot gardening method, we get a very nice yield. We always grow a surplus of green beans, zuchinni, snap peas, tomatoes, and peppers to freeze. And we have several varieties of lettuce, spinach, and herbs througout most of the year. We’ll be moving to a home with a smaller yard soon, but even if we can only put in an 8 by 8 garden, we’ll grow plenty to eat.

When we had a house full of kids we had a large garden. It was close to 1/4 acre on a 1 acre lot. I grew corn, cabbage, beans, tomatoes, strawberrys, & cucumbers. The kids hated it because they had to help. The good part for them was that we grew too much for us to use and they sold the excess to the neighbors. They got to keep the money. Now that it’s just me and my wife, we don’t grow anything. My dad gives us cucumbers and tomatoes that he still grows.

Not yet. But I’m thinking about brewing my own beer, which I consider a food group. I just have to wait for my Birthday so I can drop hints around the house about the brewing kit I need.

I had to laugh at Amazedbythelunacy’s comment. Too funny. johnh will probaby share with us how he’s sold one of his comapanies and bought a farm and supplies him and all his serfs with canned goods for the winter months.

If someone can show me how to grow swedish meatballs from the dirt of the earth,I will.If not I will keep giving my hard earned money to Shop N’Save

Amazed. If anyone took your bet. You won!!!

I grow a garden about 1/2 acre in size…this year because of the rain, I am growing one half that size. I will till the other half when it is tillable, I will do the other half and grow a fall crop. Make compost for fertilizer. and use lake water for irrigation. I grow Kentucky wonder beans, Pole type) and anasazi beans that are 2 to 3 feet long. I grow tomatoes, radishes, snap peas, cucumbers, lettuce, Zook, yellow crook neck squash, etc. My insecticide is spraying the plants with water out of a cat litter can where I have placed chili peppers to soak. It is the perfect insecticide. If it rains and washes off, it runs down in the lake. NO HARM done. (Yes I grow chili peppers)

Eating bugs do not eat chili peppers, They won’t eat any thing that chili pepper water has been sprayed on, either.

Robber, or Slugger, if you two aren’t to lazy to grow a garden, and can get the government to grow it for you. I can teach you how to freeze veggies for later use. I could teach others how to do both hot water canning and pressure canning. I hon’t think you two love birds are quite ready for anything remotely difficult.

Amazed, go get your $10.00 you won. LOL.

I have zero sun in my yard,I grew tomato’s in a planter one yr found myself chasing the unshaded spots,I absolutly love a home-grown tomato I eat em like apples, a perfectly ripe tomato is worth its weight in gold!

Amazed/Johnh,

You guys made my day! Thanks for the laugh.

On topic, about the only thing I garden is my lawn - which looks great this year. I’ve thought about a small spice garden on the deck, but it would be more for fun than food.

Now cometh the Amish, 10 or l2 families moved in across the lake from me. An Elder and his wife came clippety Clopping up in front of my house on their buggy. They introduced themselves and handed us a bakesr’s dozen of potato donuts!!!!

It was mid year growing season for a garden. I gave them loads of stuff to take home, (while I was picking it for them) the LOI casually remarked that she had nemer rode in a buggy. I just heard the laughter.

I loaded the back of the buggy with veggies. They expressed their appreciation as my LOI got in the buggy. They took her buggy riding to their house, 2 1/2 miles away, and to their clan’s houses.

We took veggis over to them several different times. Then came the fall.
They clippety clooped up one day with a 150 pound pig that they had “field dressed” plus doing the hair removal.

Then next month they brought a 2 year old venison that they had skinned and field dressed.

Gardening makes friends. SHARE!!!

Bb said,

“Amazed… The best reason I can think of for growing a few veggies is that’s one form of productivity the government worshipers haven’t figured out how to tax.”

Don’t give Charlie Dooley any ideas. Or the mayor of Florissant.

They will propose that anyone planting a garden first obtain a permit from the local government that would cost a minimum of $35 per year and more for those planting more than a minimal area.

Then they will probably tell us how we can and cannot fertilize it like the County tells us what we can and can’t do with our trash. (The justification they gave for taking away our ability to contract for own trash hauling is that “not enough people recycle.”)

Several people have talked about taxing food grown in your backyard, but no one has pointed out that the feds already have the power to regulate your growing of food for private use.

Under the case of Wickard v. Filburn (1942), the Supreme Court ruled that your growing of food disrupts the natural trade between states (by decreasing your need, you affect trade). Since Congress has the power to regulate interstate trade, they have the power to regulate your growing of plants for private use.

Of particular note to Slugger, this case is used as the grounds under which the Feds can keep you from “growing your own” (not talking tomatoes).

I used to. Don’t anymore. There are too many animals here that want the food. They even got in my greenhouse I bought to keep them out. Development has ruined so much of their habitat, I don’t have the heart to fight them and tempt them with food. Actually, once you figure your time and cost of growing supplies, it isn’t that much cheaper than buying it at the grocery store. Great hobby though. Raised beds are a good idea since much of the soil in suburban and urban areas has been contaminated at some time or other. My concern is that as more folks grow, they will put more chemicals out to fight the pests and such. You need much less than you think of the poisons. Hopefully, more folks will go to the non-toxic since this stuff will leach to where your kids play every day. Stay safe and grow your butts off. They really won’t let me grow what I want to grow to be a healer though!

John H I just saw your snipy comments. As a guy living off a woman who makes so much money, I wouldn’t think you’d be throwing the stones of laziness. I’ve always fended for myself and others and could probably outwork you any day. Without tall tales! We love ya John, but you really are off base if you think “liberals” only want the gov’ment to do their work. HFH is my longtime pet project, as well as Millard Fuller’s new center he has opened. Not exactly a “let the gov’ment do it” organization. I suggest you could spend your retired time working with your native american brothers. I am always quite depressed when I visit an area with a large population of native americans taking gov’ment subsidies, drinking, and wasting their lives waiting for a gambling den to come in. There are areas where you could spend your talents to help your peoples since you have the luxury of a sugar momma and a wealthy retirement due to your superior brain and life long efforts. Go do it dude…they need you! Hillary, Obama and I can wait until you return to guide this country into the next century.

Slugger is now winning one I guess since this silly log on took part of my email address and made it a permanent part of the log on. Webmaster,come let me slap your head! Quit cookie-ing my PC to death. Not needed, or wanted.

Thanks Anonaman! I’ve been studying the cannabis laws for quite some time. That would be an interesting blog topic…how the states can issue a card for medical cannabis, then the feds can turn around and bust somebody for having it. That shows it’s largely a capricious method of control, rather than a logical prevention of an evil. I would be very surprised if there wasn’t any on the 16000 acres Pappa B owns. I can have five before stricter laws kick in, but I don’t have a disease bad enough to need it. Thank the lord!
I used to think of it as recreation, but after studying with horticulturists and MDs who are open enough to heal naturally, I can hardly be around it as a non-medical thing. It just becomes too spiritual as a healing substance. Surprising to me, but I hear that happens a lot. Sorry for going a bit off topic, but it IS gardening at its best.

This year will be the first time trying my hands at it. Was just shopping today for the supplies and equipment needed to start gardening. This will certainly be an experience. Any suggestions on getting the squirrles away? We have so many. Hey, maybe I should trap them and eat them. They may turn out to be a blessing.

Winninggone: Of all the people on Earth, that I would ask for advice, you are at the bottom of the list. Don’t give me any about what I should or should not do.

Do you have even 1 letter of appreciation for any community group you have helped. I have dozens. I even have a scroll made by the students of the Jennings, Oklahoma, school district. The scroll was signed by the Governor, Commissioner of Education, Politicians, etc. at the state level.
By every teacher, parent, administrator, school board member, and student in the Jenning’s district. (thousands of signatures)

I have NEVER been to the State of Oklahoma! I was invited to Oklahoma, by the Governor, as a guest of the state, “to honor me”. I said “No”. Spend that money on education, that will honor me.

Don’t believe me, Just call the Superintendent of schools in Jennings, Oklahoma.

Winninggone, you think too small!!!!

Want more? It’s your turn to brag about what you have done. Go for it.

Have you ever grown a tomato plant, and given one tomato to a poor family? Tell me about it.

We started our first vegatable garden this year, and 4 baby bunnies made short work of it. All we had left was vegatable “stumps” a week later…dang rabbits