Gardens stretch budgets

One look inside Barb Leffler's garage pantry and it's obvious the fruits of her labor are paying off.

Stacks and rows of glass canning jars are filled with a variety of homegrown products.

There's mild and hot salsa, spaghetti sauce and tomato juice, green beans, hot peppers and apple pie filling. Inside her kitchen cabinets and freezer, she keeps jars of strawberry jam and bags of frozen corn.

Leffler doesn't know how much money she has saved in groceries over the nearly 20 years her family has gardened, but she does know one thing.

"It's a lot of work, but it's worth it in the end," she said of gardening and canning. "By winter you're glad you did it, when you can open up a can of green beans and they taste so good."

Leffler isn't the only one looking to grow vegetables and fruits at home these days. Many Jackson County residents, living both in the country and in town, are turning to gardening as a way to save money and eat healthy.

Richard Beckort, Jackson County Purdue Extension Service educator, says the idea of starting a home garden is beginning to grow as is the popularity of farmers markets, where local farmers and gardeners come together to sell their produce to the community.

"I think there is an increase in interest," he said. "More people are thinking and talking about it."

Beckort attributes that to several factors, including the rising prices of fuel and groceries and consumer worries.

"These are issues coming to the forefront that are making people think, ‘what can I do to produce a food that I wouldn't have to buy at the grocery store?'" he said. "People are starting to want a healthier diet and then there are concerns with food scares and recalls. If I produce it in my backyard, then I know exactly what I put on it."

Although interest in home gardens has increased, Beckort said he doesn't believe the number of people actually planting gardens this year has gone up.

"As late as it is in the season, I wouldn't think a lot of people would be starting gardens now," he said. "I expect to see a real increase next spring, though."

Richard Darlage, store manager at Union Hardware in Seymour, said he has had trouble keeping some garden seeds in stock, but he doesn't think that's because more people are starting gardens.

"I think the weather has had a lot to do with it," he said. "A lot of people have had to replant. But as for starter plants, we haven't sold any more this year than past years, but we do sell a lot of green tomato plants."

Another reason he doesn't think more people are starting gardens is lack of generational interest.

"The kids just don't know how to do it," he said. "It takes quite a bit of time to get used to it."

Start with basics

For first-time gardeners or smaller gardens, Beckort recommends starting with the basics, such as tomatoes, peppers, summer squash and zucchini.

"With larger gardens, you can try green beans and corn," he said.

Randy Green doesn't have a lot of room for his backyard garden at his house on Brown Street in Seymour, but with a last name like Green, he shouldn't need it.

"He's definitely got a green thumb," his wife, Kay, said. "We've started calling our backyard Green Acres."

The Greens' garden produces a variety of vegetables, including two varieties of tomatoes, zucchini, green peppers, lettuce and green beans.

Randy is most proud of his Big Boy tomato plants, which already stand around 6 feet tall, and Kentucky Wonder green beans, which are growing up on a trellis past his kitchen window.

"And that's with no Miracle Gro," he added. "These are the biggest tomato plants I have ever had."

After being placed on disability, Green said he had to find some activity to keep him busy, so he turned to gardening. Growing up in Jennings County, Green said he learned how to garden from his grandpa, Everett Skirvin.

"I gardened a lot when I lived out in the country, but I stopped when we moved," Green said. "I didn't have anything to do, so I thought I would try it again."

Beckort, who also has a home garden, said many people enjoy the activity as a hobby.

"People see it as recreation," he said. "It provides stress relief for a lot of people."

Besides giving him something to do, Randy said gardening saves his family money.

"When one tomato plant costs me $1.68 and I'm getting 30 or more tomatoes from it, it's just a smart thing to do," he said. "And you don't have to have a big garden to produce a lot."

With their zucchini crop, Kay said she likes to make different kinds of bread.

"I got a new recipe for chocolate zucchini bread, and boy is it sinful, it's so good," she said.

Their garden has already produced enough of the vegetable for Kay to make up several batches of bread.

"But it doesn't last long around here," she added.
Tyson and Sonja Scott, who live in the Houston area, don't rely on their garden for just a few of the basics. They try to produce most of the things they and their four daughters need, whether it's fresh vegetables, fruits or the wild game Tyson hunts.

"We very seldom buy vegetables at the grocery store, and we try to keep things stored the whole year," Sonja said. Instead of canning, Sonja said it's easier for her to freeze their produce.

Saving money

The Scotts agree gardening is a good way to save money. With six mouths to feed, it can be expensive to buy groceries or go out to eat, they said.

"When gas prices and the price of food are going so high, it's just very economical to garden," Tyson said. "All we have in it is the labor, so we save quite a bit. I would like to make it to the point where we don't have to buy any kind of fruit or vegetable at the grocery store."

Working as a landscaper in Bartholomew County, Tyson said he has access to many different types of seeds and starter plants and takes advantage of it. He's been gardening since he was a kid.

"I was hoping to get a better crop out this year, but it's just been too wet, and I haven't had as much time as I would have liked to take care of it," he said of his garden.

But the family is already reaping the benefits of their garden with fresh zucchini, tomatoes, okra, peas, strawberries and green beans, which are the couples' favorite.

"We usually have a decent crop, but that's only half of what I would like to have some day," he said. "Our garden last year was small but it produced a lot. If you do it right you can have more than you'll need."

The family is working with Habitat for Humanity of Jackson County to relocate to a bigger and nicer home, and the first thing they are planning for is their garden.

"We knew that would be the first thing, so we'll break ground for that before we even build the house," he said.

The Tysons said they would like to extend their garden to include watermelons, pumpkins and cantaloupes, as well as a small orchard to harvest apples, cherries, blackberries, raspberries and grapes.

They are also trying to teach their children how to garden and hunt in the hopes that one day they will carry on the tradition and learn to be more self-sufficient.

Tonja said she would like to see their church and community work together to create a community garden to help feed the poor or to help residents save money on their grocery bills.

"It's an activity the youth could get involved with to help them feel like they're doing something for their community," she said.

Living in the country between Brownstown and Freetown, Leffler said she likes that she doesn't have to drive to town whenever she needs something, because she can use her own garden-fresh vegetables. Besides tomatoes, corn and green beans, Leffler grows zucchini, onions and kidney beans in her backyard garden.

"I've got everything I need for chili or vegetable soup," she said.

Beckort advises those looking to start a garden to contact the extension office, which offers home gardening guides that contain tips and information on timing, space issues, how much to plant, fertility and other first-time gardening topics.

"A lot of people grew up with a garden at home, so they know a little bit about it," Beckort said. "But it does take work. You can't just throw some seeds in the ground and expect to grow a garden. So people need to weigh the expense with the time commitment it takes to have a garden."