Do you actually save any money gowing stuff?

[burnie]

You can massage the figures to include saving on gym membership, not needing to drive to the shops so often, but on the con side my greenhouse cost a small fortune, it will be a while before that pays for itself financially.

[veggiechicken]

My rationale is -

I have a garden - it came with the house. Although it may look like it, you can't leave a garden to grow itself - there's always some costs/effort even its lawn mowing and weeding. If I'm going to grow something its a bonus if its edible, beautiful and useful.

I've planted lots of fruit trees and bushes here - probably a couple more each year. Now, that investment is paying off as all the fruit I pick is free - and is expensive to buy in the shops. I would never buy the quantity of raspberries that I grow - too expensive!

The veg that I find easiest to grow are also the ones that are expensive in the shops - tomatoes, courgettes, beans and salad leaves (that sell at £1 a bag). They're also quick to grow and don't stay in the ground all year.

A bag of spuds or onions are relatively cheap and store well - so I buy those. Just grow a few to prove I can!

As for flowers - you can't put a price on those. Nor can you cost the pleasure of being close to nature.

[veggiechicken]

....... on the con side my greenhouse cost a small fortune, it will be a while before that pays for itself financially.

My GHs were free.

[broadway]

Saw some chard in our local supermarket, £10/kg. So, growing my own lets me enjoy veg I would never have bought - but my carrot yields make supermarket prices cheaper than the seeds!

I love chard, never actually seen it in the shop, I believe that's due to the short shelf life?

[broadway]

As SP said always a good topic.

My initial reaction is if I did it to save money I’ve failed miserable😊

I initially started in our 2 up 2 down in Tottenham as a hobby, to switch off from work, the pub, and football! I’d potter around the garden talking to the dog with not a care in the world , then something new happened that changed my life, I took something into the kitchen that I’d grown and we eat it (sorry it’s a disgrace but I can’t remember what it was!)

About the same time I came across a TV show called “A Cook On The Wild Side” and was hooked by this strange dishevelled fella. When he went on to move to “River Cottage” I dreamed that one day that would be me😊

Roll on a good number of years and I now live in a village in Nottinghamshire and have my first allotment, as far as I’m concerned I’m in my own “River Cottage”.

So going back to the question almost certainly not, it would be a bonus however at the moment that doesn’t matter to me I am just “living the dream😊”


All that said we are living in difficult times, stay safe folks.

[Kirk]

Don't save money, likely the way I fail to get stuff to grow the seeds cost more then the veg - thinking the last few years onions and leeks here.

Most of us simply do not have the space to really save money. And we want assorted veg when not in season so down the supermarket anyway. We have become very used to getting just about anything anytime of year.

I have saved money on limes - of all odd things. The small plant I have produces a fairly constant supply. Never bought a lime for around 3 years. Do however get fed up of limes. Presently have 6 ready to use. More cheesecake

I oddly suspect it is the small quantity stuff I save on. Like a container of PFA potatoes or Anya potatoes. Fruit is maybe another. I can go pick a small quantity for something or other.

Have to ask: Except for a few of us is it really to save money?

I have lost weight. Bought a bicycle about 2 years back.
Q: Is it the cycling that has lost me weight?
A: No, not really. I will head out on the bike, go shopping, spend say 2 hours out.
That 2 hours is a little exercise, not sitting on my backside, and (highly relevant) not drinking coffee and eating biscuits. The biscuits being most relevant.

The bike has saved me money, I spend about £25 a month less on fuel for the car.

[quanglewangle]

^^^Too many limes just means you aren't getting enough gin and tonic. Try harder.

[rary]

I don't add up what it costs to grow things in the garden nor do I bother with what I save growing and using any of the flower or veg, I do the garden and grow things because I enjoy it, that question of "what price pleasure" comes to mind, but during the past 2 weeks I have had from the garden, carrots, beetroot, cabbage leaves, lettuce, chives, leeks and potatoes, oh and rhubarb as well as several bunches of dafs, plus it gives me somewhere to escape to help avoid the pressures,
of having to do housework

[Baldy]

I haven't read any of the posts -

NO

[Aberdeenplotter]

I never even think about the cost or the saving. It's my hobby and I get such a buzz when walking through the fruit and veg section at the supermarket knowing how many things I don't need to buy because I've grown them myself. I'm a competitive sod as well and get loads of pleasure from just being around folks of the same ilk especially when I beat them on the show bench but just growing to a high standard does float my boat too.

[Can the Man]

I don’t believe it saves money, making be in specific areas like the islands, but Kat it does is gives you fresh fruit and veg on a daily basis plus the possibility to freeze fruit & veg when in season for consumption out of season. I find it also gets me out of the house, up off my a$$ and out in fresh air. It’s a hobby I enjoy.

[Bumblingbroccoli]

I do it to get organic food with no pesticides. Probably save money on raspberries rhubarb and apples but not much else. BUT the immense benefits to my mental and physical health make it priceless. And I get to chat to you lot on the vine !

[bikermike]

Impossible question to answer in some ways.

Simple "can I get fruit and veg cheaper elsewhere"? Clearly I lose.
But, what price fully organic zero-miles veg? (Both contribute to demonstrable improvements in levels of vitamins and minerals in veg)?
What price my sanity? (50p and a bag of chips...)
What price my child's better health (veg and place to annoy beetles)
What price the soil improvement?

All impossible to quantify as they are all contingent/estimates etc.

[bramble]

Saving money doesn't come into it for me.
It's a way of lifeI I have grown up with.
My parents,and grandparents, grew and preserved their own produce.
I just seem to have inherited the same gene.

[Urban]

I think of it has a hobby, its just nice that you get some very tasty stuff to eat in the process