Save green with gardening

Citizens across the globe have sat nervously and watched as jobs were cut and prices consistently rose. It's not surprising, nor is it an overall attack on the average consumer; it's just plain economics. When farmers, growers, and producers can no longer sustain themselves, and in the face of increasing energy costs, they must raise the price of their products in order to stay in business. According to an article in Market Watch, the USDA stated recently that prices for food and other essential items would continue to rise in price for the foreseeable future. These hikes in prices are from an old system based on the principals of global distribution but, as many economies are finding out, thinking local has taken the middle man out of the equation. Many people are discovering the money saving benefits of urban gardening.
The problem with the current system of food buying is that the food is shipped from across the country, and sometimes across the world, and it takes money to move things from point A to point B. Stores then charge extra in order to make a profit and all of those costs are passed on to the consumer. We are reaching a point when it will become cheaper for people to grow locally and produce many of their own vegetables. An article on Kitchen Gardeners proposes that an individual, by starting a simple garden, can save over $2,000 a year in food costs alone. These figures are coming out at a time when people are struggling to get by and having a tough time paying their bills. Being proactive, getting a free credit score and tracking your credit and spending habits will help but there are other options, like producing some of your own food, that can get a family's budget back into the black.
Initial setup is the most expensive part of the process. You'll need seeds, fertilizer and approximate water usage (this depends on if your region charges per water usage Many areas charge you a flat rate so this figure is somewhat flexible). You'll also need to factor in the amount of food you'll need to harvest and the space you'll require to do so. You don't need a lot of space to garden. If you're living in an urban area and you only have a tiny back yard or back porch to work with, you still have options. You can use tiered beds, which is when you pretty much stack several level of crops on each while allowing space for growing in-between them.
To get started, if you're wondering if it would be cost effective for your family or situation, begin tracking your usage. Over the course of the next few months, track your spending habits. All you have to do is hold onto your receipts and look and see how much you're paying for various vegetables. Then add up all the costs. This will give you a pretty good idea of how much you're spending a year on produce. From there, factor in the costs of getting started and how much you'll need. You might be surprised at how much you'll save. It's also important to note that your garden will not fluctuate in cost but your local store's prices will.
People across the country have discovered the myriad benefits of starting an at-home gardening project. At first the savings will be nominal but as time passes and prices steadily rise, you'll see big savings to your monthly budget.