How much do you spend on groceries?

[Valerey]

I can see how having a garden can be expensive, mainly because once your produce is ready to be consumed, it's also available cheaply in farmers' markets. Carrots, on the other hand, are always reasonably priced even in winter, so it didn't make sense to her to invest in the cost and labour of growing her own.

I never thought of that. One of the things I had planned on growing was the carrots, but you're right that things like carrots, onions, and potatoes can all be purchased VERY inexpensively with the right sale (and from what I've noticed, these are all on sale somewhere every month for $1-$2 per bag).
Does anyone have suggestions as to what vegetables I should start with? (fyi... I live in Northern Ontario).

[Giseledta]

start with veggies you like,and will eat.
why grow it if you never eat it..
sounds simple, but it is so true.
I stopped growing tomatoes,as noone but me like fresh tomatoes. But they all love fresh cuc's, so we have alot , and I mean alot of cuc plants every year

[blueeyetea]

I never thought of that. One of the things I had planned on growing was the carrots, but you're right that things like carrots, onions, and potatoes can all be purchased VERY inexpensively with the right sale (and from what I've noticed, these are all on sale somewhere every month for $1-$2 per bag).
Does anyone have suggestions as to what vegetables I should start with? (fyi... I live in Northern Ontario).

Carrots is a good example. Right now they're a $1 a bag at my local store.

Go for stuff you like and eat like Giseledta says. Asparagus is always expensive. You have to wait three years to start harvesting, but by then, your plant is good for at least 20 years. Rhubarb is never available in stores here except for a short window. If you have room, berries. Swiss Chard and Kale. Designer lettuces that you can't buy at your grocery store. Pattypan squash is best when just picked from the garden. Herbs are always a good choice.

Also think about all the work it takes and what you're willing to put in. I don't like working in the garden so much, and it always seems to me that harvest season is when all sorts of stuff is going on outside the home. I don't want to be stuck at home bottling tomatoes when I'd rather be out socialising.

[momof5boys]

I never thought of that. One of the things I had planned on growing was the carrots, but you're right that things like carrots, onions, and potatoes can all be purchased VERY inexpensively with the right sale (and from what I've noticed, these are all on sale somewhere every month for $1-$2 per bag).
Does anyone have suggestions as to what vegetables I should start with? (fyi... I live in Northern Ontario).

If you like rhubarb, see if you can get a piece of a plant from someone else. They are like weeds - you just can't go wrong with growing rhubarb.

[momof5boys]

I just tallied up our December grocery total: $389.12 compared to last years December total of $457.77...so we are moving in the right direction

[Giseledta]

last year I was given 5 strawberry plants, spent time making sure they multiplied. so we got very little strawberries last year, but this year I know i have over 80 plants there, we will get lots.
I also started our asperagus bed. I know in 2 more years we can harvest.

this year- cucumbers, and peppers. our herb garden we will start as well. every little bit helps

[Valerey]

Well I am proud to say that I just finished my first week or grocery shopping and I spent less than $100. The hard part will be to keep me out of the stores for the next few days when I hear about a good sale! lol
This week I didn't get any meat, since the Food Basics chicken sale was a mis-print

[Valerey]

Is it hard to grow lettuce? (thinking leaf or romaine)
I live in Northern ONtario

[blueeyetea]

Is it hard to grow lettuce? (thinking leaf or romaine)
I live in Northern ONtario

I would think they'd be easy, as long as you don't have any rabbits or groundhogs nearby.

[momof5boys]

We've been keeping a detailed log book of our expenses (yes, even dollar store amounts) and decided to check how our grocery totals have been this past year as compared to the year before. This year the total came to $4320 as compared to $6049 for 2011....here's hoping for an even better year

[Giseledta]

lettuce is fairly easy. there are alotof plants that are super easy.
and lots of ways to do it cheaply.
Take a bag of soil- the big ones. lay it flat..... cut down the center... voila .... big spot for lettuce. or cucs....
A friend grows zuccini every yeat in a very large bucket she got for free from a resturant. . she has about 5 buckets.... zucinni, tomatoes, gr pepper,and something else that I forget. she leaves tehm on her back deck. and they produce fr her.
do some goggle searches, or message me,and I will post some here for you.
gardening does not hve to be super expensive. and you can get lots of good veggies all summer long.

[Valerey]

We've been keeping a detailed log book of our expenses (yes, even dollar store amounts) and decided to check how our grocery totals have been this past year as compared to the year before. This year the total came to $4320 as compared to $6049 for 2011....here's hoping for an even better year

What do you count as grocery items?

[momof5boys]

What do you count as grocery items?

Food and drink...no toilet paper etc.

[abbasgirl]

Green and yellow beans are really easy to grow and they produce a really good yield. They also freeze well. I can never understand why they're priced so high in the grocery store.

[blueeyetea]

Green and yellow beans are really easy to grow and they produce a really good yield. I can never understand why they're priced so high in the grocery store.

You should see what they charge at my local farmer's market! It's never been less than $5 for a small basket, even at prime bean harvesting season. The vendors deny price fixing, but they all charge $5 for the same amount, taking advantage consumer ignorance and pushing "growing local". It's much cheaper at the grocery store.