Greenhouse supplies and accessories have not always been easy to find. Now with the internet, you can find quality greenhouse gardening supplies and accessories in abundance online. If you are new to greenhouse gardening, you may be wondering what types of greenhouse gardening supplies and accessories are available or necessary for your new hobby.

Greenhouse Gardening Supplies and Accessories: The Greenhouse Kit

One of the main ingredients for a greenhouse gardening hobby is the greenhouse itself. Easy to use greenhouse kits are available in a variety of sizes and materials.  Determine what your budget is for a greenhouse, then, look for different types that fit your budget and your space requirements. Greenhouse kits are available to fit every space and nearly every budget. Read more about How to Select a Greenhouse Kit.

Greenhouse Gardening Supplies and Accessories: Benches

Not all greenhouse kits come with benches. It is important to know exactly what you are getting in your greenhouse kit. You may also need to purchase extra benches if you plan to grow extra plants in your greenhouse. Select greenhouse benches that will be at a comfortable working level for your height.

Greenhouse Gardening Supplies and Accessories: Pots and Containers

Next, you will need pots and containers for your plants. Some gardeners recycle old plastic paint buckets, milk jugs, Cool Whip containers, and even egg crates for use in their greenhouses. Others choose to purchase clay pots, and deep crates for planting a variety of plants. Keep in mind that some plants require a deeper root system, while others prefer to be planted in shallow soil.

Greenhouse Gardening Supplies and Accessories: Tools of the Trade

A few gardening tools are necessary for greenhouse gardening. You will need a spade for planting, and possibly a small rake for breaking up soil. Gardening gloves are also a helpful addition to your gardening supplies. A watering can or hose is also a necessary greenhouse gardening tool.

Greenhouse Gardening Supplies and Accessories: Soil

Soil is one of the most important parts of the greenhouse. You can use packaged potting soil, or dig up your own if you have access to fertile dirt. You may also want to purchase a type of vermiculite or gravel to assist with soil drainage, as well as a few soil additives, like agricultural lime, just in case your soil needs altering. You may also choose to pick up a soil test kit if you are concerned about the quality of your soil.

Greenhouse Gardening Supplies and Accessories: Climate Control

You may want to consider investing in a climate control system if temperatures in your area vary drastically throughout the year. Shading, venting, and greenhouse placement can help control interior temperatures to a certain extent, but you may require additional help in keeping your plants cozy in the heat of summer or the dead of winter. In addition, you can also invest in an automated watering system, such as drip lines, if your budget allows.

Greenhouse Gardening Supplies and Accessories: Plants

Last, but certainly not least on our list, is plants. You can obtain your plants from a gardening supply store, an online supplier, or start your own seedlings from scratch. Greenhouse gardening gives you the freedom to grow plants that would not normally thrive in your climate zone, so go ahead and get creative if you feel the urge!

 

Portable greenhouse kits are a gardener’s best friend. They allow you to continue gardening well into the fall, and even let you get a head start on the growing season by protecting delicate seedlings from frost, harsh winds, and heavy rains. They are usually inexpensice and are a good investment for the serious gardener.

Portable Greenhouse Kits: from Sturdy to Flexible

Portable greenhouse kits are available in varieties that are sturdy enough to stand up to bad weather, and others are flexible enough to fold up for storage in a small space. They are versatile enough to meet a variety of greenhouse gardening needs. Some portable greenhouse kits can even be used as an inexpensive permanent greenhouse!

Portable Greenhouse Kits: Hobby Starters

Portable greenhouse kits are a great way to start a new hobby as a greenhouse gardener. They make perfect gifts for recipients of every age. You can give a portable greenhouse kit as a retirement present, or as a gift for the school age child looking for a science project idea or new hobby. Portable greenhouse kits are the perfect way for a gardening enthusiast to share a love of gardening.

Portable Greenhouse Kits: Easy Set Up

Most portable greenhouse kits are extremely easy to set up and can be ready for use in a matter of minutes, right out of the box. Portable greenhouse kits are even available that are self-erecting, only requiring the insertion of a stabilizer bar once set up is complete. This makes portable greenhouse kits attractive for gardeners with physical disabilities or generalized physical weakness.

Portable Greenhouse Kits: Overwintering Paradise

Portable greenhouse kits are perfect for overwintering those delicate plants in a mild region, some plants can even remain outdoors during the entire winter. A portable greenhouse kit eliminates the need to cram your living room with all of your favorite perennial plants during the colder winter months.

Portable Greenhouse Kits: Helpful for Starting Seeds

Portable greenhouse kits can help you get your seeds started earlier. They provide added warmth during germination and help retain extra moisture for delicate sprouts. Portable greenhouse kits also protect fragile seedlings from downpours, heavy winds, and even trampling by the family dog. You can replace those plastic terrarium trays and peat pots, letting seeds grow in their natural environment without transplantation.

Portable greenhouse kits are versatile and useful tools for the gardening enthusiasts. They make perfect gifts and are a welcome addition to any gardener’s potting shed.

 

A very detailed site to get ideas for growing food to feed a family or community.
Starting a sustainable small farm…how much to plant?

I recommend starting small. We started our first CSA on our new farm in the spring/summer of 2005, feeding 26 families on 1/3 of an acre with a troybilt tiller and a hoe. This was the beginning of what turned into a 100 member CSA after two years.

Imagine a ½ acre prepared into 4 foot wide raised beds. All of these beds are roughly 100 ft long and irrigated using T-Tape supplied with water by a 1 inch black poly header pipe (all above ground). Here is a list of what we planted the first season, with planting times for the season. This can all be adapted to your situation, but by keeping the beds all roughly the same, you can easily plan for more or less as you grow each year.

Irish Potatoes (Jan-Feb): 50 lbs. Red La Soda and 50 lbs. White Kennebec. Plant both varieties to see which one will do better for you. Fertilize with 10 lbs. Colloidal Rock Phosphate be 100 ft. row. We try to build the beds back up as they grow and mulch with old hay. We generally do not irrigate our potatoes, but rely solely on the rain.

Head Lettuce, Swiss Chard and Kale (Jan-Feb): direct seed 3 or 4 rows down a whole bed for baby greens or transplant for bunching. Fertilize with 10 lbs. Colloidal Rock Phosphate and 10 lbs. organic fertilizer of your choice.

Beets, Lettuce Mix, Arugula (Feb.): direct seed 3 or 4 rows down a whole bed for baby greens and repeat in 2 weeks. Fertilize with 10 lbs. Colloidal Rock Phosphate and 10 lbs. organic fertilizer of your choice. It basically takes a ¼ lb of seed to plant a whole bed of each (same with the Swiss Chard). You should get 2 cuts off of each bed, and then your second planting should be getting ready to cut.

Radishes (Feb): Choose at least two varieties, and plant a half a bed of each. In the spring we have found French Breakfast, Easter Egg and any of the early round varieties do best. Daikon and others are best planted as winter radishes in the fall. Fertilize and plant the same as the previous greens mentioned.

Tomatoes (Jan-Feb): Start your transplants indoors or in a small greenhouse. Early Girl, Celebrity and Romas are your staple tomatoes; you need 100 plants of each for the CSA. Heirlooms can add some interest, 100 plants would be a good start. This will give you 4 beds of tomatoes, which will all need to be staked and trained, planted in mid-March and early April. Fertilize each bed with 10 lbs Colloidal Rock Phosphate, 10 lbs organic fertilizer, 2 lbs. Epsom Salt. Mulching with straw would be a good idea.

Sweet Peppers (Jan-Feb): Start your transplants and plan for at least 200 plants or 2 beds. Members really like Bell Peppers like Big Bertha but we also like heirloom varieties like Marconi, Sweet Italia, Banana Peppers and Spanish Spice. Fertilize with 10 lbs. Colloidal Rock Phosphate and 10 lbs. organic fertilizer of your choice. Plant out in the beds after frost in early April. Mulching is preferred.

Eggplant (Jan-Feb): Start your transplants for at least 200 plants or 2 beds. Pingtung Long, Florida High Bush and Rosa Bianca are nice. Fertilize with 10 lbs. Colloidal Rock Phosphate and 10 lbs. organic fertilizer of your choice. Mulching is preferred. Plant out in the beds after frost in early April.

Summer Squash and Zucchini (Mar-June): Direct seed one bed of each, and repeat every two weeks. You should have at least 6 beds planted at different dates. This helps manage your harvest, and keeps you ahead of the cucumber beetles, squash bugs and other pests. Fertilize with 10 lbs. Colloidal Rock Phosphate and 10 lbs. organic fertilizer of your choice.

Cucumbers (Mar-June): Direct seed once a month to have at least 3 beds for the season. Fertilize with 10 lbs. Colloidal Rock Phosphate and 10 lbs. organic fertilizer of your choice. Market More is a good selection. Members also like Asian varieties.

Melons (April-May): Direct seed one row in a bed and thin to one foot apart after germination. Fertilize the same as the previous crops. We recommend 7 to 10 beds total. Try Isreali, Honeydew, and other interesting heirloom varieties. Plan at least a ¼ pound for seed and try to get a late planting in again in July for an early fall harvest. Mulching is recommended if possible.

Herbs and Flowers: Plan at least one bed of cilantro (Feb-Mar), and basil (April-May, transplants could be started in Feb), direct seeding a bed of sunflowers also makes a nice addition to CSA shares.

If you do not have access to a greenhouse the first year, another market grower in the area may have space to start your plants for you. You could supply them with the seed and have it arranged to be ready when you are.

While all this work is happening, you still may need time to recruit your new CSA members. Plan a Farm Day to show prospective new members the garden you are preparing and share the vision. I will discuss Membership fees and agreements in the next issue.

Also, keep in mind; this is your spring/summer field. It would be good to have another 3 ½ acres in a summer cover crop to get ready for the future, try lablab or iron and clay cow peas in sandy soil (20 lbs and acre), then you want to have another ½ acre ready to plant for your fall garden starting in late September.

 

Grab a seed catalog and start dreaming!

- Farmer Brad

Follow this link to see the full posting and read more informative tips on sustainable living. http://homesweetfarm.blogspot.com/2008/07/starting-sustainable-small-farm-how.html

Growing exotic plants and flowers in your greenhouse is a terrific way to liven up your vegetation collection. Exotic plants grow well in a greenhouse because you can control the growing climate for each plant, adjusting the temperature, moisture, and sunlight exposure as needed. Their is an unending variety of species for you to choose from when selecing plants and flowers for your exotic collection.

Growing Orchids in your Greenhouse

Orchids are a favorite exotic plant for many gardeners. These tropical flowering plants require extra water, plenty of sunshine, and a warmer temperature to flower and thrive. Orchids produce a delicate bloom in a variety of colors, with white being the most popular.

The Monarch of the East

The Monarch of the East, sometimes called the Voodoo Lily, is an interesting exotic flower for your greenhouse collection. Sauromatum Venosum flowers without water or soil! It also gives off a pungent odor from its bloom, making it an interesting addition to any greenhouse and definitely a conversation starter for even non-gardeners.

Living Stones

Lithops, a South African plant, has a name that means stone like, and that is an excellent description of this exotic plant. These Living Stones produce two fleshy leaves that perfectly mimic the stones and rocky soil they grow in and come in a wide variety of variegated colors and patterns. In the fall, the Living Stone Plants produce white, yellow, or pink flowers similar in appearance to a daisy.

Growing exotic plants and flowers in your greenhouse can bring challenges and joys to your gardening that would not be possible growing native plants alone. Exotic plants and flowers in the greenhouse are an excellent way to expand your gardening horizons and bring new life to your cold or heated greenhouse.

Inexpensive passive solar greenhouses heated only by sunlight falling on 55-gallon barrels of water are effective for growing plants year-round, said a University of Missouri Extension specialist. Heat from sunlight is stored in water-filled barrels during the day and radiates at night, replacing use of fossil fuel, said Eric Lawman, an agronomy research specialist at the Bradford Research and Extension Center (BREC) near Columbia, Mo.

“Passive solar greenhouses extend the growing season and allow plant production year-round,” Lawman said.

Temperatures inside an experimental passive solar greenhouse at BREC did not fall below freezing during the past two winters, Lawman said, while daytime temperatures have reached into the 80s. There is a similar greenhouse at the MU Southwest Center in Mt. Vernon.

The greenhouses measure 24 feet long, 12 feet wide and 12 feet high. The 2-1-1 ratio is important for such greenhouses to be effective.

“It allows adequate surface area for sunlight and minimal inside area to lessen heat dissipation during dark hours,” Lawman said.

To capture as much sunlight as possible, the greenhouse has an east-west orientation, with a sloped south-facing wall. Geographic latitude determines the ideal slope angle; for central Missouri, the south-wall glazing should be about 45 degrees. The sloped wall consists of two layers of clear plastic spaced 6 inches apart. A small inflator fan pushes air between the sheets, creating a zone of dead air that serves as additional insulation.

The other walls contain fiberglass insulation sandwiched between metal siding on the outside and particleboard on the inside. The white, waterproof particleboard reflects heat into the barrels.

To extend the growing season, the greenhouse needs 2.5 gallons of water per square foot of glazing, Lawman said. For all-season growing, the requirement is 5 gallons per square foot. Thermostat-controlled shutters and exhaust fans remove excess heat as needed.

The greenhouse at BREC cost about $3,000 to build. “If you can build a shed, you can build one of these greenhouses,” Lawman said.

Throughout winter, growers can produce cold-season crops such as lettuce, carrots and strawberries. Some plants can be started from seedlings, he said. Construction details and photographs are online at http://aes.missouri.edu/bradford/education/solar-greenhouse/solar-greenhouse.php.

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Original article link: http://media-newswire.com/release_1068542.html
How to build your own passive solar heated greenhouse http://aes.missouri.edu/bradford/education/solar-greenhouse/solar-greenhouse.php

Insulated Greenhouse Covering

Keeping the greenhouse cool in the dog days of summer can be a challenge for the new greenhouse gardener. Frequent monitoring is required to ensure the safety and health of your plants. There are several common methods for cooling a greenhouse.

Cool Fog Systems or Evaporative Coolers

One way to cool your greenhouse is to install a cool fog system. A cool fog system forces miniature droplets of water into the air of the greenhouse. This mist does not saturate the foliage of the plants because the droplets are too small and evaporate in the air. This process of condensation creates a lowered air temperature in the greenhouse. Another helpful tool to keep your greenhouse cool is an evaporative cooler.

Keeping the Greenhouse Cool in Summer: Ventilation

One of the simplest ways of cooling the greenhouse is to use a system of vents and exhaust fans. Vents placed near the roof of the greenhouse allow hot air to escape the greenhouse as it rises. This creates air movement in the greenhouse that pulls fresh air from outside the greenhouse inside through air vents open near the bottom of the greenhouse walls. Ventilation shafts placed in this manner create a constant flow of fresh air from the outside of the greenhouse. Usually, the ventilation openings are louvered to allow the gardener to open and close the vents to control the temperature inside the greenhouse.

Keeping the Greenhouse Cool: Shading

Another simple way to help control the air temperature inside the greenhouse during summer is shading. A retractable shading system is by far the most convenient. Blocking the sun’s rays from entering the greenhouse during peak temperatures can save the gardener money in active cooling costs.

Keeping the Greenhouse Cool in the Dog Days of Summer: Circulation Fans

Fans are a staple in nearly every greenhouse. Fans are used to help with pollination, circulate air, and help control the air temperature of the greenhouse. Ventilation fans should be placed no farther apart than 25 feet. If a greenhouse measures 25 feet in length or more, two fans are needed and should be spaced evenly in the greenhouse to provide proper ventilation.

Keeping the Greenhouse Cool in the Dog Days of Summer: Fan and Pad Systems

The fan and pad method of greenhouse cooling involves using a special pad placed at one end of the greenhouse. This special cellulose pads are fed a constant supply of water. Strategically placed fans draw air in through the pads, creating an evaporating effect as the water cools. This is the most common type of cooling system used in commercial greenhouses.

Keeping the greenhouse cool in the dog days of summer helps plants continue growing for optimal crop yields. Today’s greenhouse gardener has many choices when selecting a method of greenhouse cooling.

Wilmington -
Our flag might be red, white and blue, but green has become America’s favorite color.

Green has blossomed from a wee sprout of a vocabulary word to an impressive flowering tree of ideas. You’ve got your greenback dollars and greenhorn newcomers. There are ecological initiatives like Greenpeace supported by the political Green Party, which is fighting to stop the Greenhouse Effect. And countless writers continue to borrow the phrase “The Greening of…” from the original title of Charles Reich’s popular 1960s counterculture book, “The Greening of America.” Now we’re being told to think green, act green, buy green. Have I made my point? So go plant a garden!

 Gardening, in all shades of green, is suddenly huge. Magazine and news articles, TV gardening programs and hundreds of blogs, with headings like “You Grow, Girl!” have sprouted like corn seeds on mega doses of Miracle Gro. Take a fresh look around at local gardens, neighborhood yards, and balcony window boxes. After the long winter, we can feast on an amazing variety of blooms, breathe in the lush plantings, and marvel at the long lines anywhere plants or gardening supplies are sold.  

Joni Mitchell wrote, “We’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.” Well, I don’t think there was much gardening going on at Woodstock but “yeah, man, grow your own, we’re ready for the country,” was definitely a mantra for the times. The more things change…

Maybe it’s the sour economy that’s driving so many of us back to nature. Or maybe it’s because gardening is a human activity that has so many great benefits. The fact is that there is a documented revival of small farms and farmer’s markets, grassroots efforts across the country to set aside land for more community gardens and lots of individuals developing their green thumbs by taking classes, buying seeds and plants, digging their own backyard garden plots.

A recent article in Business Week talks about “locavores,” local food proponents, and how they are being aided by the Government’s latest version of the Farm Bill. The article reports that $2.3 billion is being set aside for small farmers to grow specialty crops like eggplant, strawberries and salad greens, an increase from 100 million in the previous Farm Bill. The number of Farmer’s Markets around the country is up 50 percent from just five years ago. It’s extreme consumerism. More than ever we want to know where the food is coming from and we want fair prices.

Likewise, community gardens are all the rage, bringing people together in a positive way. Growing your own vegetables is a great return on your investment. City folk gardeners pay a small fee for their plots, but 10 cents spent on seeds can yield about a dollar’s worth of produce. Burpee seed packet sales are soaring and the Park Seed Company catalogue has been referred to as the gardener’s Bible.

Full article: http://www.wickedlocal.com/wilmington/news/lifestyle/columnists/x1165649657/Go-green-garden-style

 

Not many consumers today would argue with that statement. With gasoline prices over $4 a gallon and diesel fuel selling for a good $0.80 cents above gasoline, everyone is feeling the pinch. Because it is costing more to transport produce, and farmers are raising prices to compensate for the increase in the cost of living, a gallon of milk now costs the same as a gallon of gasoline and fresh produce is nearly worth its weight in gold.

For families with growing children at home, fresh produce is a necessity, not a preference, and putting a balanced meal on the table three times a day is becoming more of a challenge as the economy continues its downward spiral. The cost of food affects more than just our health and our wallets. The national poverty index is determined by multiplying the average cost of feeding a family. According to the US Department of Agriculture, the cost of feeding a low-income family of four has risen 6 percent in 12 months.  For some families, that 6 percent increase in the cost of groceries means less fruits, vegetables and dairy products consumed each week to make up the price difference.

According to a recent news report (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/31/food-price-inflation-chan_n_94283.html), the price of food is rising across the board. “Record-high energy, corn and wheat prices in the past year have led to sticker shock in the grocery aisles. At $1.32, the average price of a loaf of bread has increased 32 percent since January 2005.

In the last year alone, the average price of a carton of eggs has increased almost 50 percent. Ground beef, milk, chicken, apples, tomatoes, lettuce, coffee and orange juice are among the staples that cost more these days, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Overall, food prices rose nearly 5 percent in 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That means a pound of coffee, on average, cost 57 cents more at year’s end than in 2006. A 12-ounce can of frozen, concentrated orange juice now averages $2.53 - a 67-cent increase in just two years.

A carton of grade A, large eggs will set you back $2.17. That’s an increase of nearly $1 since February, 2006.”

The Benefits of Greenhouse Gardening

Greenhouse gardening is a terrific way to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for your family at a fraction of the cost of purchasing those same items from a commercial retailer, like Wal Mart. Growing your own fruits and vegetables in the greenhouse also allows you to grow organically and to control what, if any, pesticides are used in growing your family’s fruits and vegetables. Greenhouse gardening produces fruits and vegetables all year-round, providing fresh, balanced nutrition for the whole family.

Greenhouse gardening is also very relaxing and fun for many gardeners. The whole family can become involved in working in the greenhouse and reap the benefits of the satisfaction of producing fruits and vegetables with your own hands. Greenhouse gardening is also an educational experience for gardeners of all ages. Adept gardeners study soil types, bacteria, chemistry, pollination, water quality, and hundreds of other scientific factors affecting crops.

Commiting to Greenhouse Gardening

Greenhouse gardening is a committment. The initial cost of obtaining a greenhouse and supplies for growing fruits and vegetables in a greenhouse may not seem like much of a savings at first, but gardening tools last for years and plants can be cultivated to produce seeds for next season’s crops.

Greenhouse gardening takes time and effort. You cannot simply go to the greenhouse when the crisper is empty and stock up on fruits and veggies like shopping at the supermarket. You must invest your time and labor into your crops every day to see results. Your local gardening extension is a fantastic resource for information on gardening in your area.

Overall, greenhouse gardening just makes good sense in today’s economy. Greenhouse gardening saves money in the long run and is beneficial to families on a budget. Anyone can begin growing fruits and vegetables in a greenhouse, even in cramped spaces with the use of tabletop or portable greenhouses. Get started with your greenhouse gardening project today to put a few more dollars back into your piggy bank.

Getting started with greenhouse gardening begins with some basic knowledge of greenhouse gardening and the tools of the trade. Here are a few basic considerations before beginning your greenhouse gardening project.

Selecting an Area for Greenhouse Gardening

Selecting the right area of your yard to begin your greenhouse gardening greatly depends on the type of gardening you prefer. If you grow mainly houseplants or greenery, a partly shady area of the yard is best. Vegetables and fruits need more sun than foliage plants. If you plan to grow a mixture of plants or are unsure of what types of plants you will grow, you can locate your greenhouse in a sunny area and utilize sunshades to protect plants when needed. If your greenhouse will have a covering that diffuses the light, you will want to put it in the sunniest location possible regardless of what you are growing. The diffused light will be welcome by both sun and shade loving plants.

You can also situate your greenhouse to face east or west instead of north or south to take advantage of more light. You will want to position your greenhouse in close proximity to utilities such as electricity and water.

Choosing a Greenhouse Materials

Selecting a type of greenhouse depends largely on your budget and the space available. Smaller, portable greenhouses are fairly inexpensive, and custom-built greenhouses that attach to your home can be quite pricey. Special greenhouses are also available that allow you to start plants in your kitchen window or basement. Greenhouse gardening can be adapted to fit any lifestyle and budget. Hobby greenhouses are available in various sizes and materials to suit the needs of every gardener.

You can also choose from a wood frame, PVC frame or an aluminum greenhouse frame. The best choice for your plants is the PVC greenhouse frame or for better strength, a white composite frame. They provide the least amount of heat loss, do not rust or rot, and reflect white light back to your plants (where some frames actually rob light from your plants). Wood is more aesthetically pleasing, but aluminum is more durable and nearly maintenance free.

The foundation for your greenhouse can be constructed of timber, steel beams, concrete block, brick, or a concrete slab. These construction materials vary greatly in price and your budget may be the main deciding factor in selecting a foundation. Some gardeners choose a concrete slab to act as a foundation and flooring in one for their greenhouse. This simplifies construction in many cases. Others opt for a more natural flooring by adding a landscaping screen to keep out weeds and accenting with a brick walkway or stone pavers. Even a simple gravel flooring is sufficient for use in a greenhouse.

There are many greenhouse covering options. Each covering has its advantages and disadvantages. Consider now much maintenance the material will require, how durable it is against wind and hail, and ideally try to get the best R factor (insulation factor) and the material that will provide the most diffuse light.

Other Greenhouse Gardening Considerations

When beginning greenhouse gardening, you will also need to consider where you will get your heat, ventilation, water, and electricity. Specialized greenhouse systems can help you provide these greenhouse gardening essentials, or you can provide them individually as you see fit.

Beginning a greenhouse gardening project is easier once you decide on the basics of your greenhouse project and gather the essential greenhouse gardening supplies. Making the right decisions now will assure that you will spend your time working in your greenhouse and avoid spending time maintaining your greenhouse structure. So get ready to grab some pots, soil and seeds and start enjoying your new greenhouse!

Seed Sales Up, More People Gardening For First Time

Gas and food prices are sky-high and according to the USDA, food prices are expected to go up 6 percent this year.

Those high prices may be creating thousands of new gardeners.

The Burpee seed company has sold twice as many seeds this year than last. The company said half of the increase is from new customers.

Joan Brenckle, owner of Brenckle’s Farm and Greenhouse, said she’s seeing more first-time gardeners this year than ever before. Brenckle said, “They want to grow it instead of paying the high prices at the grocery store.”

Read the full article http://www.wpxi.com/consumer/16559489/detail.html

Food gardens a growing trend
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 06/11/2008 06:09:20 AM MDT

Seed sales are way up. Community gardens are long sold out. Calls for help to convert suburban lawns to lush raised vegetable beds are coming in to extension agents fast and furious.

Folks worried about rising food and fuel prices, and concerned about how and where their fruits and veggies are grown, are investing heavily in home-grown produce.

Soil, it seems, is the new oil.

“I’m not a psychologist, but when times are tough — like the mortgage crisis, the financial crisis and the energy crisis — people tend to think a little bit more about covering their bases and being self-sufficient where they can,” says Jim Dyer, who serves on the board of the Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado and who gardens on

Junior master gardeners work inside the Cripple Creek community greenhouse. “This got started when a woman (from the area) called me and said, ‘People up here are trying to decide whether to eat or heat their homes,’” says Larry Stebbins, who teaches gardening to kids and adults in the greenhouse. (Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post)a ranch west of Durango to feed his immediate and extended families.
Up in Cripple Creek, where the prices of gasoline and home-heating fuel are inching as high as the altitude and the nearest big grocery store is 25 miles away in Woodland Park, a community group commandeered an unused city greenhouse to start a garden.

“This got started when a woman (from the area) called me and said, ‘People up here are trying to decide whether to eat or heat their homes,’ ” says Larry Stebbins, who teaches gardening to kids and adults in the greenhouse.

The greenhouse plots are going fast.

Gertrud Wuellner, 41, a school bus driver, brought her four kids to a Wednesday morning class at the greenhouse because her sprouts are enthused about the garden the family started at home.

Read the full article http://www.denverpost.com/dnc/ci_9544778