Timothy Coolong, professor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ horticulture department and specialist with the UGA Cooperative Extension, spoke with Yahoo! Life about cutting grocery costs by starting a vegetable garden.
Growing leafy greens, herbs, chili peppers and other vegetables at home can save money because one or two plants can provide all the fresh produce needed with plenty left to freeze or dry for later use.
“For established gardeners, they can save considerably,” Coolong said.
The cost savings can be particularly good for fans of organic produce.
It can be helpful for gardeners to start with just a few plants and then grow a wider variety of crops once they’ve become comfortable with the process. Above all, it’s important to enjoy the process, Coolong says.
“Gardening should be a fun hobby. When it becomes a constant chore, a lot of people get worn down by the work,” he said.