We tightened our belts back in 2020 when things were a bit rocky and decided to try to grow our own food and I am so glad we did now that the cost of food has gone up. I am really stepping it up this year to hopeful grow enough for my family (parents and siblings not just us).
Is anyone else considering it? Compost is usually about 3 or 4 pounds for 40 litres and seeds are 29p in lidl. Pots are abundant if you have a bin a drill or knife for drainage holes. There are lots of heavy croppers such as courgettes (wonder what thread inspired this one?) and beans and lettuce.
We never ever pay for lettuce anymore. Just have a pot in the kitchen and pick as we go. Same with spring onions. We had herbs before we moved but I don't know what happened to them.
Not to mention its good your you, and can encourage better eating habits and eating more seasonally. I know its a privilege to have the time but I'm a sahm because we can't afford nursery fees so this is my way of 'contributing' to the family finances. and boy did it help.
First year was a trial and error, but second year was amazing. the wealth of free knowledge on the Internet. We also throw less rubbish away from packaging and food scraps are composted so taking the bin out had halved too.
I didn't know that one cucumber plant will grow a cucumber or 2 every other day, and courgette plants give sometimes up to 2 or 3 a day. Massive! Beans, French beans, runner beans, bloody lovely and hundreds. Tomatoes are easy enough too. A couple plants started now is absolutely doable for some. I really don't know where I'd be if we hadn't tried it. It really is a life saver for us at the moment.