Food...

Instead of impeccably manicured lawns or perfectly planted flowerbeds, this year, vegetable gardens are spreading across suburbia. As The Wall Street Journal reported, more homeowners are turning their backyards and lawns into vegetable plots, using their spare time to garden with the hope of reducing their food costs and keeping organic produce in their diets. As Bruce Butterfield, National Gardening Association (NGA) research director told WSJ, 2008 will be a strong year for gardening because of “the combination of gas prices, food prices, and people staying at home because the world’s gone crazy. At least they can have some control over their own backyard.”

Signs of the times:

1. Vegetable plant sales increased 43% this year, compared to sales of perennial flowers, which decreased 16% at Al’s Garden Center in Portland, OR.

2. NGA reported no change in the sale of flowers, but an increase of 21% in vegetable plants, and 45% increase in sale of herbs.

3. And, all the while, the cost of food increased 0.9% between March and April of this year and as consumers see dramatic increases in grocery bills; many are realizing that they can’t afford organic produce anymore, unless they grow their own.

Interested in jumping on board this year’s gardening trend?

The WSJ article gives tips on how to handle soil testing and quality, growing veggies, and what to spray and what to avoid spraying.

The National Gardening Association has info and tips for gardening in everything from urban community gardens to sprawling backyards.

Backyard Gardener has articles, tips, and information about what works and what doesn’t work in a backyard garden.

Verdant.net has information about starting a small organic garden for those who’ve never donned garden gloves before.

And, if you’re so inclined, Domino Magazine has garden designs inspired by Oscar de la Renta. (Photo taken from Domino Mag's de la Renta garden.)