Tighten that belt.

With all the doom that has befallen the economy, its nice to hear of the few bright spots left.  Especially when those bright spots are in your industry.

Apparently seed sales for, specifically, vegetables are way up this year, as mentioned in this article in the Seattle Times. Folks across the country are attempting gardening for the first time, presumably, because of a little bit of fear, a touch of yearning for a return to simpler times, and a dash of attempting to recapture something we collectively felt as if we’ve lost.  And of course there’s the cost savings that comes from dropping a couple of bucks on a packet of seeds that will produce an entire summer’s worth of food.  That’s always nice.

“If a person has been laid off, and had a finite amount of money, they’re looking at spending $2 for a head of lettuce that’ll last two days,” says Greg. “Or for $2 they can buy a packet of lettuce seeds that has 300 seeds and eat lettuce all summer long.”

Not only does it save you money, but you end up with fresher, healthier vegetables that you can personally verify were cared for properly.

But it’s not just about saving money, says Bruce Butterfield, research director for the National Gardening Association.

“I think one place where a lot of people feel they have some small control over what is going on around them is in their backyard,” he says. “It’s this whole sense of, ‘I’m gonna have better-quality food, and save money.’ “

So if you haven’t considered gardening and growing your own food, but the current climate has you entertaining the idea, we say go ahead!  Join the growing movement for fresh, healty, independent, and safe food.  You will not be alone.