Community gardens growing in popularity

By Darla Hernandez (darlah@wsbt.com)

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Community Gardens of Michiana

Krista Bailey says being part of Community Gardens of Michiana is a simple way to save money and save the environment. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: May 4, 2009 at 12:39 PM EST

Story Updated: May 7, 2009 at 10:56 AM EST

It's a growing idea — community gardens that are saving folks hundreds of dollars in grocery bills. One community garden group says growing fresh veggies and fruit is super cheap and easier than you may think!

"I've probably saved hundreds and hundreds of dollars last year just by eating out of the garden,” said Krista Bailey of Community Gardens of Michiana.

Bailey says being part of a community garden in South Bend is a simple way to save money and save the environment.

"You don't have to have your food shipped all the way across the country or half way around the world to get to you, so there's the big savings in terms of your carbon footprint,” she said. “But also it saves a lot of money because you don't have to go out and buy it."

Bailey says the only investment you need to start a garden is buying seeds that cost less than a dollar each; but in the end you'll have super savings because you'll have fresh produce all summer long.

Here's how their community garden works:

"Individuals grow different crops, so for example, myself and another person grow the tomatoes, and that's all that we grow in our plot or two is tomatoes,” Bailey explained. “Twice a week then we get together and harvest on Wednesday and Saturday mornings and then we divide up everything.”

If you don't have a back yard there are plenty of plants like tomatoes and spinach that can grow in containers.

Bailey say beginners shouldn't worry if one thing doesn't grow — something else will. If help is what you need the web has plenty of it.

Sites like www.thegardenhelper.com and YouTube offer free tips and even videos on gardening.

Bailey says this is a growing way to make your green last a lot longer.

"I just ran out last month of all the canned and frozen stuff from last year, so we've been eating a lot of frozen vegetables and canned tomatoes,” she said.

For a list of all the community gardens in your area, click on the link in the Related Content box.

For more money-saving ideas and advice, go to Monday Monday on WSBT.com, and watch WSBT News at 5 p.m. every Monday.

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