Spring time brings out the home improvement commercials reminding us it is time to plant.  With the White House garden making the news and everyone wanting to keep it local and organic, what are the economics of growing your own fruits and vegetables?

Kitchen Gardeners International did some analysis on a 1600 sq ft garden in Maine. They produced $2149 worth of veggies, 834 pounds, and over 6 months worth of organic food.  Their cost was $282 plus a lot of hard work. A pretty darn good return on investment.

National Gardening Association found a $70/year investment produced $600 worth of vegetables.

Heirloom fruits and vegetables are varieties that are at least 50 years old and have been preserved because of their appearance flavor and desirability. Consider planting some of these seeds. Be sure to exchange any unused seeds with others.

We’ve covered the economics of a vegetable garden in the past.  While they are quite favorable, so people do not have the space or green thumb to start a full blown garden. Granted these items do cost money.

Earth Solutions sells a Farm in a Box that lets people easily “grow organic fish and vegetables in natural harmony, with no dirt and weeds!”

Earthbox is a “maintenance-free, award-winning, high-tech growing system controls soil conditions, eliminates guesswork and more than doubles the yield of a conventional garden- with less fertilizer, less water and virtually no effort.” Amazon even sells this.