Gardening becoming more popular in West Michigan

KALAMAZOO (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - More people are growing their own food these days, and with rapidly rising prices at the grocery store, it's not hard to understand why.

In April alone, fruit and vegetable prices rose 2 percent, bread prices jumped 1.5 percent, and dairy products jumped more than 1 percent.

Overall, food cost 5 percent more for shoppers than it did in April, 2007.

That inflation is a sign of the times, as more families look to their own gardens to feed their families.

Adam Lenz has worked at Wenke Greenhouses for the past three years, and says one section of the business has recently seen a major boost.

"We've noticed a rise in the last year or so in our vegetable sales," said Lenz. "A lot of people are trying to see to grow their own to keep the cost down a bit."

Tomatoes are the most popular seed sold by the greenhouse, ranging in size and cost, but they still won't cost as much as what the supermarket charges.

"They all are probably less than what you'd pay for a small bag of vegetables at the grocery store," said Christy Beudrie, who is starting a garden at home.

Beudrie says the reason she's starting her own garden is because she can't afford to spend $200 on groceries every week for her family.

"It's getting really expensive and the whole grocery budget is going through the roof," she said.

To start up her garden, it will cost Beudrie less than a weeks worth of groceries, and over time, it will end up saving her much more.

"I would say at least $75 a week (is what) I'm hoping to shave off," she said.

And Beudrie is not alone. Gardening newsletters like 'The Weekly Dirt' note the trend of ditching grocery shopping for gardening, as well.

"I think it's exciting, I think it's opening up gardening to a whole new generation," said Lenz.

If you would like more info on starting a garden and how much it costs, go to:

http://www.garden.org/ediblelandscaping/