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Gardens can help
stretch family food budgets
BROOKINGS – A
garden with a broad range of vegetables can save families money, even if
they have never gardened before, a South Dakota State University specialist
said.
“All that is needed
is a space with a minimum of six to eight hours of sunlight per day,” SDSU Extension Horticulture Specialist Rhoda Burrows said. “A single container
garden can provide fresh salad greens or tomatoes, while a raised bed can
allow those who have difficulty bending or stooping to share in the benefits
of growing their own food.”
Burrows said a
conservative estimate of a diverse garden of vegetables can yield about $70
worth of vegetables per 100-square feet.
In addition,
gardening is good exercise, and it can be a way to help children appreciate
nature and healthy food. “It’s not too late to start a garden this year, and
your local cooperative Extension office can help you,” Burrows said.
“Warm-season crops like tomatoes, beans, and peppers should not be planted
until mid-May, so there is time.”
Newcomers to
gardening can get help through their county Extension offices. “Your local
cooperative extension office can help provide you with information on
starting and growing gardens,” said Burrows. “Publications such as
‘Vegetable Gardening,’ ‘Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden,’ ‘Growing
Asparagus’ and ‘Choosing Vegetable Varieties for South Dakota’ are helpful.”
Extension offices
also have fruit publications such as “Fruit Varieties for South Dakota,”
“Strawberries,” “Grapes for South Dakota,” and “Raspberries.”
These publications
also are available on the Internet at http://sdces.sdstate.edu. Click on
“Publications” and then the “Lawn/Garden” choice to view a complete list of
materials available.
For gardeners who
seek more intensive training, the Master Gardener courses offer it. “The
classes have started in Rapid City, Huron, and Aberdeen, but the Sioux Falls
session starts May 16,” she said. “In addition, trained Master Gardener
volunteers also are available across the state to help newcomers to
gardening.”
Contact your local
cooperative Extension office for more information, or visit the national
Extension Web site, www.extension.org.
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