Re: food gardening up or down? - Farmers Market

**Pat Meadows p*@meadows.pair.com**

On Wed, 19 Apr 2006 14:27:56 EDT, you wrote:

>Coincodentally I met with a local farm market group - 
>www.freshfarmmarkets.org - and they reported a huge increase in them in the last 10 years - I think 
>they had a stat like 500%. 
>
>But I take that with a grain of salt in that I think there were a lot of 
>independent markets and farm stands out there before - they just were not known 
>beyond their immediate neighborhoods nor listed nationally. 
>
>Personally, I think if you do the math (including price of seeds, garden 
>tools, etc. along with your time and efforts), it is not only easier but most 
>often cheaper to buy from a local farm market than grow your own. 
>

Assuming that a local farmers' market or farmstand has what
you want, when you want it.  Organically grown, if you want
it to be.

This doesn't happen here.  I started eating from the garden
March 25 this year, with the help of a hoophouse and cold
frame.  I hope to be eating from the garden through until
the end of December.  The Farmers' Market here doesn't open
until Memorial Day and it closes Labor Day.  

I grow over 50 different varieties of veggies. So far, local
markets have had only basic veggies (corn, green beans,
Better Boy tomatoes, etc.).  I *love* a lot of the Asian
greens and other (fairly) exotic things.  I love a lot of
heirlooms too.

But our area is very rural, somewhat isolated, and not a
farming area.  Very discouraging, as far as buying produce
goes.  It's a good thing I can grow what I want.  

I don't grow corn, however, for lack of room, and I can buy
that here.  I tend to buy winter squash as well.

Pat
-- 
Gardening in northern Pennsylvania.  

Eat local food, change the world for the better!
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