Spring is in the air (although I will admit that the weather lately has hardly been spring like), and with the budding of the trees and the greening of the landscape, thoughts turn to the spring/summer/fall garden.

With the ongoing rise in food prices, gasoline, and all things consumer-related, more and more people are contemplating ways to cut costs in their household budgets.  The government is even warning the population about food shortages and ongoing supply problems, making trips to the grocery store more and more unpredictable (what do you mean, there’s no rice?)  Concerns about food sourcing, pesticides, and other factors related to large-scale farming are also pushing many Americans to consider where their food comes from and how they can better control what they put on their family’s table.

So, what’s the “knee-jerk” reaction?

Oh, I’ll just plant a garden.

Is that really the answer?

There are many things to consider before going out one Saturday and coming home with fifteen tomato plants from the local nursery or big-box home improvement store.  Do I have the space for a garden?  Am I going to plant in the ground or use raised beds?  What is the soil like?  Does my location get the right amount of sun?  Do I have a close source of water?  What do I know about these plants?  What about predators and pests?   Do I really have the time and sustained interest to tend to a garden for the entire season?  These are certainly factors to consider.

Starting up a garden does require some planning, as well as an initial investment.  If planting in the ground, the soil has to be turned and prepared.  For raised beds, they have to be constructed and filled with dirt.  Implements have to be purchased, seeds and plants have to be acquired, all of which are out-of-pocket expenses, especially that first year.

Then there’s the growing season.  Mother Nature is not a forgiving lady, and a successful garden requires constant ongoing care and maintenance.  The bigger the garden, the more time required, and even a single plant in a pot needs constant watering, weeding, and other TLC – often for months – before any ripe fruit or vegetables are even ready for the picking.

There’s nothing worse than struggling with a garden for the entire summer and then, sometime in late August, you say to yourself – “I should have just bought fresh tomatoes at the farmer’s market.”

Don’t get me wrong, I have a few small, raised beds, and I enjoy digging in the dirt a little bit.  It’s a good hobby, but it does require some time.  There are some plants I have luck with (radishes, lettuces, fresh herbs, etc.) and some I can never seem to be successful with (carrots, for example), so it’s an ongoing learning process.

I’m just saying that before you invest significant funds for a garden infrastructure and are willing to earmark hours of your time for that potential bounty on the back-end, you better know what you’re getting into.

If you weigh the factors and say “I don’t think I’m up for that” – then by all means, support your local producers, buy seasonal ingredients, and enjoy what the garden has to offer – even if someone else does the work.

Either way, it pays to make the effort to seek out local and seasonal fruits and vegetables for your table – not only this spring, but in every season!