If there was ever a better time to be more self-sufficient it is now.
The ongoing war in the Middle East has triggered shortages of fertiliser and diesel, components critical to Australian primary producers’ everyday operations.
The price of fresh fruit and vegetables on supermarket shelves is going up and that combined fuel increases, means shopping has become a costly endeavour.
But, there are ways to lesson some of war’s impact, and that’s to grow your own food.
Anything you buy regularly is worth growing because that’s where you’ll see the savings.
Food that thrives when planted in Ipswich’s outer regions are lettuce, spinach, silver beet, tomatoes, sweet potato, beetroot, broccoli, beans and Asian greens.
For beginners, raised garden beds or large containers are often the easiest entry point.
They require less digging, can be placed almost anywhere, and are easier to manage than traditional plots.
You don’t need a big yard, a few well placed pots can keep you in herbs, tomatoes and leafy greens for months.
Vertical gardening is also gaining popularity.
Using trellises, hanging baskets or stacked planters allows growers to maximise production without sacrificing precious ground space.
When space is limited, choosing the right crops makes all the difference.
Fast growing, high yield vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, cherry tomatoes and spring onions are favourites among backyard gardeners.
Herbs like basil, parsley and coriander are another cost saving staple, often replacing expensive supermarket bunches with a ready-to-pick supply just steps from the kitchen.
Reducing costs doesn’t stop at the harvest.
Many gardeners are cutting expenses further by composting kitchen scraps to create nutrient rich soil and using recycled containers as planters.
Collecting rainwater and mulching garden beds can also significantly reduce water usage, and that’s an important factor as utility costs rise.
Even small changes, like regrowing vegetables from scrap, think spring onions or lettuce bases, are helping stretch the household budget.
