reasons to veggie garden this summer

here's a little blurb i wrote for work. it's featured in prairie gardens' minimag.. it's in the store now! come on out and get some seeds for your summer garden :)


We all know the number one reason to plant vegetables and herbs: freshness! They don’t come from the store. They haven’t been packed, shipped, or sitting on a shelf. They’ve been growing right in front of your eyes, straight from Mother Nature. So, why else should you grow your own?

1 – Convenience. Fresh food is right in your backyard… literally. Think of your summer filled with a wonderful outdoor hobby and no trips to the store for vegetables. Now that sounds great, huh? If you don’t have a backyard or don’t have much space, don’t worry! Container vegetable gardening is fun, easy, and a wonderful solution for saving space.

2 – Control. Pesticides, insecticides, chemicals….. everything that you’ll get when you buy a veggie from the store. And in your garden? You know what’s on it, you know where it’s been. You know it’s safe to eat for you and your family.

3 – Cost. These days, everyone is wondering how to save a buck. When you have your own garden, you can plan it out to produce fresh food all summer long and even into early fall. Plan your meals with lots of veggies and watch your summer grocery bill hit an all time low. Now, just for fun, let’s do some math… A whole packet of tomato seeds will cost you about $1 to $3. That’s the same price as just a pound of tomatoes at the grocery store or farmer’s market. Now, with each individual tomato plant yielding at least 10 pounds (most yield between 15 and 45), you can understand how much money this hobby can truly save you and your family in the long run.


4 - Variety. You have endless options. Choose from heirloom varieties that are true to their “roots” or choose a new hybrid for improved flavor or disease resistance. At Prairie Gardens, we have an extensive selection of both seeds and plants to give you whatever you’re looking for.

5 – Health. Do it for your family and for yourself. Fresh veggies all summer long will give an incredible healthy boost to your diet. Plan your meals each week with lots of vegetables that will be ready for harvest. Fast food here, frozen pizza there… No more of that! You’ll have fresh sweet corn, tomatoes, strawberries, and more instead.

6 - Hobby. Gardening can be fun, productive, and rewarding for the whole family. Spend time outdoors instead of cooped up in the house. Young children can certainly help with all sorts of tasks in the garden. Have them pick weeds or give them their own “special” watering can in a bright color. It’s simple, fun, and healthy for everyone. (Check out our great selection of brightly colored plastic watering cans, your kids will love them!)


7 – Experiment. Have fun! Plant a wide variety of veggies and herbs. Experiment with ones you’ve never tried. Combine dill and red potatoes… thyme and summer squash… mint and apples… You just might fall in love.

8 – Save. You can very easily dry fresh herbs to last through the winter. You can also preserve vegetables by canning or in some cases, freezing. If you grow enough, your vegetables could last until next spring!