By Brian Reynolds, Associated Press
Tuscaloosa, AL – Growing food on his small plot of land has given Darren Blake a hobby, a steady supply of fresh vegetables and a much smaller grocery bill.
Blake has farmed his 30- by-50-foot plot on Old Colony Road, one of the 23 plots leased by the Tuscaloosa Park and Recreation Authority, for three years. For the first harvest of the year, he planted broccoli, cabbage and onions. He also planted potatoes for the first time.
Blake's harvest generally lasts his family through the end of the year, saving them money, especially during the summer.
"I like it," he said. "It just gives me something to do, and now it makes more sense than ever."
As the country sinks deeper into recession, more people are following Blake's lead and learning how to grow their own food as a cost- cutting measure.
The Tuscaloosa Farmer's Co-op has seen a 50 percent increase in seed potato sales and a 30 percent increase in sales of gardening supplies over last year, said manager Wayne Gilliam.
"Normally we move between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds of seed potatoes and we've already moved 7,000 pounds this year," Gilliam said. Distributors are having a hard time keeping up with the demand, he said.
Gilliam, who has been in the agriculture business for 39 years, isn't surprised by the growing interest in farming one's own food.
"It happened during the Carter administration when things went bad,' he said. 'We realized this was going to happen, so we inventoried more."
Tuscaloosa County Extension Office coordinator Wayne Ford also expects the economic downturn to result in more home gardening.
"I feel like we're going to have more interest than ever because of this recession," Ford said. "I've talked to a lot of the gardening shops and the co-ops and they've been selling a lot more seeds this year."
By gardening, families can not only produce food for their own consumption, and save money, he said, they can also earn extra income on the side.
"There's a big demand for homegrown vegetables," Ford said. "If they were unemployed, that's a good way to make an income. It's really a win-win situation."
People can even grow vegetables in containers and pots, which take up much less space than a plot of land, he said.
Grocery prices add up and growing one's own food can put a big dent in food bills, Gilliam said. Those who buy organic food, which generally costs more, can save up to 60 percent on the cost by growing vegetables themselves, he said.
"People say, I can raise good food, safe food, it's good exercise and what you don't eat you can sell," Gilliam said. "It becomes, no matter what, I'm going to have something to eat."
Almost anything can grow in Tuscaloosa County, but tomatoes, squash, peas and corn are some of the most popular crops, Ford said. The County Extension System also offers information on the best ways to grow and maintain gardens.
PARA has been leasing the plots on Old Colony Road for $60 a year for 15 years, but began the community garden program in the mid-1970s. While all the plots are rented out nearly every year, Blake has seen more people using the land than in the past.
"I've noticed that a couple more people have rented the lots out there than last year," Blake said. "Apparently, more people are doing it. Trying to save money, I believe, and (growing your own food is) a good way to do it."