That depends on whether you have a pond in your backyard or not.boggybranch said:
By that I mean, it may be cheaper for you to buy then grow, but it may not for sometone else. 
vfem -- This article is really similar to one I read in Countryside magazine a while back...about a FL couple who planted their entire suburban yard to fruit trees and vegetables. No lawn at all. They not only fed themselves almost entirely from their own crops, but they also sold produce roadside and made their living from it. (There were some other things they were doing, like only paying cash for things not credit, and they were vegetarians.) Of course, FL has all the advantages to do something like that! I can't grow papayas here.vfem said:I think you should read this article and probably look into what the benefits are as well as the cost savings. I believe done properly the time benefits would be great too! You know how good gardening is to your body? SO much better then grocery store shopping.
What I like about this article is it shows you REAL numbers. Those numbers are only based on California costs (and a quick peek at 2009 costs during summer months in Iowa) but its real numbers!
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/Square-Foot-Gardening-Food.aspx
I am adding edible items into my front garden to grow along side my prettier flowers and bulbs. So I will have cabbage, carrots, lettuce and some bok choy in my front yard growing next to black eyed susans and daisies come spring!wifezilla said:
)
