Is All The Hard Work Really Worth It?

[Chippy Minton]

.... transplanted some Sprouts into their place, feeling fairly good again.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]59000[/ATTACH]

Isn't it a bit late to be transplanting though, surely you should be putting them on to boil for the big day around now

[mothhawk]

Before....

[mothhawk]

Now........

[Snadger]

I know what BM means about all the effort that goes into a garden - and sometimes with very little reward at the end of it.
It took nearly a year for my red cabbages to grow and they took up a lot of ground. I ended up with 3 hearts, one split down the middle, only 2 are usable. The day I cut them, I went to the supermarket where they had better ones than mine, yellow-stickered at 19p. Won't bother with those again!
Last year was great for courgettes and squashes - this year, hopeless. Very disheartening but I'll still try growing them again next year - because I lurve them!
On the other hand, the strawberries have been fantastic and the jam, though I say it myself, is out of this world. More strawberries to be grown next year.

If you have a garden, you have to grow something in it - be it flowers, veg or even grass. Everything needs maintenance so you may as well get some reward for your efforts, by eating your hard work.

I couldn't live without a garden. Frustrating and disappointing at times, yes, but the thought of it not being there, outside the door, my little bit of paradise, is not an option.

Carry on growing, BM, just be more selective

I grew spring cabbage through last winter which have just hearted up now !Woth waiting for though!

[Snadger]

Isn't it a bit late to be transplanting though, surely you should be putting them on to boil for the big day around now

Must get me one of dem slow cookers...............

[veggiechicken]

I grew spring cabbage through last winter which have just hearted up now !Woth waiting for though!

Still waiting for spring here

Must get me one of dem slow cookers.............

Cook em long and slow. There's nothing worse than a squeaky sprout

[Penellype]

Glad to hear you are feeling better about things BM. I remember losing virtually the whole tomato crop to blight in 2012 sometime around the end of August and it felt dreadful, so depressing. I still find I inspect the plants every morning with a sort of dread, looking for the tell-tale black smudges on the stems, especially if it has been raining.

Good job with the sprouts - now you are getting the benefit of the insect mesh on your nettytunnels

[Potstubsdustbins]

You lot have done it again monitor....................................coffee...........................cloth.

[rosiepumpkin]

Calling cleaner, calling cleaner, cleaner needed in aisle Potstubsdustbins.

[kris1960]

Definitely worth it, even with all the failures and, at the minute, no time at all to spend at allotment or on the forum I still went up today and had a large choice of vegetables and herbs for dinner tonight and every other dinner this year.
Especially worth it today when I brought home my cricket ball sized melon and cut it open for a friend to eat (I'm allergic to them)- it was orange and fragrant and pronounced delicious, if somewhat small! I was so proud of its tiny perfection- not sure if the other smaller ones will have time or warmth though.
Even a brief visit washes away any worries for me.

[rary]

Great thread BM, to me the benifits are that any apples I can grow, which I rarely get to taste due to Grand Children, are chemical free, any peas I grow which rarely reach the house due Grand Children are chemical free, my tomatoes which are now starting to ripen are again chemical free, and getting eaten like sweets by G.C.
The health benifits are also high, I have had knees replaced and operation on shoulders, due to arthritis but the garden gives me something to keep me busy and active (and a place to avoid helping with housework) I next intend to make one of my raised beds higher, not much sense in that when its to save me bending but more than anything its because I want to do it, and I am planning for the future when I am old. If people think it costs too much to buy seeds etc. they could always do a bit of tayloring and make their pockets deeper than their hands can reach, (nothing better than deep pockets and short arms to save money)
But having read several of your posts on the vine you show how gardening keeps you active by the way you are always trying to make so many different things, and that keeps your mind active, which is priceless.

[Coopers]

One of your earlier threads sums your question up. You are a typical fisherman who keeps thinking about the ones that got away rather than the ones you did catch

Personally I just set my expectations low then when I grow something I'm chuffed...

[Alison]

Totally worth it, I've rarely bought veggies since I got my plot and definitely eat more than I spend. OK, it's physically hard work but fresh air is very good for me both body and soul, it's my place of peace to get my head straight. Then there is the environmental side of things, my food miles are very low and I know if any chemicals have been used. It also makes me eat better and enjoy and appreciate the seasons of food so fresh it squeaks - never liked carrots much until I tasted ones fresh out the ground.

[Jonny.D]

BM's question regularly crosses mind, though I always think it's worth it when I pick and eat whatever I've grown.

This year - For my garden - Is not as good as last year But ......

Last year was last year, this year is this year and next year will be next year.

Loads of great replies here, thanks to everyone, I really enjoyed reading this thread

[CaroleL]

I haven't even considered if I'm saving money as I've spent so much on preparing the garden that I know I'm well out of pocket.

That's not why I wanted to grow veggies though. This year I've spent more time outdoors than I have in a long time. I've been more active and have felt better for it. We've ate more vegetables than we usually do and again have felt better for that. I've learnt some new recipes in the quest to eat all the courgettes and have learnt how to preserve.

Yes, I've had as many failures out there as I have successes, but I'm learning from that and am really looking forward to next year.

It costs money like any hobby, but it's so rewarding and has so much in the way of health benefits.