Says it all . . .

[Worth1]

Bragging rights to the best looking garden in the neighborhood is worth it to me.
These people have said it to me, it isn't something I dreamed up.
Every year there is something new going on.

There are other killer gardens here in my area doing fantastic too.
Many are in the less privileged neighborhoods.
I saw one the other day that was next to a wee house but the garden was huge and weed free.
You can tell where their priorities are.
As for the money I spent on mine I have more than made it back in return.
I have enough pickled peppers cucumbers and okra to last me well over a year.
Right now fresh okra at HEB is $3.57 for 1.17 pounds.
I spent almost nothing growing mine.
Worth

[pmcgrady]

It's nice to be nice...

[pmcgrady]

I like figuring out what my cousins cleptomaniac wife is going to steal this year !

[SteveP]

I enjoy all of the benefits of growing tomatoes and enjoy the hobby. Not many hobbies a person can eat and gladly share with others, make new friends with and throw at people. ��

[dmforcier]

Originally Posted by SteveP

Not many hobbies a person can eat and gladly share with others, make new friends with and throw at people. ��

Mmmm. Chickens?

[SteveP]

Originally Posted by dmforcier

Mmmm. Chickens?

Nope, no chickens. I do have a 4 month old puppy named Sawyer that helps me pick tomatoes everyday.

[SteveP]

Originally Posted by dmforcier

Mmmm. Chickens?

Nope, no chickens. I do have a 4 month old puppy named Sawyer that helps me pick tomatoes everyday.

[Father'sDaughter]

Definitely not cost effective, but for me growing tomatoes, canning them in purée form, and then using that purée in meals is my way of keeping alive part of my family heritage. Cost effectiveness plays no part in this.

As the previous generation dies, the old ways are dying with them, unless some of my generation learns them, practices them, and then passes them down to the next generation.

[AlittleSalt]

I waited to reply until I read other replies.

Most of you already know I garden for nerve disease and anxiety therapy. It's no secret here. My questions about RKN and Fusarium race 3 are from the heart and honest. It is the only way I believe in being. What I write here might be confusing sometimes, but it is real.

I do have some favorites that you can't buy in a store. However, I like store bought canned tomatoes better. To me, garden fresh made salsa is compost food because it is too sweet. I have posted that several times here.

One of the first things I learned at Tomatoville was that we all have different tastes for certain tomatoes. I respect that. I have grown hundreds of varieties of tomatoes, but if I were to buy tomatoes for my likes - I might buy 1 tomato per month and some Campari tomatoes when they are on sale. Canned tomato sauce and tomatoes for pasta...absolutely no tomato paste. Yuck, too sweet.

I am looking forward to growing some FFFN tomatoes next year. I don't guess many home gardeners would say that?

[Worth1]

Salt your aversion to sweetness in fresh salsa can be overcome with citric acid.
That's why you like the canned stuff.
The last few times I ate at a Mexican restaurant the salsa was horrible.
I think they opened up a can of crushed tomatoes and walked by it with a pepper.
That and it was watery, slimy and no spices.
The popularity of Mexican food and salsa has ruined Mexican food and salsa.
Worth