Rethinking the Grocery Store: My New Strategy for a Productive Kitchen Garden
Last week, I headed to the grocery store for two staples: onions and celery. Even though I grew both last year, my pantry was bare and I needed to restock. Standing in the aisle, I looked at the prices—$8 for a bag of onions and $4 for a single head of celery.
While a single seed costs a fraction of a penny, the hidden math of gardening started running through my head. When you factor in the cost of electricity for grow lights, seed-starting mix, fertilizers, and the sheer volume of water needed during a summer heatwave, the truth came out: my "penny crop" was actually costing me more than the store-bought bag.
The Space Dilemma
In a small kitchen garden, every square inch is premium real estate. To grow a full year’s supply of storage onions, I would have to surrender every single bed I own. And let’s be honest—who wants a monoculture garden when there’s a whole world of varieties to explore? Every year, I’ve slowly increased my onion count, creeping into space meant for other crops, yet I still never grew enough to last.
It was clear that my "more is more" strategy was failing.
A New Philosophy for 2026
As we step back into seed-starting season this January, I’m changing my approach. I’ve officially decided not to grow standard storage onions this year. Why? Because I can buy a bulk bag of high-quality storage onions at the Farmers Market for under $5 during peak season. My garden space is too valuable for that.
Instead, I am focusing on The Specialty & The Scarce. I’m only planting varieties I cannot find at the local store, like the legendary Walla Walla. This shift is about understanding the "Why" behind the "What." I’m no longer trying to replace the grocery store; I’m learning how to make the garden and the store work together.
Complement, Don’t Substitute
Rethinking the grocery store means using it to handle the bulk commodities so my garden can focus on the gourmet, the heirloom, and the ultra-fresh. My garden is no longer a substitute for the grocery store—it’s the premium complement to it.
What about you?
As you look at your seed packets this month, I want to challenge you to look past the "how" and start asking the "why."Are you growing a crop because you feel you should, or because it actually brings value—flavor, joy, or savings—to your kitchen?
Take a look at your garden plan. Is there a "commodity crop" taking up space that could be used for something rare and wonderful? I’d love to hear your "why" in the comments below.
