Want to Slash Your Grocery Bill?
A Lost Kiwi Tradition That Supermarkets Don’t Want You to Remember
Back in the 1960s and 70s in New Zealand, life looked very different on our family farm in Tangiteroria, my Dad kept a massive vegetable garden and it wasn’t just a hobby, it was a way of life. Almost every Kiwi household grew their own beans, potatoes, sweet corn, carrots, turnips, and cabbages.
I still remember the daily routine after school, I’d be out there watering rows of veggies and pulling up weeds, The best reward? Snacking on fresh homegrown produce straight from the soil. It was healthy, cheap, and incredibly satisfying.
But fast forward to today, and something strange has happened. Growing your own food has shifted from a necessity for survival to a “trendy hobby.” Yet with the cost of living skyrocketing and supermarket prices climbing higher every week, isn’t it bizarre that more people aren’t going back to the garden?
The rise of supermarkets pushed aside greengrocers and local market gardens, as lifestyles changed, backyards became smaller, and recreation replaced food production. Convenience took over, but at what cost?
Now, as families search for ways to cut expenses and eat healthier, maybe it’s time to rediscover the lost art of backyard gardening, After all, the secrets to saving money, boosting health, and gaining independence from supermarkets might just be buried in the soil beneath our feet.
Share your gardening secrets or best memories !
