By Stacey Tucker (Contact / Staff Bio)
July 5, 2008 - 12:00 a.m. EST

CARO ‹ With the price of gas and food on the rise, Caro resident Carolyn Graff says the best way to keep your belly full and still have money in your wallet is to grow a garden.

Graff has been gardening on and off for 35 years and grows several different kinds of lettuce, green beans, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, dill, cucumbers, parsley, squash, asparagus, raspberries and more.

“You can use your gardens for gifts, live on them and share with people,” Graff said. “It was times like these that probably promoted me to go back to the garden.”

Once her produce in the garden is ready to be harvested, Graff cans much of what she grows.

Graff said it is a wonderful sight to see her pantry become stocked as her grocery bill shrinks.

“I will freeze the squash, grate the zucchini for zucchini bread and we’ve made strawberry jam already,” she said. “I’m like a little squirrel, I guess.”

One thing Graff said you can’t beat is homemade salsa.

Not only is gardening easier on the wallets, the experienced gardener said it’s also good for the soul.

“I think if a person is depressed, they ought to have a garden,” Graff said. “It makes you feel good.”

The garden is a fulfilling endeavor that keeps giving all summer long.

Stacey Tucker is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at tucker@tcadvertiser.com.