{"id":2821,"date":"2017-10-25T01:02:56","date_gmt":"2017-10-25T05:02:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=2821"},"modified":"2017-10-25T13:00:10","modified_gmt":"2017-10-25T17:00:10","slug":"lettuce-is-expensive-in-those-plastic-bags","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=2821","title":{"rendered":"Lettuce is expensive in those plastic bags"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>So you go to the store to buy some lettuce.\u00a0 You balk at the price of $4-5 a bag a bit but figure good food is worth it.\u00a0\u00a0May I suggest there is a cheaper way to get better food?<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Grow it yourself!!<\/h2>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">OK, don&#8217;t freak out and panic.\u00a0 Stay with me here.\u00a0 I promise this can be really easy.<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Let me give you all my reasons growing lettuce is waaaaaaaay better than buying it.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Organic Lettuce is $5 for a small plastic container at my local grocery store.\u00a0 A pack of seeds of of this <a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.groworganic.com\/pvfs-lettuce-gourmet-mix.html');\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.groworganic.com\/pvfs-lettuce-gourmet-mix.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gourmet mix of lettuce from Peaceful Valley<\/a> is $2.99.\u00a0 There are 500 seeds in the pack with 5 different types for a little variety. Even if you drop half of the seeds in the grass, the dog digs some up,\u00a0 and you only actually get 3 to grow you are ahead.\u00a0 <strong>Seriously you need 3 out of 500 seeds to grow to have saved money.\u00a0<\/strong> Even the worst black thumb can pull off those kind of numbers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unless you know you are buying locally grown lettuce, that little bag has traveled a looooong way. Between <a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.agmrc.org\/commodities-products\/vegetables\/lettuce\/');\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.agmrc.org\/commodities-products\/vegetables\/lettuce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">98% and 100%<\/a> of all head and leaf lettuce is grown in either California and Arizona.\u00a0 I would imagine if I was shoved into a box and driven across country, I wouldn&#8217;t be my best self when I arrived.\u00a0 Same thing with lettuce. As soon as something is picked it starts losing nutrients and starts to breakdown.\u00a0 (This is the main reason why a homegrown pea is like nothing you have every tasted.\u00a0 The sugars start to turn to starch as soon as it&#8217;s picked.)\u00a0 <strong>When the lettuce is in your backyard it has no time to lose nutrients or flavor before it hits your plate.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>It is hard to keep lettuce or any food safe while you try to get it to market.<\/strong>\u00a0 As I said, as soon as you pick it, it&#8217;s all downhill.\u00a0 There are so many variables to control for. Listeria contamination.\u00a0 Random frogs that get into the mix.\u00a0 Bats too apparently.\u00a0 Yuck.\u00a0 Check out the<a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.agmrc.org\/commodities-products\/vegetables\/lettuce\/');\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.agmrc.org\/commodities-products\/vegetables\/lettuce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> recall list from the FDA for lettuce<\/a>, I counted five just on the first page that only goes back to Oct 6, 2017.\u00a0 So, yuck.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Variety is the spice of life they say.\u00a0 <strong>\u00a0Variety also makes for a delicious salad!\u00a0<\/strong> I love this <a onclick=\"javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('\/outgoing\/www.groworganic.com\/pvfs-lettuce-gourmet-mix.html');\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.groworganic.com\/pvfs-lettuce-gourmet-mix.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gourmet mix<\/a>\u00a0 and have grown it for years.\u00a0 It contains\u00a0\u00a0Red Salad Bowl, Green Salad Bowl, Buttercrunch, Paris Island Cos, and Lolla Rossa.\u00a0 That gives me different colors and textures all from one seed packet for $2.99.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-2832\" src=\"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Lettuce-10.5.17-RR-1024x762.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"840\" height=\"625\" srcset=\"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Lettuce-10.5.17-RR-1024x762.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Lettuce-10.5.17-RR-300x223.jpg 300w, http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Lettuce-10.5.17-RR-768x571.jpg 768w, http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Lettuce-10.5.17-RR-1170x870.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Get seeds that are\u00a0open-pollinated and you never have to pay for seed again.<\/strong>\u00a0 That sounds complicated but all it refers to seeds that will &#8220;breed true&#8221;. These are not a lab created cross but something that will reproduce from their seeds and come out with the same kind of lettuce next time i.e &#8220;the old fashioned way&#8221;.\u00a0 This is great news because you can save seeds right from your garden and reuse them next year for free!\u00a0 Basically you eat a bunch of lettuce.\u00a0 When it gets old and yucky you ignore it for a bit until there are flowers and then a puff ball (like dandelions when you were a kid).\u00a0 You cut them off, let them dry.\u00a0 Done.\u00a0 And now by saving seeds you never have to buy them again.\u00a0 All your future lettuce is free. I just starting doing this because I thought it was complicated.\u00a0 It&#8217;s not.\u00a0 Do it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Lettuce is an easy crop to grow<\/strong>.\u00a0 It grows really well in pots.\u00a0 That means you do not need a big garden or even a yard.\u00a0 They also don&#8217;t need a ton of sun so no special grow lights.\u00a0 \u00a0And they\u00a0like cool temperatures (although not frost) so you can plant some in the spring and the fall.\u00a0 I tried a hoop house last year (garden under plastic) and had lettuce in there all winter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I try my best to eat things before they go bad but it doesn&#8217;t always work out. Then I think, &#8220;Hey I would love a salad for lunch.&#8221;\u00a0 I go in the fridge and find half a container of slimy lettuce and realize that I am about to throw $2.50 in the garbage.\u00a0 Not much if it&#8217;s just this once but it adds up.\u00a0 If the lettuce is in your garden, you pick what you need right now and leave the rest to keep growing.\u00a0 Need a few leaves for a sandwich?\u00a0 Pick a few leaves.\u00a0 You don&#8217;t need to pick a whole head of romaine at a time.\u00a0 <strong>There is less waste. Again we are saving money!\u00a0<\/strong> What happens if you don&#8217;t eat all of the lettuce before it dies off?\u00a0 You can add it to the compost or leave it for the worms.\u00a0 They love lettuce.\u00a0 And the soil loves worms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Depending where you live you may still have time to get some lettuce in this fall.\u00a0 If not definitely put this on your list for your spring garden!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>So you go to the store to buy some lettuce.\u00a0 You balk at the price of $4-5 a bag a bit but figure good food is worth it.\u00a0\u00a0May I suggest there is a cheaper way to get better food? Grow&hellip; <br \/><a class=\"read-more-button\" href=\"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=2821\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2831,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[19,449],"tags":[465,131,82],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Lettuce-9.25.17-RR.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1J4KT-Jv","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2776,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=2776","url_meta":{"origin":2821,"position":0},"title":"Plant Now for Fall","date":"August 8, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Fall planting time is now!! \u00a0If you didn't get around to spring planting there is still time to grow delicious food this year. \u00a0If you had big plans for a big garden that didn't quite get finished, get some pots, organic potting soil and some seeds. \u00a0You can do this!\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Garden&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Ridiculous-Redhead-Fall-Planting-Pin.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":748,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=748","url_meta":{"origin":2821,"position":1},"title":"Our first harvest","date":"May 22, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Everything is starting to really grow around here. \u00a0I think we have been transplanted to Seattle like we are in the new NBC Wednesday night drama. \u00a0It feels like it has been raining for months. \u00a0Granted it was beautiful and sunny this weekend and don't think that I didn't enjoy\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Garden&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/first-harvest-1288.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2404,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=2404","url_meta":{"origin":2821,"position":2},"title":"It&#8217;s seed planting time again!","date":"February 6, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The holidays are over. \u00a0It's been snowing every other day for weeks. \u00a0The walls are starting to close in. \u00a0Summer seems so far away. But spring is not so very far away. February is one of my favorite times of the year. \u00a0After the fall clean up and the holidays,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Garden&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Veggie-Seeds-Ridiculous-Redhead-2015.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":707,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=707","url_meta":{"origin":2821,"position":3},"title":"The seedlings have moved out!","date":"May 7, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"It's a big day around here! \u00a0The gardens have been planted and the seedlings have moved outside to their new homes. Just like high school, there are cliques or groups that stick together. \u00a0Some plants do not want to sit with certain other plants at lunch. \u00a0 Other plants like\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Garden&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/small-garden-day-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":670,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=670","url_meta":{"origin":2821,"position":4},"title":"Starting with the leafy stuff","date":"April 24, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Even though our last frost date is April 12th, it's been a moot point since there was barely a frost even in January. \u00a0And since it's been shorts weather a few days already I figured it was safe to start planting things outside. I decided to start first with the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Garden&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_1048.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1116,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=1116","url_meta":{"origin":2821,"position":5},"title":"A little seed update","date":"March 8, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I have been so excited to see something start growing from the seeds I have planted. \u00a0As I speak it is snowing outside but the seeds are marching on to becoming plants in spite of it! Let's start with the inside seeds. \u00a0As you might recall, they were planted on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Garden&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Ridiculous-Redhead-seeds-030813.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2821"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2821"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2821\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2835,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2821\/revisions\/2835"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2831"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2821"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2821"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2821"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}