Its time to grub up your garden to grow grub. The rising tide of comment and reporting on the high cost and shortages of food mean that it is only a matter of time before the government is putting more emphasis on people using their gardens to grow food. Not only is it more healthy but rising prices make it worthwhile.

Even basic crops such as potatoes and carrots are better for you if they are picked fresh. This is because vitamin C and other nourishments diminish as storage times get longer. Pulling potatoes from the garden and washing them just before cooking is rewarding, money saving and healthier.

Another easy to grow crop is runner beans. They only need some weathered manure and a bucket full of rain water every other day to grow lots and lots of beans. Plant them in May and June and give them something to climb. When they get as tall as you, pick out the growing point and keep watering. Pick beans when they are about the size of dwarf french beans and you will hardly know the difference. The more you pick, the more the plants will give beans. At the end of the season, just before the first frosts, allow the remaining bean pods to mature and dry them out for the following year.

To cook them place in boiling water and cook them until they are soft to the bite. Leave in a little crispness el dente. If you don't think that its worth it, have a look at the price of beans at your supermarket and then notice the country of origin. You will find that you are saving money and contributing to reducing the travel distances of food.

Check out babyboomersuk.com gardening section for more.