The Food Standards Agency (FSA) sent the food industry into frenzy last week as it announced that organic food is not as nutritious as consumers were led to believe.

As consumers site nutritional benefit as one of their main motivations for buying organic produce, consumer group Which? believe these findings will hit the £2 billion a year industry very hard indeed.

Although the study is under much scrutiny, as organic-evangelists and farmers believe the key point is missed – that the cocktail of chemicals ingested by consumers will affect health - the scientific, nutritional content is what’s dented the reputation of the growth industry.

Maybe the best thing for us to do to save money and to know exactly what goes into our food is to grow our own… vegetables like radishes, spinach, lettuce, cress, potatoes and carrots are great way to get started.   Here are the top 3 frugal tips to get started;

-          Don’t buy compost, call your local council (this should be free for paying allotment holders) or ask a local farm. 

-          Recycle take-away containers and egg boxes by using them as planting trays for windowsills and greenhouses, ideal to start growing things like broccoli, chillies and courgettes

-          Make room in your freezer - As you may not have the chance to enjoy the fruits of your labour and you wouldn’t want any going to waste!

There are loads of sites to help you get started with advice on specific vegetables; http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/growfruitandveg_index.shtml

http://www.ideashelper.com/easy-to-grow-vegetable-ideas-12.htm

There really is no greater satisfaction than growing something, picking it yourself and preparing it lovingly to eat with friends or family.  So, use up your lovely home-grown veg in this roasted vegetable lasagne recipe posted by Sarah.