Groceries cost more, so more Calgarians are growing their own food — but savings aren't guaranteed
While a $2 packet of seeds can yield five or six pounds of carrots, experts warn first-time gardeners often underestimate costs. Food prices have risen 27% over five years.
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As grocery prices climb across Canada, more Calgarians are turning to home gardening to offset food costs — though experts caution that savings are far from guaranteed.
Canada's Food Price Report 2026 predicts overall food prices will rise another four to six per cent this year after increasing 27 per cent over the past five years. Trade disputes, labour market pressures, policy changes, and climate-related challenges are cited as key drivers. The Government of Alberta's retail price data shows the sharpest increases for baked goods, meat, and seafood, with beef prices nearly doubling in the last year. Produce costs have increased marginally or not at all in some categories, though Statistics Canada data shows tomato prices climbing over 40 per cent since last May.
Kath Smyth, a horticulturist with the Calgary Horticultural Society, said she has seen increased participation in home gardening. "I've seen a lot more participation in the general public and general population," she said. "One of my things was and always will be food gardening — it keeps the dollars within my house."
Smyth points to concrete returns: a single $2 packet of carrot seeds can produce five or six pounds of carrots, and preserving homegrown vegetables through canning, drying, or pickling extends those savings throughout the year. "The big benefit is the money, how much money they have saved," she said.
However, Kate Stenson, University of Calgary Campus Food Hub coordinator, warned that many first-time gardeners underestimate the investment required. "There's no guarantees with gardening, and you can have a lot of resource input — both time and money — without necessarily getting the outputs that you want to see," she said.
Seeds, soil, tools, and irrigation supplies add up quickly, and Calgary's unpredictable weather can make successful harvests difficult. "If you are starting from zero, gardening can become expensive and it may not result in cost-saving relative to going to the grocery store," Stenson said.
Instead, she encourages people to take advantage of lower-cost resources such as seed libraries, shared equipment, and community garden plots, where experienced gardeners can offer guidance. Access to these resources, she added, connects people to the broader food system beyond retail shopping and restaurants.
