Gardens are numerous in the north country. The abundance of open space and natural resources have long provided the incentive for Northern New Yorkers to grow some of their own produce.

More people nationwide are catching on to the idea, reports the Wall Street Journal. High food prices are causing homeowners to reserve a section of their lawn for vegetables or to retire a flower bed for the same purpose.

The U.S. government reported that food prices rose 0.9 percent from March to April, the swiftest rise in 18 years, the Journal notes.

Nurseries across the country are reporting more sales of vegetable plants while flower sales are not robust. Al's Garden Center in Portland, Ore., cited a 43 percent jump in sales of vegetable plants and 17 percent in fruit-producing trees and shrubs. Williams Nursery of Westfield, N.J., is selling 16 percent more herb and vegetable plants. Great Outdoors in Austin, Texas, is selling 20 percent more vegetable plants than last year.

In 2007, even before food prices rose, a survey by the National Gardening Association showed that flower sales per household had not increased but spending on vegetable plants jumped 21 percent — to $58 per household. Spending on herbs also rose 45 percent to $32.

Bruce Butterfield, the association's research director, said 2008 will be another banner year for vegetable gardening due to "the combination of gas prices, food prices, and people staying at home because the world's gone crazy."

George Ball, chief executive of the seed company W. Atlee Burpee & Co. in Warminster, Pa., said that more baby boomers are "entering their prime gardening years." The company's sales of vegetables and herbs have grown 40 percent this year, doubling last year's rate.

Vegetable gardening has always been rewarding. It is good exercise. It gets sedentary people out of doors. The experience draws one closer to nature. Gardening can be a family activity. There is always much to learn. The powers of observation improve.

And as Sarah Rosenbaum of West Columbia, S.C., told the Journal: "You get a pack of seeds for a dollar or two, and you have got a whole bed of organic vegetables for a fraction of what you'd pay at the store. And they taste better."

The sense of accomplishment is undeniable.