PLATTSBURGH -- Chris and Cathy Swiesz never saw themselves as gardeners.

But their house on Wallace Hill is home to five senior citizens, plus the couple has three children of their own. So they realize the importance of the homegrown, tasty food.

"Trying to feed 10 people gets very expensive," Cathy said, standing in the sunlight beside their very first garden. "We keep all of our bills, and we were paying between $1,000 and $1,500 a month on groceries. So we figured this way, we could save, because vegetables and fruits are really expensive.

"And we figured that we would have some really good food and then learn how to can (it)."

MORE GARDENS

Growing in their garden are lettuce, beets, carrots, corn, squash, watermelon and cantaloupe.

"You never know," Cathy added. "There are always scares, like the tomato scare. We know what's in here." She gestured at the garden. "Cow manure and water."

Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticultural Educator Anne Lenox Barlow said the telephones in the Plattsburgh office have been much busier this year with calls from first-time gardeners.

Questions range from how to get started to how to rid plants of insects.

"That is what we are here for, to provide people with research-based advice," she said. "I try to stay as up to date as possible on the research that is going on and what they are finding that is working."

Increasing food and gas prices, along with unknown chemicals used on mass-produced products explain why more people are growing their own food now, Lenox Barlow said.

She encourages new gardeners to plant what they like to eat and to start in small quantities.

Chemicals are not always necessary for insect control, she noted. She suggests using a lightweight fabric row cover or handpicking the insects.

FEWER FLOWERS

At Pray's Farmers Market in Plattsburgh, Blair Pray said they've seen an increase in the sale of vegetable plants -- and a decrease in flower plant sales.