There's been a remarkable resurgence in growing vegies and it seems that everyone, including Michelle Obama, is busy digging up the lawn, filling pots with mix, sowing seeds and making compost.

There are many reasons for this revival of interest. Partly it's just the "swings and roundabouts" of fashion – growing vegies has been out of favour, but their time has come again as we've realised what we've been missing.

Then there's the GFC – even if you aren't exactly poorer than before, it fits the prevailing theme to try and save money wherever possible. Growing your own vegies, especially from seed, is a lot cheaper than buying from the shops. It's important, though, to plan properly so you don't end up with too much of any one variety. If you're only going to use one or two lettuce each week, that means sowing just a few at a time. Otherwise you'll end up giving away much of your hard-grown produce to friends and neighbours.

Associated with harder times is the interest in what's termed "cocooning". This has seen many of us returning to valued past practices such as staying at home, eating in rather than going to restaurants, and spending time with family. In a recent Galaxy Research Report, 51% of those Australians surveyed nominated the backyard barbecue as their favourite form of
entertaining. Growing one's own food fits beautifully with the cocooning ethos.

Yates Garden Fresh Cookbook is filled with inspirational idea for using vegies, herbs and fruit grown from the home garden (and handling the excess).

Bonus Recipe: French beans with mustard dressing

(from the Yates Garden Fresh Cookbook)

• 500g French beans (normal green beans) topped and tailed but left whole
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1teaspoon runny honey
• 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cook the beans in lightly salted boiling until tender. Meanwhile, melt the butter small pan over low heat. Add the honey
continue to heat. Stir in the mustard and until the mixture is smooth and hot. Keep warm. When the beans are cooked, drain
add the butter mixture immediately. Taste add a little salt and pepper if desired.