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Frugal Summer Tips: #1

 



Plant a Garden


Grocery Prices are going through the roof with no end in sight!    As with any time, food security goes down, and interest in gardening goes up.    However, how do you garden on a budget?    


I went to Lowes and Home Depot to check out their gardening sections and WOW!  The prices are very high.    People who have been gardening for years already have the tools, their ground is conditioned, and they already plant from last year’s seeds.   —> BUT if you haven’t gardened before what are you to do? 


I understand that if you have never gardened before, it can be overwhelming.  My number one tip is to get hooked up with a community gardening group.   They are passionate about gardening and a great resource on how to garden within a budget.    


Since I am new to my area, my garden beds are very small at my home, so I hooked up with a local community gardening group.     Since when I joined, they didn’t have any guest gardener beds left, I added myself to the waiting list for next year.    In addition, I volunteered and worked in the larger community bed which grows vegetables for the local food bank, and got to know the people in the group.   


After a few times, they offered me a few large pots to grow in and I was grateful.    I was planning on making two types of pots.  My first pot was going to be focused on growing the ingredients to make gravy and the second was for salsa.   Our family goes through a great deal of both of these items, so I was excited to do this.    As a bonus, they had some extra plants for each of these pots and they planned on giving them to me.     In addition, if you work in the community bed, you are allowed to pick a few vegetables to take home with you.


However, when one of the original guest gardeners decided that she no longer could care for her bed and put it up for release, they offered the bed to me.   The yearly cost is only $25.00 and the fee includes fresh compost, plants, seeds, pine straw, and water for all seasons.  I feel so lucky to have this opportunity.   


However, this opportunity will not be available to everyone→  I just got lucky.   Here are some of my tips: 


  • Pick up free containers from the recycling bins or use the large discarded cans from restaurants. 

  • Free seeds can be found at Free Seed Libraries, Local Community Garden Groups, Friends, Neighbors, etc. 

  • Compost→ Check out local mushroom farms to see if they will let you have their used soil which is not good for growing mushrooms anymore, but great for vegetables.   

  • Regrow Vegetables from what you buy from the grocery store (e.g. green onions, lettuce, celery, etc)


Robert Greenfield has been turning front yards into gardens for years and has a lot of experience in connecting with the local permaculture groups, finding everything you need to grow food for cheap or free and the knowledge and skills to grow a plethora of food.   


Below is one of his videos that can help you along the way. 


How to turn your yard into a garden


Happy Gardening. 


Leave a comment below and let me know how you are doing with gardening.


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