Frugal Gardening Tips
Many Americans are turning to gardening as a way to raise some of their own food over the summer and ease the strain of high grocery prices, which are affecting more and more families on tight budgets. Candace at Garden of Blessings suggests Gardening for Snowflakes, which those clued in to the Snowflake idea recognize as a way to save large and small bits of money to apply to one’s debt snowball or savings fund.
I’ve started more seedlings and container garden plants this spring than any year previously since I left my family’s farm and went to college at age 17. My motivation is part culinary and part financial. If I can grow my own tomatoes, we can enjoy their delicious fruits all summer. But if I don’t, I don’t know if I’ll be able to afford to buy them from someone else.
There are many ways to save money as you garden. I spent less than $25 on my garden last year and had hundreds of plants with an incredible harvest. Maybe I cheated, since a dear friend shared many seeds and plants with me, but you can cheat, too. Here are some frugal gardening tips I’ve discovered along the way.
Free soil. My sister brought me two truckloads of composted horse manure mixed with soil, from the barn where she works. There was no charge, as the owners were happy to send the soil along and make room for new manure.
Compost. We’ve been composting kitchen and garden scraps for years, turning egg shells, vegetable waste and leaves into rich soil. We keep a 2-gallon food storage container by the sink to collect scraps, but you could buy a fancier compost pail if you’re so inclined.
Recycled containers. My container garden includes wooden pear crates form the grocery store, waxed boxes from another store’s garbage, and free pots I inherited from friends and past landscaping projects. I made a strawberry bed using old bricks I found in our yard when we bought the place. I found several old metal pots in someone’s trash pile, and after my husband drills holes in the bottoms they’ll be put to use as planters.
Natural fertilizer. I bought seaweed fertilizer instead of chemical mixes, mainly to remain organic and with the added benefit of saving money.
Rainwater. I recently collected rainwater from our downspouts in several coolers. I stored the water in them for a few days before the garden needed to be watered, and filled my watering can enough times to water the entire garden.
Manure. Chicken manure and horse manure can usually be gotten for nothing or next to nothing from farmers and barns with more than they can handle or effectively compost.
Seeds. A kind friend gave me a large variety of extra seeds, and I bought seed potatoes online. They’re heirlooms, but I got them for less than they were at the large heirloom seeds company, Seed Savers. Save your own non-hybrid seeds form year to year from the harvest and you’ll spend even less.
Are you a frugal gardener? How do you save money as you grow your own fruits, vegetables and flowers?
We are frugal gardeners out of necessity. We mulch our garden with old hay that ranchers will give you for free. A friend gave us some red wiggler worms that we compost with outside which results in great, fertile, and free soil. Also there are so many old pear trees in the area that bear too much fruit for the owners. We are more than happy to take them off their hands. We eat them fresh, make pear pie, pear cobbler, pear preserves, and pear butter.
April 15th, 2009 at 5:58 pmJust found your site! Great information. We live in the city now, but we are moving in just a few weeks back to Kentucky, where we hope to start our first garden soon after….thanks for the great tips!
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:52 pmHi
I am really interested in this area of your blog as I am just starting out with my gardening. We only have a small back garden but I have set aside a small area to begin with and I also have a small allotment that I have just took over.
I hope to be as successful as it sounds like you are.
What would be the easiest things to start out with?
July 9th, 2009 at 4:08 pmNice post. I grown fruits and vegetables from love. Money is not important. I decided on this step when I went to the pension and I can admit that I feel great. This job keeps me nerves.
July 10th, 2009 at 8:00 amI like to maintain my garden myself. I can’t leave it on the gardeners.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:48 amI tried being super frugal this year in my very first attempt at gardening. I didn’t use any fertilizer or anything to help the plants along. Just seeds, dirt, water and sunlight. I’m sure you can guess that it didn’t turn out so well. But at least I learned lots of valuable lessons! We’re new to homesteading and have lots of goals in mind, but sure are learning a lot as we go!
November 13th, 2009 at 12:25 amKeeping your own chickens in your backyard can be a great source of fertilzer, don’t use the manure strait away though, put it on your compost heap for a while first. You can recycle your food scraps by feeding them to the chickens, and don’t forget them great fresh eggs!
January 27th, 2010 at 3:17 pmhttp://roostershamblin.wordpress.com/ please take a few minutes of your time and read my chicken blog. I have been raising 50 breeds of chickens for 40 years.
January 29th, 2010 at 2:56 pmCan anyone just put chickens in their back yard??? I live in a nice neighborhood but no one can see my large backyard. Can I get away with a chicken pen in Miami?? I may need to consider this as a survival method of food some day.
March 20th, 2010 at 9:19 pmMiami, FL Up to 15 Unlimited May have up to 15 hens, no roosters. Must be contained at least 100 feet from neighboring structures. CHICKENS IN THE CITY:
April 28th, 2010 at 8:57 pmChicken — and Dog — Regulations for Selected Cities
There is a way!
April 28th, 2010 at 8:58 pm