By ERIN TURNER
I think it’s safe to say “Spring is Here”! With the spring equinox occurring this next week, moderate temperatures and spring flowers peeking up through the soil, you can’t help but start thinking about warmer days and planting gardens.
Planting a garden is one of the best frugal methods of saving money during the growing season. For just a few dollars, you can raise entire bed of produce which would cost you hundreds of dollars in the grocery store. Now don’t get me wrong, you can spend an outrageous amount of money gardening but there are ways to get around those costs and enjoy the savings.
Not only does growing plants save money, but it is a valuable skill to teach kids. We host farm tours at our farm and empowering kids (and adults) to grow their own food is our primary focus. Whether you grow a single tomato plant in a container on your patio or a full sized garden to feed your family, anyone can and should do it!
Everyone can agree that homegrown vegetables taste so much better than anything you buy in the store and the health value of fresh, homegrown produce outweighs the commercial stuff ten times! The other advantage of growing your own food is the mental therapy one gets from working in the dirt. Studies show that people who work in the dirt are happier. So, how can you go wrong by growing a plant or two? Consider it free therapy!
I’ve rounded up some great articles from around the internet to help you get started growing, saving and being happy this spring!
Starting plants from seed can save money but if you have to buy containers for the seedlings, you can spend a lot. These articles share ideas of household items you can re-use to start those seedlings!
10 Ways to reuse Items for seed starting
Frugal Ways of starting Seeds indoors
This article gives some creative ways of saving money on seeds. Of course, the best way is to save seed from the previous year so be sure to mark that down on your calendar for late summer/early fall to collect seed from your favorite plants to save for next spring!
This website is fabulous and has some wonderful and creative ideas! I love the recipe for potting soil! I highly suggest bookmarking this site and coming back to it time and again for inspiration and tips! It’s a well-rounded gardening site!
Lasagna gardening is becoming one of the most popular forms of growing food. It’s a tried and true method of composting to keep weeds out and moisture in the soil. Using cardboard, newspaper and other household items you can create a nutrient rich garden using this method. Here’s some tips to get you started:
If you are new to gardening and need a little advice on what crops to grow for your first year, here’s an article with some ideas to help you out!
Here is a link to a Podcast from MomPrepares.com about collecting rainwater in barrels for free garden water! Conservation AND Frugal living?! Wow!
http://homesteadbloggersnetwork.com/making-rain-barrels-a-podcast/
I saw this post about DIY grow bags a few weeks ago and have been thinking about them since! We have lots of feed bags left from feeding our animals and while we try to find creative ways to use them, I really like this idea that Megan from Linn Acres Farms came up with and I plan on having a few of these around this season.
http://homesteadbloggersnetwork.com/diy-grow-grow-bags/
Okay, I think I’ve given you enough to get started. I could keep on going because there are so many great ideas out there but I don’t want to overwhelm you. Enjoy these sites and gathering some of your own tips as you research how to grow a frugal garden. Get ready, set….GROW!!
*******************
Erin Eisenman-Turner is proud to be a native Missoulian. Along with her husband and three sons, they raise chickens, pigs, rabbits, and vegetables at Turner Family Farms in the Orchard Homes area. When the farm chores are done, the coupons clipped, and the blog written, you can find Erin exploring Montana, collecting antiques, and trying to maintain a well-run, happy, and organized home for her family. Read more of Erin’s blogs about homesteading, farming, homemaking and other fun things at TurnerFarmLiving.com
Like this blog? Don’t miss another one. Sign up for our E-Newsletter. It provides you with a list of all the week’s stories/blogs and is delivered to your inbox every Tuesday morning.