yard and garden

Growing your own vegetables is a great way to become more self-sufficient and save money at the grocery store.  But many folks are dissuaded because they believe the start-up cost of growing their first garden will be prohibitive.  However, with a bit of planning you can create your first vegetable garden on a budget.

Make Your Plans Now
Even though the ground is still frozen, growing a successful garden on a dime will take some planning.  Start now by deciding on a location and size.  If space is an issue, consider using the techniques taught in the book Square Foot Gardening – available at most libraries.

What Will You Grow?
In the past, it has helped me to think about what I’d like to be able to make with my produce when it’s all grown up and purty, then work backwards to formulate a garden plan.  Example:
-10 jars of freezer salsa
-10 jars of marinara sauce
-(4) 1 gallon bags of diced tomatoes
-(4) 1 gallon bags of stewed tomatoes for chili
-6 jars pickled peppers (in case Peter Piper stops by)

Gather the recipes you need in order to calculate the number of plants required to accomplish your goal.  Then add a few extra plants in case the unthinkable happens and some of the poor buggers croak.

Now it’s time to fall over backwards in shock when you realize how big your garden would have to be to accomplish your goal.

All done?

Okay, now dust yourself off and redo your plan.  When all is said and done, you’ll have a master list of how many plants you’ll need, along with an inspiring list of what you’ll be able to yield for your all efforts.

Think Ahead & Get A Free Garden Bed
If you need to create a garden bed, you can do this for free by using what you have on hand.  I’ve seen folks make a raised bed using rocks, discarded fencing, tires, old bricks & kiddie pools.  You can also look for free items on Craigslist or in your local paper.  I was able to find free wood from a deck that was disassembled. {score!} There was also an ad in my area for free wood pallets.  If you find a good freebie like this, I recommend jumping on it.  When the warm weather hits you may be competing with a few dozen other folks who get the same idea.

It’s important to note however, that treated wood made prior to 2003 contains CCA (chromium, copper & arsenic) which has since been banned for residential use.  Stop over HERE to read more.  The safest bet if you are using reclaimed wood is to be sure it is untreated, or opt for a different material altogether.

Sign Up For Freebies
Take advantage of the freebies available to help get your garden started.  Get a $25 credit to Gardens Alive HERE and a free gardening gift pack from Annies Organic HERE.  You can even stop over and use the free Garden Plannerat Gardening Supply Company.

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