The Gazette also mentions mixing your own soilless mix in this section. The store might be very happy to get rid of something they’d otherwise have to pay to get rid of.Īnother thing they might let go of cheaply or free is cardboard, which is useful as mulch to suppress weeds. While they might not be free for the taking, they might be very cheap. While she suggests health food stores and Dunkin’ Donuts, I’d point out that most restaurants use these. One example is getting the 5 gallon bucket for free and drilling holes in the bottom for drainage. There’s good advice for container gardening on pages 209-210. Gardening has also helped me manage the stress of the past few years.

I pulled a few hundred dollars in vegetables out of it last year. And best of all: this is free! OK, the garden plot cost me a whopping $15. The kids can learn teamwork and responsibility. If you’re in a community garden plot you might meet a few like-minded neighbors. Garden soil has been found to contain antidepressant microbes as well.

We also get fresh air, sunshine, and exercise. I totally agree! Let’s unpack that a bit. Because I like gardening, we employ active frugality to get our vegetables.” “I would much rather be working in the garden, with dirt squishing up between my toes, than buying cases of vegetables at the warehouse store. Active frugality via gardening is discussed on page 344: Buying used or borrowing from a friend can also work. If all you need is a rototiller for one day, renting is far cheaper than buying. That last one got me thinking: what does the Tightwad Gazette have to say about gardens and gardening? I mentioned their advice about renting tools in another article. Check out the number of things that can be repurposed for the garden here.Our friends at the family-owned Seeds for Generations offer an epic FREE garden planning calculator here.

If you’re going hardcore, check out our course, The Home Agriculture Comprehensive.Catch up on my experiences in my first year at my community gardens plot here.You can read about apartment and condo gardening here.I’ve written about putting pencil to paper and making a garden plan here.If you’re looking for resources to help you get started, read on! Right now, it’s time for planning! Fortune favors the prepared mind. ~ Daisy)ĭespite the snow on the ground in my area, I’m thinking gardening! Being March, it’ll melt soon into Mud Season, then it’ll become time for planting. This does not increase the price you’ll pay for that item nor does it decrease the awesomeness of the item. That means if you make a purchase from a link you click on, I might receive a small commission. (Psst: The FTC wants me to remind you that this website contains affiliate links.

The tightwad gazette