Many people are tilling up some soil and starting some budget friendly gardens.  I have to say, I am one of them on the quest for a bountiful yield of fresh produce!  Not only is growing your own produce a great budget stretcher, but it’s a wonderful experience to watch your hard work flourish from a tiny seed into something tangible and nourishing for you and your family.  It can be fun even if you don’t brandish a green thumb and will surely be very gratifying in the end.  Here are some valuable tips to keep your gardening costs to a minimum and help guide you on your way.   

Start your plants from seeds:  Plants can be a bit costly to start out with, especially sizable ones, so seeds are the most cost effective way to go.  You can even take it a step further and share any extras you may have in a seed exchange with friends.     

Host a plant swap:  Get a gardening group together and swap plants that you won’t be using.  This is a great way to try a new crop and rid yourself of extra plants that won’t be fitting into your garden this year.  You get plenty of new plants you haven’t purchased and your plants don’t go to waste.

Make a container garden:  Find and utilize containers you might already have around your house and make a container garden.  This is a great option for a beginner or for anyone who may not have a much space.  Use buckets, bowls, flower pots, or even old tire.

Make your own compost:  Plants love compost and it won’t cost you any extra for fertilizer.  It couldn’t be easier then piling up your own organic waste in a pile and creating it yourself. 

Create a cost effective water system:  For smaller gardens, collect and redirect water in a water barrel or similar type of container.  Re-directing your faucet or washer isn’t just a money saver, it’s a water saver.  You will notice the cost savings when you see that monthly water bill!

Install drip water irrigation:  Yes, this is a money saver. There are a lot of little pieces and it looks very complicated and expensive, but I promise you it is neither. All those pieces just snap together as you walk down your garden and lay it out. 

Yard sale for supplies:  Yard sales are a great way to find all kinds of supplies for your garden.  Be on the lookout for gloves, hoses, buckets, planters, and tools at super bargain prices.

If after reading this, you have decided that gardening just isn’t in the cards for you, have no worries.  I have another great way to save on your fresh produce.  Visit your local Farmer’s Market!  They have lots of fresh vegetables right from the farm directly to you.  There’s nothing like the taste of a tomato freshly picked from the vine or a newly picked strawberry right off the plant.  Your market is filled with lovely produce and in a vast amount of varieties that will suite every member of your household.  You can even experiment with never before eaten fruits and vegetables, you just might find a new summertime favorite.  But wait, it gets even better!  The prices at the market are unbeatable.  Since they are cutting out the middle man or men in some cases, they can pass that savings on to you.  If you can’t tell, I love the market and we often visit as a fun family activity.  Maybe you will venture on down to the Farmer’s Market and do the same.