How To Save Money When Growing Your Own Food
Gardening is one of the most rewarding hobbies in the world. It’s a great way to relax and spend time with family and friends, but it can also be very expensive.
So how do you save money when you’re growing your own food?
Here are some tips:
1) Start small. You don’t need to buy a huge garden to make a difference. A small container garden in your front or back yard can provide you with fresh vegetables year round. You’ll be surprised at how much you can grow in such a small space. You can spread these little “mini gardens” around, depending on how much space you have to work with and h ow much produce you want to grow.
You can also grow indoors year round as well, with a simple indoor greenhouse setup that will cost you about $200 or so. All you need for this is a shelving unit and some grow lights. My setup is pictured below.
2) Grow things that are easy to harvest. Things like lettuce and carrots are pretty easy to grow. They don’t require much attention and they taste great. Other things, like onions, are harder to grow and take longer to harvest. If you’re looking for something to put in a soup, an onion will be more valuable than a bunch of carrots.
3) Grow things that will keep. Once you’ve grown enough of a crop to last you through the winter, you’ll be able to store it in the basement or garage. This is a good idea if you live in a cold climate. You’ll have a ready supply of fresh produce all winter long.
4) Make use of your neighbours. Don’t be afraid to ask your neighbours if you can share their garden space. It doesn’t matter what kind of plants you’re growing, as long as you both get something out of the deal. You may be surprised at how much you have in common.
5) Buy local. This is especially important if you live in an area where the weather is unpredictable. Buying locally grown foods means that you know exactly where your food came from. It also means that you won’t be contributing to the pollution problem that comes along with mass production.
Follow these 5 simple tips to maximize the cost efficiency of your gardening endeavours.
Happy growing!
