Gardening on a Budget

A lot of people are starting home gardens as a way to stretch the food budget. Unfortunately, not everyone has a lot of money to invest in his or her gardening efforts. If the idea of having your own vegetable garden is appealing, but the cost of getting started seems intimidating, here are some shortcuts that will cut down on the expense.

Step 1

Get cheap gardening supplies. Shop in thrift shops and at yard sales to pick up basics like shovels, trowels, hoes. You can often pick up all the tools needed to work a small garden from these types of outlets for less than 30% of buying new supplies.

Step 2

Go with seeds rather than buying plants. While it takes a little longer to see results in the garden, you'll spend a fraction of the cost and still have healthy plants in the end.

Step 3

Shop around for the best prices on seeds. You can get some great deals online, as well as end of the season closeouts at farmer's exchanges. If you find a good deal online, don't forget to factor in the cost of shipping and handling.

Step 4

Get the soil tested. This will help you identify what type of crops to plant, and what type of fertilizer you need. With a little luck, you can find bargains on the fertilizer at local outlets. Don't rule out the possibility of heading to the country for some organic fertilizer.

Step 5

Always plant roughly twenty percent more than you think you need. This will help to offset any individual plants that don't yield produce. If you end up with more than you can use, give the excess to friends or learn how to freeze those extra veggies for use later in the year.

Gardening not only yields produce that allows you to make nutritious and cost-effective meals; the process itself can be a great stress reliever. Less stress means a happier outlook that will make life easier for you and everyone else living in the house.