Gardening - Plan Now, Save Money Later

[Shadowgirlau]

So said Michael Levenston of City Farmer, on the eve of the year 2000, otherwise known as Y2K - the year of panic.

More than 3/4 of a decade have passed us by since that time and nothing much has changed as it still takes lots of planning to garden successfully and in the end save money. Although just as relevant today as it was then, things have changed and one would have to be blind to not notice that the price of groceries have gone up drastically over the last few months along with the cost of fuel, travel (to an extent), clothing and a miriade of other things.

We can’t control the price of food, but we can control how much of it we buy. A home garden can make a definite difference in how much you need to buy.

I’m not just talking about salad greens and maybe some tomatoes for sauce, I’m talking about serious gardening and putting away the produce for the winter months. Plant what you’ll eat; but don’t be afraid to experiment. You might be missing some wonderful foods. When you plan your garden, plan to grow as much as you can with an end view to not only feeding your family right then but also putting away as much as you can to feed them later as the months progress.

Not only will you save money by growing your own, you’ll be healthier. Fresh, real food is much better for you than food that’s been trucked in from heaven knows where and stored for heaven knows how long.
You control the quality of the food you prepare, because you know exactly where it is has been, what has been done to it during the growing process.

There are many books and magazines out there devoted to gardening of all discriptions and also several good gardening shows which off some pertainent insights into the joys of gadening and how to go about it. there are also some wonderful and knowledgble people on foroms such as ours and the many others out there in cyberspace who are not just reading about it but actually doing it and who will always offer advice or share a tit bit of knowledge along the way.

Don’t have room for a traditional garden? Try container gardening. Even if you only have a doorstep, you can grow a few things that will cut your grocery bill. Recently I read an article in Gardening Australia (January issue I think it was) which was all about container growing and how to go about it. So don't be put off by small spaces, be a little creative and you will soon produce some wonderful veggies to supplement your food requirements at the supermarket. Regardless how small a saving is, it is a saving.

So how do we go about it? well the first thing we need to do is go outside and have a look around our yard be it large or small, imprinting to memory what it is we actually want to acheive. Having done this go inside and draw up a list of what you would like to grow in that garden followed by a list of items you will need including the types of seed then pop down a start date. Some people don't like to be this organised and tend to plan their garden as they go which is fine if that is the way it works for you. Others like me like organisation, they like to know what is needed, what is to be done and by when.

This brings me to the next given -

Garden tools, they should be bought with the thought that they’ll last forever. It’s frustrating to have to buy new tools every season (and it puts a dent in your profit). Buy good tools to begin with and they will last you many years providing you also look after them by giving them a season service as I like to say. Personally I have found car boot sales (which don't seem to be so common these days) to be wonderful places to pick up good strong well made old tools. Fortunately for me my parents were regulars at these old market type days on the weekends back in the '80s and they picked up several good old gardening tools for me and my sister for very little money. They are still as good today as they were when they were given to me, indeed probably as they were when they were first new.

No car boot sale or trash and treasure near you these days? then have a look in some of the old second hand shops. I have even seen the odd old garden tool in the op shop from time to time.

If you plan on saving money this year, plan on a garden!



Researched by Kathleen
Excerpts taken from Country Life and Gardening Now 2008

[minnie]

Well said Kathleen,

The container gardening brought to mind a friend's unit some years ago in the inner city (Sydney) that had this huge balcony, I always thought she could have had an enormous amount of plant life on that balcony... It was really big, never seen one so large before.

I look so forward to planting again, the cost of fresh veg is ridiculous and the quality isn't there. I loved going 'shopping' in my garden each day and picking a sugar loaf cabbage, some zucchini, beans, etc etc The great thing is with your own garden you can start picking some things small so just take enough for dinner and keep picking fresh for ages, carrots comes to mind...

Vicki

[Hayhay]

Beautifully written Kathleen and oh so true! But the best thing from home gardens is the enjoyment!

I must say I've lost track of grocery prices as, apart from a week away where we shopped at markets and a farmers market, we haven't bought any fruit or vegies since before Christmas!

Good tips on the garden tools too. I know what I'll be asking for my next birthday! (our wheelbarrow is now 8 or 9 years old and that was my birthday present at the time)

Hayley

[rdtj04]

On Saturday I harvested the first of our potatoes. I ended up throwing half of them in with the Roast Chicken that I made last night. Boy the kids loved it. They were so happy to have our own home grown stuff that I even ended up with cuddles from Joshua and a HUGE thank you. They even had a sweet taste to them. Each time we have meals these days I always have to explain what is from our garden and what is bought. The kids love guessing as well... I love my garden and hope that more comes soon. With holidays over now I am able to get on top of it a bit more. I try to spend about 1/2 hr out there each day and that seems to be helping. Need more mulch. Am getting some tomorrow while in town.

[Hayhay]

Oh my lord I am never buying another potato from a shop...I never knew homegrown potatoes could taste so good!

[minnie]

I never knew homegrown potatoes could taste so good!

Yep the humble potato often overlooked, is just so tasty homegrown.

Vicki

[Shadowgirlau]

Just let me wipe the drool off the keyboard Damaris just the thought of home grown produce tends to bring a wispy far away look to my eyes and a moist feeling in the old mouth for as many can attest, there is nothing like the taste of home grown food.

We finally got around to planting out our bag of seed potatoes last month (very late) and they have grown like the clappers on the top anyway. We shall have to wait and see what we end up with though.

Actually I have just written another article about planning your veggie garden for the comming autumn and winter but it is unfortunately on my computer at the moment. Lets just hope we can get it over to here and posted sooner rather than later. or before we know it we will be planning for a spring garden then I'll be in for it.

Thank you for the kind comment regarding my last article, I hope that someone will gain some little tit bits along the way.

Kathleen

[Mojojo]

Nice article indeed Kathleen, I totally agree with everything in there. Being able to grow as much of our food requirements as possible is my long term aim in life!

I am now inspired to spend (if I can even get it, I think maybe not) my 'Rudd bonus' this year on Australian made garden tools.
I had just about everything I needed, but when I sold my house and bought an apartment years ago I gave all my stuff them to a well appreciated new home - the friend who bought my house from me - as I had no where to store everything.

I'm looking forward to the autumn and winter planting ones too, as by Easter we will be out of the city and into a place with some yard, and thinking about cranking up a magic square metre or three.

[Huxter]

Well done Kathleen ,you know my feelings on this subject .If we can lessen our dependence on the supermarket culture ,we will live a healthier and more sustainable life . And a far more morally responsible life too .I think if Kevin Rudd and his cabinet along with Barak Obama and his team ,had to garden for a day to supply themselves their respective parliamentary kitchens with food ,there would be a different perspective on society .

And my love for home grown tomatoes and potatoes knows no bounds as I feel they are two veges that show so much improvement when home grown ,maybe sweet corn as well .I've grown our potatoes for over 30 years and really have just followed in the footsteps of my grandad .He grew spuds for a living ,and not a very good one at that .But his approach was old fashioned and organic and if he was around today he'd be happy with the renewed interest in growing sustainable organic food .Most of our grandparents ,or great grandparents did so as a matter of course . We are not inventing the wheel ,just rediscovering it ,aren't we !

Paul

[Shadowgirlau]

We are not inventing the wheel ,just rediscovering it ,aren't we !

Well said Paul, also something I often say to friends and family as we discuss our growing adventures in the garden.

Kathleen

[BJTJ]

Up to my knees shovelling sheep poo and straw, new vege gardens on the way, seedlings nearly ready to go in (maybe a week), days are getting cooler and just want to be out there growing our food. Just listened to an interview with Linda Cooper of Mt Barker who grew all their own for 18mths as a challenge - I am heading in that direction. BJ

[Shadowgirlau]

We planted out seeds of carrots, parsnip, beetroot, swede, silverbeet, cabbage and spinach. Some have been direct sown (carrots, spinach, beetroot and swede) while the rest have been sown in seed tryas. These have now had their first transplanting and so far so good.

Pulled up the remainder of the lettuce which had bolted and left the bed fallow for a couple of weeks then today we weeded and hoed it over ready to add more soil. Also hope to prepare the brassica bed this week so it will be ready to receive the seedlings in another couple of weeks. Need to sow out some more carrot and beetroot seed next week as well.

Prepared a bed ready to transplant the rhubarb which I have had growing in one hole for the past few months. Had been given 3 varieties of rhubarb but had nowhere for it so just dumped them altogether in a hole and so far so good. Once I move it I shall probably kill it but I think it is too close together so we shall see.

Have been taining the boysenberries and silvan berry up some wires int he hope that next year I will be able to pick the fruit much more easily then I could when I let the boysenberry bush up. Love the berries but the darn bushes are so very prickly.
Another task to be done this week is to make a climbing frame for the rasberry canes.

Now what else can I do?


Kathleen

[BJTJ]

Just had a beautiful lunch - asparagus, cherry tomatoes, baby zuccini, capsicum, chopped chilli, jalepeno all lightly cooked in small amount of olive oil and salt and peper piled onto a slice of bread also toasted in the same pan. Was beautiful except - I learnt that asparagus must be picked before it reaches more that 6-8 inches- those ones were a bit tough but the shorter ones were beautiful. This was the first tasting of the asparagus so a bit of a learning curve where harvesting is concerned. Wont wait as long with the next ones coming up! BJ

[BJTJ]

Hi Kathleen
where do you get rasberry canes from?
BJ

[Shadowgirlau]

Hi BJ,
Well I live over in WA. I bought my canes from the Mitre 10 nursery. They stock fruit trees and such from Flemmings who are an eastern states company. Was very surprised to see raspberries in the nursery and snapped them up.

Kathleen

[BJTJ]

HI Kathleen
I live in WA as well and we are going down to Perth on Tuesday. Which Mitre 10? There is a fruit tree nursery at Forrestfield so will try their on our way down the hill. BJ

[Shadowgirlau]

Hi BJ,

I live down in the Great Southern so the Mitre 10 I was at is in Albany. Not sure if all the Mitre 10's are stocking Flemmings.
I think in Perth you can also get them from Dawsons Nursery in Forrestfield . It isn't fruit tree time yet so they may not be available at the moment although you can probably order them. Dawsons have a website although i can not remember what their address is at the moment. Google it and you may find it. I shall post it if I do so in the mean time. Have a safe trip to Perth today.

Kathleen

[BJTJ]

HI Kathleen
Olea Nursery at Manjimup is also and excellent supplier of fruit trees.
BJ

[Shadowgirlau]

Good to know thankyou BJ , I don't get over to Manjimup very often but still handy to know.

Kathleen