Harmonious Living - Saving Money Tips

Saving Money Tips - Grow Your Own

Heather A Wood

Wednesday, 09 September 2009

We all enjoy the taste of good quality fresh fruit / veggies and herbs and we all know that often by the time our produce reaches the stores it is often days / weeks / months old. We also know that the cost of buying these items just seems to keep going up and up and up. So how about considering growing some for yourself?

Here are some clues to help you get started:

1. Work out what you want to grow:

Write a list of your favourite fruits / vegetables / herbs.
From this list, what would you like to grow?

2. Research how to grow your chosen produce:

How easy is it to grow your favourite fruits / vegetable / herbs?
Find out what grows in your local area / region.
What condition/s does your plant / tree grow best under? sun / shade / well drained soil etc.
What seasons / climatic changes will affect what you are trying to grow? frosts / winds / summer / winter.
Consider bush foods / native produce more accustomed to growing in your local area / region.
Consider growing plants that compliment each other. Some gardeners adopt a method of companion planting where. certain plants are grown in and among other plants to ward off pests or to help stimulate growth.
Talk to your local nursery / plant growers association.
Surf the internet / read some books.

3. Where will you grow your fruit / veggies / herbs?

What space do you have available to grow produce?
Where could you grow your produce?

in the garden
small yard
acreage
flower bed
on a patio / deck
in a tub
indoors
outdoors

Does the area you choose meet the climatic conditions / requirements your plants will need? eg adequate sun / sufficient drainage.

4. Write a list of the items you will need to get started?

Garden materials
Pots
Old tyres
Wood
Concrete edging
Old wash tub
Old wheelbarrow
Organic soil / potting mix
Seeds / seedlings
Stakes / trellis / wire frames
Fertiliser / manure / compost
Herbicide / something to deter pests
Water / Water crystals
Watering Can
Love

5. Think about who can help you

Get the whole family involved - the children will love caring for something that they can grow to eat.
See if your neighbours can get involved. How about you grow certain items and they grow certain items and you can then swap produce with them.

6. Think about what you will do with your produce?

Eat fresh

Store / freeze for later
Sell / give away / swap
Make some thing from it to sell - pickled vegetables, jams, chutneys, preserves, herbed oils.

7. Research how you can preserve the produce you grow as you might find if you are very successful you have a good abundance of fruits / vegies / herbs.

Pickling
Freezing
Blanching
Stewing
Wrapping / Storing

How much is it costing you to buy your fruit and vegetables each week? Maybe the next couple of times you visit your grocery store or greengrocer it might pay to take a note of how much the items are costing you per kilo / pound. Take particular note of the items you have thought you might like to grow.

If you didn't have to buy these items each and every week how much would you save on your groceries each week? Also if you could grow produce to sell, how much money could you make?

Detective Heather Wood is Managing Director and writer for Money Detective Pty Ltd. Money Detective can help you with all of your money troubles. From our website full of factual information and articles, to our one on one personal money coaching, Money Detective can help you with all aspects of money management. Sign up for our Newsletter today and get yourself 6 free Money Clues www.moneydetective.com.au.To discover more ways you can make extra money, view our Ways To Make More Money section of our website where you will enjoy over 395 ideas on making more money. www.moneydetective.com.au/increase-your-income.

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