Comments on: The Makings of a Frugal Garden http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html Naturally inspired living for the Christian homemaker Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:25:28 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Samara http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html/comment-page-1#comment-25051 Samara Wed, 21 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html#comment-25051 I have been "ghetto gardening" on our back patio using containers found curbside on recycling day. I have a miniscule budget that I spend only on organic potting soil (we can't garden in the yard as we're renting, and it is very shady besides). I have plants growing in kitty litter buckets, dresser drawers, baskets lined with the potting soil bags, water jugs, you name it. I'm doing all of my seed starting in trays that are actually kitty litter pans. It's not pretty unless seen from above, where the green dominates, but it's doing the job. I do have one tip; discarded bike wheels make for wonderful trellises when hung from a pole or a fence! I have been "ghetto gardening" on our back patio using containers found curbside on recycling day. I have a miniscule budget that I spend only on organic potting soil (we can't garden in the yard as we're renting, and it is very shady besides). I have plants growing in kitty litter buckets, dresser drawers, baskets lined with the potting soil bags, water jugs, you name it. I'm doing all of my seed starting in trays that are actually kitty litter pans. It's not pretty unless seen from above, where the green dominates, but it's doing the job.

I do have one tip; discarded bike wheels make for wonderful trellises when hung from a pole or a fence!

]]> By: Nola http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html/comment-page-1#comment-25052 Nola Wed, 21 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html#comment-25052 In my area we have A LOT of earwigs. They even get inside and last year I found some in my bed. GROSS!!!! My friend told me to spray with dish soap. I was skeptical. It worked! I use an all-natural dish soap so I sprayed it around my garden and even onto some of the leaves etc. The earwigs had already eaten my carrot tops but I left them and they grew new ones! To be effective it needs to be done fairly often like at least 3 times a week. As the plants grew bigger I didn't worry about it so much. I also sprayed around my windows and doorways into my house and I had hardly any earwigs after that inside. I am not sure if it would work with other pests. I tried earwig traps that have some holes and have cooking oil inside and some other natural things that you get from your own kitchen, but they didn't work well and was money wasted. In my area we have A LOT of earwigs. They even get inside and last year I found some in my bed. GROSS!!!! My friend told me to spray with dish soap. I was skeptical. It worked! I use an all-natural dish soap so I sprayed it around my garden and even onto some of the leaves etc. The earwigs had already eaten my carrot tops but I left them and they grew new ones! To be effective it needs to be done fairly often like at least 3 times a week. As the plants grew bigger I didn't worry about it so much. I also sprayed around my windows and doorways into my house and I had hardly any earwigs after that inside. I am not sure if it would work with other pests. I tried earwig traps that have some holes and have cooking oil inside and some other natural things that you get from your own kitchen, but they didn't work well and was money wasted.

]]> By: Niki http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html/comment-page-1#comment-25050 Niki Mon, 19 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html#comment-25050 I actually would love to find Sheep manure but the farmers keep the stuff for their fields. The good thing about horse manure is it's full of redworms and if you are worm composting this is where to find them as opposed to having to buy them for a lot of money.... I actually would love to find Sheep manure but the farmers keep the stuff for their fields. The good thing about horse manure is it's full of redworms and if you are worm composting this is where to find them as opposed to having to buy them for a lot of money....

]]> By: JennyV http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html/comment-page-1#comment-25048 JennyV Sat, 17 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html#comment-25048 Just another warning re: horse manure... ALWAYS use the oldest you can find. Fresh horse manure will burn your plants. Look for cow manure or even better... CHICKEN!!! Just another warning re: horse manure... ALWAYS use the oldest you can find. Fresh horse manure will burn your plants. Look for cow manure or even better... CHICKEN!!!

]]> By: Shirley Mom of 6 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html/comment-page-1#comment-25049 Shirley Mom of 6 Sat, 17 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html#comment-25049 I love your back yard garden! What a great use of your space!! My frugal tip: I have been following a couple blogs from folks in England that grow some mega efficient gardens. They use old paper towel or toilet paper rolls as their "peat" starts. My hubby and I have decided that next year we will try it! Just cut down the rolls until they are about 1 1/2 - 2 inches high, fill with your healthy composted soil and start your seeds. If the roots grow through the paper roll it can be planted directly into the garden, if not they easily rip off for planting in the garden. I love your back yard garden! What a great use of your space!!

My frugal tip: I have been following a couple blogs from folks in England that grow some mega efficient gardens. They use old paper towel or toilet paper rolls as their "peat" starts. My hubby and I have decided that next year we will try it! Just cut down the rolls until they are about 1 1/2 - 2 inches high, fill with your healthy composted soil and start your seeds. If the roots grow through the paper roll it can be planted directly into the garden, if not they easily rip off for planting in the garden.

]]> By: Alison @ Pennythoughts http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html/comment-page-1#comment-25041 Alison @ Pennythoughts Fri, 16 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html#comment-25041 What do you do about pest control? What frugal ways do you keep bugs away without resorting to chemicals and commercial pesticides? I'm really interested in the answer because our herbs are already showing signs of munchy critters. :-( What do you do about pest control? What frugal ways do you keep bugs away without resorting to chemicals and commercial pesticides? I'm really interested in the answer because our herbs are already showing signs of munchy critters. :-(

]]> By: Tracy http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html/comment-page-1#comment-25042 Tracy Fri, 16 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html#comment-25042 Your garden looks great! We've been growing potatoes in a can very successfully- we just reached the top of each trash can and are looking for the shoots to appear at the top. It makes a great use of space. Tracy Your garden looks great! We've been growing potatoes in a can very successfully- we just reached the top of each trash can and are looking for the shoots to appear at the top. It makes a great use of space.

Tracy

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html/comment-page-1#comment-25043 Stephanie Fri, 16 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html#comment-25043 Wow you did great! So funny I posted a list today on 10 ways to save when gardening, most of which you implemented! I will go back and link you in my post! http://ahighandnoblecalling.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-does-your-garden-grow-10-ways-to.html Wow you did great! So funny I posted a list today on 10 ways to save when gardening, most of which you implemented! I will go back and link you in my post!

http://ahighandnoblecalling.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-does-your-garden-grow-10-ways-to.html

]]> By: Niki http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html/comment-page-1#comment-25044 Niki Fri, 16 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html#comment-25044 Hi STephanie, I too live in Canada and eagerly awaiting the start of gardening season. We live on a 50 acre horse farm and have plenty of access to manure. ...too much at times. Be careful with the stuff though as it can be very weedy. I actually use very little of it and the stuff I do use is the stuff that is very old and already broken down. If you do compost it hot enough it should be fine. I also heard of growing tomatoes or peppers in big tires. The black heats up and both of those plants like heat. I also heard of a great tip this past weekend is to collect from the beach seaweed, let it sit all summer and pile this on the garden over winter. It is by far the best fertilizer ever. The pre-packaged stuff is very expensive to buy so this is a great alternative...plus the kids love going to the beach and picking it up. Hi STephanie, I too live in Canada and eagerly awaiting the start of gardening season. We live on a 50 acre horse farm and have plenty of access to manure. ...too much at times. Be careful with the stuff though as it can be very weedy. I actually use very little of it and the stuff I do use is the stuff that is very old and already broken down. If you do compost it hot enough it should be fine. I also heard of growing tomatoes or peppers in big tires. The black heats up and both of those plants like heat. I also heard of a great tip this past weekend is to collect from the beach seaweed, let it sit all summer and pile this on the garden over winter. It is by far the best fertilizer ever. The pre-packaged stuff is very expensive to buy so this is a great alternative...plus the kids love going to the beach and picking it up.

]]> By: BarbaraLee Malikowski http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html/comment-page-1#comment-25045 BarbaraLee Malikowski Fri, 16 May 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/05/the-makings-of-a-frugal-garden.html#comment-25045 I started my tomato & pepper plants about 6 wks ago. They are waiting to be planted soon. But I think the nights are still to chilly for them. I hope your garden works for you. I was blessed w/40 acres and have plenty of space. When $$ is tight gardens are always a nice thing to help provide for the family. Some say there is a food storage. I say we need to back to doing it our selves once in awhile. I started my tomato & pepper plants about 6 wks ago. They are waiting to be planted soon. But I think the nights are still to chilly for them.
I hope your garden works for you. I was blessed w/40 acres and have plenty of space.
When $$ is tight gardens are always a nice thing to help provide for the family. Some say there is a food storage. I say we need to back to doing it our selves once in awhile.

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