How Does Your Garden Grow is a series about beginning vegetable gardening. If you are new to this series and want to read more, you can start here!
Gardening can become expensive if you just step into Home Depot and buy all that you will need in one swoop! One of the reasons to have a garden is to save money, not spend it! Here are a few ways I have found to snag inexpensive, free items for your garden that will be cost effective as well:
1. Have a plan, and know what you need. If you are anything like me, entering a garden store with all those adorable little plants can entice me to buy more than I need or something I don’t need at all!Keep this list with you so you can always be ready when a good deal strikes and so that you can be sure you only get what you need1 Just like menu planning helps save time and money when grocery shopping, planning your garden needs will help you save time and money as well!
2. Yard sales: Snatch up those canning jars, garden tools, tomato cages and any other garden item for cheap.
3. Free Cycle: post what you need and chances are someone will be willing to give to you
4. Put the word out: Family and friends are great resources. Let them know what you need and they may be able to help you find it, especially if they are yard salers, or know of a great resource for you.
5. Craigslist: Often times you can find items free or very inexpensive here.
6. Swap and Split: Swap plants and seeds with friends and split packs when you can!
7. Don’t forget your regional High School vocational center. If they have a horticulture program you can get lots of plants cheap!
8. Watch your local paper for plant sales. Many churches or ladies clubs will hold plant sales where you can get great deals on plants.
9. Start from seed, and save your leftover seeds for next year. Store them in a cool dry place and they will be fine!
10. Thrift Shops: I have seen many canning jars, pressure cookers and even peat packets at thrift shops.
Get creative and think outside of the stores for you garden needs, and you will find many ways to save! Happy gardening!
This post is linked toTop Ten Tuesdays and Frugal Fridays
{ 11 comments }
Great list. I love to garden but my hands don’t always cooperate. Happy Tuesday.
Oh, that’s a great idea to hit up yard sales. You know people always start with good intentions and buy everything–then never use it!
Thanks for linking up with my Top Ten Tuesday!
We are going to try a garden (again) this year. It didn’t go too well last year, so we are hoping for a better turn out! I actually saw coupons in this past weeks paper for canning jars! Thanks for this post.
Thanks for the tips! We are starting small with a container garden. I seriously have NO thumbs, so this should be an adventure!
This series is great! Gardening is one area I am fairly new to. I’ve grown tomatoes and that’s it. Thanks for sharing this information.
Thanks for the tips! Our local Lowes has clearance plant racks every Monday morning. I was able to get some gallon size creeping phlox for $2!
Those are great tips! I’m also planning to make use of Freecycle and Craigslist for items I need. I’ve found 3 boxes of canning jars for free so far at garage sales and hope to find more (even if I have to pay).
And good reminder to plan… sometimes I forget and lean towards winging it, but yes, planning is invaluable. Thanks for the post and the link!
I’ve never heard of the high school vocational program, I live in a semi- rural area I bet ours has one. I want to call mine and check it out, thanks!
I haven’t started a garden yet for oh so many reasons, but this is nudging me ever closer. Thanks for the post.
I love craigslist as well, and we start seeds too. I find that starting seeds not only saves money but greatly increases the variety of plants available. We have a few friends who start seeds as well, and we all swap and share plants. I am so excited that garage sale season is just getting started here!
Craigslist has sure helped us to save money–that is where we got my flats, benches, and greenhouse. I love it!
I’ve been in deep search for canning jars at yard sales, or on freecycle and Craigslist–to no avail. Hopefully I find a score before too long.
Great Post!
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