Germination is the process by which a plant sprouts from its seed. Because it mostly happens underground, it’s such a mysterious and almost magical occurrence. One day, you’re popping seeds into a moist soil mix, and the next, you’ve got bright green seedlings popping up. It’s a simple yet incredible feat of Mother Nature…
Seed Starting on a Budget Series: Choosing What to Grow
Browsing a seed catalog or shopping at a local plant nursery can be overwhelming. Especially for a new gardener! I still have a tough time making selections. With so many choices, it’s hard not to go overboard. When I’m purchasing seeds, I try to consider my space and needs so I can maximize returns. I…
Using Shredded Paper As Garden Mulch
Should you use shredded paper as garden mulch? Normally, I spend my time telling you that the advice you’ve heard countless times is bogus. But using shredded paper in your garden is actually a great idea. What is mulch? Mulch is a substance added to the garden that helps soil retain moisture and stay cool….
Winter Food Budgeting for the Frugal Gardener
In the past, I always noticed a jump in our food budget over the winter months. You’d think that the summer, with its frequent BBQs and outdoor game nights, would put a more significant dent in the budget, but I’ve noticed the opposite. In the summer, we get a lot of food right from the…
The Number One Tenet of Frugal Gardening: Plant What You Love
Apologies for the delay in posting this week. I managed to get mild food poisoning after a lovely brunch, and my stomach was in knots for nearly two days. The gardening season is definitely on its way, though! I love seeing photos of gardens slowly turning green and spotting hidden veggie beds in front or…
Frugal Family Activity: Snow Cake
The forecast is calling for heavy precipitation in the next few days, right in time for the new year. Most of us are still in vacation mode, and parents with children are probably wondering how they’ll entertain their children while school is still out. Unfortunately, the cold means there’s no garden to tend to,…
What’s a Frugal Gardener to do in the Snow?
Where I live, the snow has arrived and is here to stay. It’s been a month or so now that we’ve begun to shovel our walkway and donned our boots when heading outdoors. A month where I was happy to take a break from thinking about gardening tasks: I think a break is necessary…
Don’t Let Your Halloween Pumpkin Go To Waste
Are you ready for Halloween? Surely you’ve already procured your pumpkin. Have you carved a scary Jack-o-Lantern yet? I hate carving, so my husband is the one who does it. He’s extraordinarily artistic and always manages to etch out something incredible. We normally buy a few pumpkins for our front porch. Some we carve,…
4 Cost-Effective Organic Garden Fertilizers
Regardless of what you’re growing, your plants need nutrients. Without fertilizer, your plants will fail to thrive and grow big and strong. In the case of edibles, a lack of nutrients can limit your crop and lead to poor production. Unfortunately, many fertilizers on the market are expensive. Thankfully there are cost-effective organic fertilizers…
Buying Seedlings: Getting Your Money’s Worth
I am exhausted to the bone. Normally, at this time of year, I get excited about seed starting. I take stock of my seed supplies, order seeds I’m missing, and start planning out my garden. This year, I’ve yet to do any of that. I’m too overwhelmed and tired, so I’ve decided to forego…