If my earlier post about recession gardens did not convince you, here are 500 reasons why you should consider growing your own vegetables.
A 12 by 12 foot plot can yield a lot of food if you start early and plant a second round for another harvest late in the season, says a story in the Mar/Apr issue of AARP.
“You could grow as much as $500 worth of produce from the small plot described here – and have a great time doing it…You have nothing to lose but your lawn and the endless joy of mowing it.”
A few tips from the story:
- Aim for soil that has the consistency of crumbly chocolate cake
- Encourage worms and plant-nourishing bacteria to take residence in your garden
- Add compost containing leaving, grass clipping and vegetable scraps from your kitchen
- Keep beds soft and fluffy by not walking on them
- Budget about $150 to make a 6-foot-high fence around the garden to keep out deer and and rabbits
- Plan to spend about $50 on seeds to get started. They should last about three years
- Plant tall plants, like pole beans, on the north side to avoid shading other crops
- If you have children, grow strawberries, sugar snap peas and cherry tomatoes, which are sweet enough to get them excited about vegetables
For a drawing of where to plant each crop and a list of 18 vegetables that are easy to grow scroll down on this page.
Thanks, Ellen!
If you read about Bargain Babe on NewParent.com, welcome! This blog is all about saving money every day because the little things in life – groceries, meals out, and clothes – really do add up.
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Join by March 23 and you are automatically eligible to win a $25 Starbucks gift card!
Thanks for for checking out Bargain Babe!
Get a free small fries and fountain drink today, March 10, 2009, at Jack in the Box. Print the coupon here.
Get a coupon for a free sandwich from Quiznos when you buy a drink and chips purchase. Get the coupon by signing up for their email list. Tell them your birthday and they will give you a free cookie on that day.
Get a buy one get one free coupon from Auntie Annie’s Pretzels when you sign up for their site. After you join they email you the coupon.
The link a reader sent me for a free roastburger at Arby’s is not working, unfortunately. Does anybody have a link to the latest coupon, which expires March 15, 2009?
Restaurant gift certificates worth $25 are on sale for $2 at Restaurant.com now until March 15, 2009. Use code MENU when checking out. Make sure to read the rules for redeeming the certs as they can be quite strict.
Thanks, Kelly and Paul!
Get a coupon for $2 off a Kashi frozen entree when you register on the company’s site. They were giving out free entrees, but ran out.
To get the coupon, which they mail to you, share your name, address and email. Ends March 15, 2009 or while supplies last. If you already got a free entree you are not eligible to receive a $2 off coupon.
Caveats: one per household. Must be 18 or older. Wait 2-3 weeks for delivery.
Thanks, Shasta!
