If we want to go organic with our food to make sure that nothing harmful was sprayed on it, we can always resort to home gardening. However, we shouldn’t forget that home gardening is about getting our hands dirty and not some picture perfect activity that we sometimes see in prints and movies. In fact, part of our green ability is to create or produce something using recyclable materials to achieve cost efficiency in eco-friendly ways.
In as much as organic home gardening is about growing food by using basic methods, we can maximize the full benefits of home gardening if we adhere to the methods of no-cost gardening. Instead of buying the seeds to plant, the tools to use and anything else we need to maintain our vegetable garden, scavenging for them would be the most cost efficient way. Here then are some no-cost home gardening tips:
On Where to Plant:
Clear out as much potential gardening space as you can, whether you have a yard or not. Just make sure you pick a spot for your vegetable garden where there is enough sunlight.
If you don't have enough soil, do some guerilla gardening by getting soil from old abandoned lots in your neighborhood. You may not be able to get the perfect garden soil but you can always check out the soil if:
· It is deep and loose;
· Well-drained of water both in and out; it's not supposed to be claylike;
· Free of weeds or plants with obvious diseases;
If you can't find anything ideal, increase the soil's quality by adding organic matter like manure. Add sawdust, peat moss, composted leaves and barks; Clay and sandy soil can be converted into loam by adding these organic matters.
Use polystyrene foam or Styrofoam boxes, as your vegetable garden beds. You can find some for disposal at grocery stores while some retailers discard them by selling them at a few cents. Don't forget to cut holes for drainage and add some crocks. Crocks are little pieces of terracotta or ceramics which will act as a form of bridge or waterway so water can easily drain out of the hole.
You can also use some old dish pans for smaller plants.
The half-gallon and full gallon milk jugs can be transformed into many uses. Cut off three inches of the bottom part and punch holes in them. You'll have a shallow container for potting new seeds.
Keep egg carton boxes and punch holes for each egg carton cell. You can use it as a vessel for starting one or two seeds in a cell. Be sure to wash them very well before using to avoid contamination.
How and where to get free seeds for garden
- Take out the seeds from the vegetable and fruit produce you bought for consumption.
- Look for free seeds in a community seed swap in your area. If there isn't any, you could probably start one with your friends, relatives and co-workers.
- There are also seed libraries that get most of their supply from some seed companies that donate them. You can also swap seeds with them.
- Checkout the net for some information about plant propagation and learn the cost efficient ways on how you can get new plants by cutting and dividing.
- If you're also interested in planting some shrubs and trees, be on the lookout for on-going construction projects. They may be interested in removing some existing shrubs or trees and express your willingness to remove them. The owners will be more than willing because it will lessen the burden of providing transport for their disposal.