Most people who garden learned frugal tips from their parents. Other’s held an interest in gardening from clubs or associations that they were involved in growing up. Frugal gardening tips have also been handed down through the generations. Parents that spent very little but harvested a lot. Some aspects of gardening can be expensive. Learning how to garden with what is on hand, and recycled products keeps down the cost. Like anything else, if you want to spend a lot, then that is possible. Saving money is a conscious choice. Some ways that I have helped my kids learn is by working with me.Teaching them to see what we have to use that is beneficial to the project is important. Milk jugs and sticks tied to a pole are perfect devices to be created that keep birds out of the garden.
Planning is a frugal tip to save time and money. Many times I have laid out my garden wrong and it costs me time and money. One year, my zucchini wrapped around several of my tomato plants and killed them. Therefore, that mistake alone caused my canning to be short for the year. I use tomatoes and can them for chili sauce. Laying out the garden allows for the plants to grow with the space they need to be bountiful. An abundant garden is a compliment to the gardener. Teaching children to rely on their own skills for food is life changing, and one of the best frugal tips I can give.
Frugal Gardening Tools for Kids
Kids love to have their own stuff. This is the time of year to hit a few sales and see if they have any tools for kids. A few year’s ago I scored some gloves that mine could use, and some diggers. But, before I run out to buy a bunch of kid sized gloves, tools, diggers, brooms or whatever I am going to teach them the basics. Stores that sell kid items are raising the price, and we pay it because it is cute. If you really want to get some cute and easy to use tools get some hand diggers on sale. Sometimes they have plastic ones.
I don’t know why, but I can hand my kids a bucket and they find 101 uses for that bucket. I purchase buckets, gloves, diggers and hats for them at the dollar tree. Gardening season is something for them to look forward to every year and now it is a tradition. The Dollar Tree has some really affordable gardening stuff each year, and kids sized tools occasionally. Starting there would be a great idea. Always save where you can, and teach that to your children. It isn’t about buying them everything,but teaching them everything.
Teach Kids Frugal Gardening with Kitchen Scraps
Regrowing food with scraps is not only a science experiment, but a proven fact. Many vegetable’s will re-grow in the Kitchen. Green onions, lettuce and celery bases get new leaves, and potatoes that have all of the roots growing out of them when left in a bin can be re-grown when planted.
This is a fun way to teach re-growth and have children log the results they see. For instance, if one plant did not regrow then they can look at their notes to see if they should change anything.
Save Seeds, Don’t Buy Seeds
At an early age teach children frugal gardening habits of saving. Not only do we save our money in the bank, we save our seeds in an envelope. Whatever you grow in the summer, save the seeds. Likewise, save the name of the seed also for future reference. Saving seeds is a big frugal tip in the gardening world.
When yo save seeds, then you know which vegetable it is and that you already like it. For example, we love Kentucky Wonder green beans. So, when we grow our beans I always save 25-30 seeds. I save extra in case some of them do not come up. Another vegetable that we love is the Beefsteak tomatoes. When I grow those, we cut it open and save the seeds. That is how we have wonderful harvests each year by using the same variety the previous year. Don’t reinvent the wheel, and don’t teach your children to spend when they don’t have to.
Homemade Compost and Fertilizer
Going back to the basics in frugal gardening keeps the lessons simple. Make your own compost and fertilizer. Allow them to have a hand in it. Allow them to mix it up in the wheelbarrow and use their hands. They will love to get dirty.
Finally, have some fun and paint rocks with the plant names on them. Use them as row markers. My sons’ did that one year for Mother’s Day and I treasured all of the rocks so much.
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