Organic Gardening Tips Anyone Can Afford

Here are some affordable ways to enjoy organic gardening.

Organic gardening has become more popular in recent years since many are working to avoid unnecessary chemicals in their lives. You may be thinking that organic gardening is going to be extremely expensive, but in fact, it can be one of the most cost-effective ways to produce your own vegetables. We’ve put together our best Organic Gardening Tips Anyone Can Afford in order enjoy an organic garden without spending a lot of money.

Organic Gardening Tips Anyone Can Afford

Start your own seedlings indoors. Instead of buying plants at your local garden center or nursery, start your seedlings indoors. You can use a number of different seed starter kits to make this easier to manage. The idea is to start the seeds growing in a bit of soil indoors until they are a slightly stronger plant. Then you can easily transplant those plants into your outside organic backyard garden.

Shop for seeds at a seed library or a seed exchange. Did you know that you can actually get organic gardening seeds for free? There are many public libaries that have seed exchanges, but you may also be able to swap and share with local friends or family. Look in your local community to find places that offer a seed library or a seed exchange.

When you are utilizing a local swap, you want to make sure that you are asking specifically for organic seeds. This means seeds that are not going to have been treated with a lot of chemicals for preservation. You may also find some online seed libraries that offer lower prices on seeds, or even free seeds if you pay shipping. It is important to understand that while you can often find very inexpensive seeds in your local dollar stores, they are rarely organic or good quality. Organic seeds are a worthy investment, but if you are limited on funds, it is a good idea to think outside the box.

Order seeds online in bulk. Get with some friends who are organic gardening this year and order your seeds and supplies online in bulk. A lot of times you can get a much lower price when you buy larger quantities. Just split up what you order and share with friends and family that are willing to chip in to cover the expenses.

Make your own compost. This is one of the best ways to really make big progress in your backyard garden while staying organic. Begin early by creating your own compost bin. Add all kinds of things to your compost bin then mix into your soil when you are tilling your garden for planting season. As the season progresses, you can add more compost around your plants and hand mix in with a hoe or rake to increase nutrients in the soil as your plants grow.

We use a combination of the following items to build a great compost bin:

Fruit and vegetable peels
Coffee grounds
Crushed egg shells
Leaves and grass clippings
Shredded newspaper
Shredded cardboard
Clippings from plants in the garden like dead leaves, buds, etc.

Here are some tips for how to get started composting.

Save seeds for the next year. When you harvest your crops, take the time to wash, dry, and save seeds for the next year. This saves tons of money on seeds when it is time to plant again the next spring. Some vegetables aren’t as easy to do this with but many are ideal for this. Tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers are my favorites, but you can also store potatoes and onions to use again the next year when in a cool dry place.

After cutting up the vegetables, scoop out seeds and rinse off any pith or fibers. Lay them out on a paper towel or drying rack and let them dry. Place in labeled envelopes and store in a cool and dry place for planting next year. When you utilize these seeds to start your own plants instead of buying from a nursery, you are able to save money and create healthier crops year to year. Here are more tips for saving seeds and printable seed packets.

Take good care of the plants as they grow. This means don’t let the plants just flounder and die. Take the time to regularly prune and weed your garden. Make sure plants are staked and being trained to climb cages or a trellis as needed. Nurture your plants on a regular basis so you are yielding a great hearty crop of vegetables that makes your organic gardening adventure worthwhile financially.

Use the right pest control. Sometimes bugs, rabbits, deer, and insects can attack your garden and destroy your crops. Often, you see others recommending various traps, sprays, and chemicals to rid your garden of these pests. Instead of using non-organic methods, make your own homemade pest remover spray for your garden. You may also consider building raised bed gardens, or putting a fence around your garden to keep things like rabbits, moles, raccoons, and deer out of your garden.

Consider sharing your garden space. Sometimes taking on an entire organic gardening adventure on your own is a tough thing to manage. This is especially true if you are juggling work, kids, and family life on top of the garden itself. Look for neighbors, family, or friends who are willing to put some time into helping you with the gardening process. In exchange for helping you tend your garden, they reap the benefits of some of the produce. This is also a great way to can or freeze produce at the end of the season. You can often barter with others to help with storage in exchange for a part of the foods you are canning.

As you begin your organic gardening journey, use our tips to help you afford this great way to build a healthier lifestyle for your family. An organic garden is simply one that is free from a lot of the common pesticides and chemicals. You can easily adapt and create an organic garden that is perfect for your family.