Comments on: Frugality in Practice: The Garden in Spring http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/ personal finance that makes cents Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:42:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dave http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83479 Dave Tue, 10 Apr 2007 05:03:59 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83479 out of curiosity.. for someone who has never had any gardening experience.. I have a tiny plot of land.. say 15x15 ft. 1. what crop should I plant to maximize the amount of food I get (a little variety would be nice) 2. realistically.. how many meals would this provide for 2 people throughout a year? out of curiosity.. for someone who has never had any gardening experience.. I have a tiny plot of land.. say 15×15 ft.

1. what crop should I plant to maximize the amount of food I get (a little variety would be nice)

2. realistically.. how many meals would this provide for 2 people throughout a year?

]]> By: Christian Pöcher http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83459 Christian Pöcher Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:43:13 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83459 In May I will start working and would like to grow some herbs in my flat. The problem is that I will not be at home, except at weekends. Any suggestions how I can supply the herbs with enough water at the right time automatically? Thx for your gardening articles. I really love them :) In May I will start working and would like to grow some herbs in my flat. The problem is that I will not be at home, except at weekends. Any suggestions how I can supply the herbs with enough water at the right time automatically?

Thx for your gardening articles. I really love them :)

]]> By: Bill http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83447 Bill Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:36:11 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83447 Gardens are great. We don't have one, but I'm continually amazed at the cukes/carrots/tomatoes/beans/corn/ pumpkins/squash/lettuce/blueberries we get from my in-laws modest garden. We freeze everything we can in our yard-sale $25 chest freezer. Gardens are great.

We don’t have one, but I’m continually amazed at the cukes/carrots/tomatoes/beans/corn/
pumpkins/squash/lettuce/blueberries we get
from my in-laws modest garden.

We freeze everything we can in our yard-sale $25 chest freezer.

]]> By: Andy http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83429 Andy Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:33:56 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83429 I'm about to start my square foot garden - I go the book for christmas and got the gear to make the beds at the same time. Because of the weather I've yet to start it, but I'm going to blog about it on my website so I can keep a track of how much I've spent/eaten from it (I won't be growing asparagus though!) I’m about to start my square foot garden - I go the book for christmas and got the gear to make the beds at the same time. Because of the weather I’ve yet to start it, but I’m going to blog about it on my website so I can keep a track of how much I’ve spent/eaten from it (I won’t be growing asparagus though!)

]]> By: whitney http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83409 whitney Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:38:34 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83409 Forgot to add--check your local farmer's market or nursery. If they've got tomato plants for sale, you can probably plant them now. Also, you'll be able to get the best advice for your area by talking to one of the workers there; they're likely to be well-informed and experienced with gardening wherever you are. Emphasis is on LOCAL nursery. If you go to a big chain, you may or may not get somebody who knows what they're talking about. Forgot to add–check your local farmer’s market or nursery. If they’ve got tomato plants for sale, you can probably plant them now. Also, you’ll be able to get the best advice for your area by talking to one of the workers there; they’re likely to be well-informed and experienced with gardening wherever you are.

Emphasis is on LOCAL nursery. If you go to a big chain, you may or may not get somebody who knows what they’re talking about.

]]> By: whitney http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83407 whitney Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:35:15 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83407 Demetrio, re: container gardening -- Try southernliving.com, or diynet.com. Both sites have really good info on all sorts of gardening. I'm not sure how much info is available to non-subscribers at Southern Living, but they have excellent advice, especially if you live down here in God's country. =) Demetrio, re: container gardening –
Try southernliving.com, or diynet.com. Both sites have really good info on all sorts of gardening. I’m not sure how much info is available to non-subscribers at Southern Living, but they have excellent advice, especially if you live down here in God’s country. =)

]]> By: jeff lynn http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83406 jeff lynn Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:30:29 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83406 That's a nice looking garden. For those who think they don't have space for a garden, you might want to look at www.squarefootgardening.com for an easy way to grow your own vegetables without taking up much space. For the past two years my wife and I have had a total of 24 square feet of garden area and saved about $100-$150 each year on vegetables we would have ordinarily bought from the grocery store. That’s a nice looking garden.

For those who think they don’t have space for a garden, you might want to look at http://www.squarefootgardening.com for an easy way to grow your own vegetables without taking up much space. For the past two years my wife and I have had a total of 24 square feet of garden area and saved about $100-$150 each year on vegetables we would have ordinarily bought from the grocery store.

]]> By: travis nosal http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83401 travis nosal Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:34:33 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83401 My brother does something I don't often see recommended for asparagas. He harvests in a section continuously until the spears get a bit thin, and moves to the next section. That section has been growing wild all season, so he cuts it down, and then harvests it until the spears get thin. In this fashion, all the sections get a harvest period, and they also all get a long free-growth period, albeit usually divided by the harvest period. Also, you can harvest asparagas from the first year, just don't get too greedy. You need to stop when you notice the spears getting smaller/fewer/thinner. We planted our blueberries next to a 6ft chain link fence, on the idea that it will be easer to build the anti-bird cage during harvest time. Good luck. My brother does something I don’t often see recommended for asparagas. He harvests in a section continuously until the spears get a bit thin, and moves to the next section. That section has been growing wild all season, so he cuts it down, and then harvests it until the spears get thin. In this fashion, all the sections get a harvest period, and they also all get a long free-growth period, albeit usually divided by the harvest period. Also, you can harvest asparagas from the first year, just don’t get too greedy. You need to stop when you notice the spears getting smaller/fewer/thinner.

We planted our blueberries next to a 6ft chain link fence, on the idea that it will be easer to build the anti-bird cage during harvest time.

Good luck.

]]> By: Ash http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83379 Ash Mon, 09 Apr 2007 07:07:30 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83379 I love your pictures! I started off an allotment (I think it's a community garden in the US?) and it's getting there. I love watching all the plants growing on my windowsill. Our berries are also growing wildly, and the plum tree is in blossom. Can't wait for that fruit bounty. Thanks for sharing your progress. I love your pictures! I started off an allotment (I think it’s a community garden in the US?) and it’s getting there. I love watching all the plants growing on my windowsill. Our berries are also growing wildly, and the plum tree is in blossom. Can’t wait for that fruit bounty. Thanks for sharing your progress.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83374 Jonathan Mon, 09 Apr 2007 02:33:57 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83374 Beautiful garden. Very jealous! I'll have to made do with runs to Sauvie Island and the Farmer's Market this year. Beautiful garden. Very jealous! I’ll have to made do with runs to Sauvie Island and the Farmer’s Market this year.

]]> By: Demetrio http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83369 Demetrio Mon, 09 Apr 2007 00:32:17 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83369 It's really nice to see and read about people who are gardening and really enjoy their harvest. I am about to do some gardening myself but the weather has been really freaky lately that I am not sure when to start, especially with tomatoes. I am planning to plant stuff in containers, does anyone know a link that has information about container gardening? I really enjoy your site JD...Keep the good work. It’s really nice to see and read about people who are gardening and really enjoy their harvest. I am about to do some gardening myself but the weather has been really freaky lately that I am not sure when to start, especially with tomatoes. I am planning to plant stuff in containers, does anyone know a link that has information about container gardening? I really enjoy your site JD…Keep the good work.

]]> By: DC Economist http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83364 DC Economist Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:33:31 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83364 JD, We put in blueberry bushes and had tomatoes plants last year. Not sure how much we'll plant this year due to the home addition, but we'll have bluberries! After its done, we'll prepare the whole backyard to get alot more plants in, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, etc...itsa very good hobby and does save a ton of money JD,

We put in blueberry bushes and had tomatoes plants last year. Not sure how much we’ll plant this year due to the home addition, but we’ll have bluberries! After its done, we’ll prepare the whole backyard to get alot more plants in, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, etc…itsa very good hobby and does save a ton of money

]]> By: MyOwnMillions http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83358 MyOwnMillions Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:05:30 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83358 Quite honestly, my girlfriend has been pushing me to buy a house and one of her wishes was that the house has to have room for a garden. I'm not a gardening person but this post definitely gives me something to look forward to. I will also send a link to my girlfriend. Thanks JD! ---------------- <a href="http://blog.davidmillions.com" rel="nofollow">My Own Millions Blog</a> Quite honestly, my girlfriend has been pushing me to buy a house and one of her wishes was that the house has to have room for a garden. I’m not a gardening person but this post definitely gives me something to look forward to. I will also send a link to my girlfriend. Thanks JD!

—————-
My Own Millions Blog

]]> By: Lauren http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83357 Lauren Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:28:47 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83357 I was *just* reading about why lettuce gets bitter, and now I can't find it ... it was to do with heat, like if it gets above 80 or 90 for a few days in a row, or something. I do remember that I came to the conclusion that this year I'm going to plant mine in the shady front yard instead of in the full-sun back and see it it makes difference. I was *just* reading about why lettuce gets bitter, and now I can’t find it … it was to do with heat, like if it gets above 80 or 90 for a few days in a row, or something. I do remember that I came to the conclusion that this year I’m going to plant mine in the shady front yard instead of in the full-sun back and see it it makes difference.

]]> By: db http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83354 db Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:30:33 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83354 Ohhh, JD I'm positively green with envy! I'm going to go sit on my barren balcony and envision a little house with gardenable dirt for myself. db Ohhh, JD I’m positively green with envy! I’m going to go sit on my barren balcony and envision a little house with gardenable dirt for myself.

db

]]> By: Starving Artist http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83353 Starving Artist Sun, 08 Apr 2007 18:56:20 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/04/08/frugality-in-practice-the-garden-in-spring/#comment-83353 I used to have a little herb garden in my kitchen--the basil plant was on a window next to the stove, so we could just reach over and grab some when we cooked. Good luck with the garden! I used to have a little herb garden in my kitchen–the basil plant was on a window next to the stove, so we could just reach over and grab some when we cooked. Good luck with the garden!

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