Although the amount of investment costs for your first vegetable garden can seem high, there are several things we can do to mitigate them. Below are some beginner gardening tips to save costs and help you get the most out of your first vegetable garden:
Seed Saving
The process of collecting and storing seeds from plants for future use is a practice as old as agriculture itself. To get a head start, save the seeds from your best performing plants for future growing seasons. Beside the compounding cost savings, seed saving also helps preserve biodiversity by maintaining the resiliency of local species.
Creating Your Own Compost
Much like seed saving, creating your own compost helps mitigate annual costs in future growing seasons. To start your own compost pile to provide your garden with rich, organic matter, you will need a mix of greens (nitrogen rich materials) and browns (carbon rich materials). You’ll want to choose a dry, shady spot or simply use a bin.
Alternate piles between greens and browns and add water initially to dampen the pile. Once you get started, monitor the pile for moisture and temperature and make sure to turn the pile every couple of weeks. When the materials break down into a dark, crumbly texture, you can use it in garden beds or mix it with garden soil.
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