10 Ways To Dig $$$ Straight Out Of Your Garden

Gardening, even on a small scale is a pastime that ticks many boxes.

It doesn’t cost a fortune and with little investment you can be up and running in no time.

It is one of the most fulfilling things you can do in a day. There is always something to show for your efforts. A major benefit of gardening is the great workout you get. Not only are you off the couch but you are stretching, bending and lifting.

And, if that is not enough incentive to get gardening, what about it being a great way to save money?

Here are ten tips to putting your hobby, therapy and workout to good use:

1. Grow your own herbs

Herbs are expensive to buy fresh but we all know how flavoursome they are. Fresh herbs are more potent when used medicinally too. Some like basil are easy to grow from seed but if you are just starting out, buy small plants. The trick with herbs is to find out what they need to be happy right from the beginning. For example, lavender doesn’t like to have wet feet, so water sparingly. Choose herbs that you will use and concentrate on them to begin with – basil, chives, coriander, lavender, mint, oregano, parsley and rosemary. These you will use every day in the kitchen and in gifts too.

2. Keep chickens.

Obviously keeping chickens is not possible for everyone but they are wonderful pets. They are an excellent way to recycle kitchen scraps, and the eggs from your own chickens are gold. Collecting your own eggs will save you money. The excess can be sold to friends or used to barter.

3. Grow edible flowers

Plants like basil and chives have great flowers and some others to grow are, too, such as citrus, dandelion, gardenia, hibiscus, jasmine, marigold, nasturtium, pansy, rose snapdragon and violet, to name a few. Growing a few of these will ensure something is flowering at any time. You can turn a simple lettuce into a gorgeous salad and a real talking point for little or no cost.

4. Propagate your own seedlings

If you are always at the nursery buying seedlings you will start to eat into your profits. You can usually buy a packet of seeds for the same price as a punnet of seedlings. So pick up a packet, follow the instructions an grow a hundred babies instead of 4-8.

5. Grow your own veggies

This again is not for everyone but if possible it is generally worth the effort. They just taste better. You know what you are eating and it is a good family activity. Children really enjoy looking through the garden for a new surprise every day.

6. Save seeds and gift them

Harvesting and saving your seeds is frugal and fulfilling. When buying your original seeds, choose heirloom varieties that aren’t hybrid and will produce fertile seed. You won’t need to rebuy these seeds and you may be able to give them to a friend as a gift. These can be done up beautifully with an envelope, twine and a little sketch of the plant.

7. Take cuttings

When someone offers you a cutting, take it. People love giving gifts from the garden and when the plant matures, you too will get a kick out of passing on a plant to someone. Look at the plants in your garden and find out which of these can be propagated from cutting. These are wonderful gifts or even saleable at markets etc.

8. Meet friends in your garden instead of a coffee shop

This is such a fun and inexpensive way to catch up with friends. Meeting at cafes can be expensive so ask them to meet you in your garden. Set up a pretty table and chairs and serve herbal tea and cake decorated with edible flowers.

9. Press flowers for presents

Most of the flowers mentioned earlier can be pressed and preserved. This is really easy and you will be able to make so many gifts with them. Cards, candles, ice cubes, jewellery, coasters…. the possibilities are endless. Just grow, pick, press and then it will come to you.

10. Dry herbs for gifts

A bunch of dried herbs doesn’t exactly sound like a great gift to receive but what about mixed herbs in a beautifully decorated jar, potpourri, aromatic oils, heat packs….. Everyone uses these things and will be so grateful for the personal effort you have put into it.

There is something very satisfying about gardening and sharing the produce. Maybe it is our instincts kicking in or maybe the sharing side of it is just good for our soul.

However you want to look at it, as Mums, we recognise that the simpler things in life are the most beautiful.