| Many people seem to think that growing organic | | | | spending money on commercial weed mats. |
| vegetables and fruit is time consuming and costly. | | | | Low cost garden tip 5: Are you having problems with |
| Whilst developing such a garden can take a little | | | | pests on your fruit and vegetables? Don't use |
| while, that investment in time is far outweighed by | | | | commercially produced insecticides and poisons |
| the fulfillment that comes from eating fresh healthy | | | | (no-one wants to eat produce that has been treated |
| produce at very low cost. | | | | with chemicals), make your own!. Coffee grounds will |
| Here are some tips to assist you in your | | | | deter snails and slugs, and your own white oil (soap, |
| development of a low cost garden. | | | | vegetable oil and water) will work on scale. Mix an |
| Low cost garden tip 1: You can make a compost pile | | | | emulsion with chili and water, or use molasses with |
| for next to nothing - use recycled materials like | | | | water as another spray for caterpillars. You will save |
| timber, chicken wire, old hay bales, etc. Look around | | | | money and also preserve your health. |
| at what's free. You can put almost anything into your | | | | Low cost garden tip 6: Hook up with a Gardening |
| compost pile - leaves, grass, wood clippings from | | | | Buddy and you can share seeds, tools, buy cheap |
| your local area, coffee grounds from local cafes, | | | | bulk products that you can split (such as potting mix) |
| shredded paper - anything biodegradable except | | | | and share machinery rental fees. Join a local garden |
| animal by-products. | | | | club or check with your local council to see what |
| Low cost garden tip 2: For your hard landscaping | | | | programs are available in your area. |
| (paths, steps and borders) use recycled materials and | | | | Low cost garden tip 7: Expand your plant horizons by |
| be surprised by how much money you can save. | | | | finding alternative ways to get new plants - look for |
| Check with your neighbors or local construction sites | | | | plant swaps, garden club plant sales, exchange plants |
| for old bricks, stones or timber that you can use. | | | | with a friend or arrange a neighborhood plant |
| Low cost garden tip 3: Use what you have (or | | | | exchange. Always be on the lookout for seasonal |
| scrounge) and you will be surprised at what is | | | | bargains and check for end of line clearances - you |
| possible! Plant seedlings right in egg shells (those not | | | | can find your plants in some unusual places. |
| headed for the compost pile), or use any small | | | | Remember that growing your own food is part of a |
| containers or egg cartons. | | | | return to times when we were all a lot healthier and |
| Low cost garden tip 4: If you having trouble with | | | | spent less money on junk food. Do something |
| weeds in your garden beds, use old newspapers, | | | | important for yourself, your family and the |
| cardboard or carpet under mulch to smother them. | | | | environment at very low cost - get growing organic |
| They will eventually break down and provide organic | | | | vegetables and fruit! |
| matter in the garden. This is much better than | | | | |