We’re all getting a little tired of winter, so why not consider getting excited about some of the spring activities we have to look forward to in just a few short months?
With the economy as it is, many of us have turned to gardening as an alternative to save a few pennies and help the family out. Personally, I was not one to keep anything alive for longer than a week, so when I decided to create a garden, everyone was shocked! Hard times = desperate measures.
A Mental Journey-
While the thought of creating a garden was fine and dandy, I didn’t realize just how much you need to plan for gardening (see here and here ). How much space do I have to work with? What vegetables are available to plant this season? When is the best time to plant the vegetables? What tools will I need? These are just a few of the questions many garden questions I would have to answer, but I quickly found out that once you do it, it’s not so bad doing it again. Plus the reward is so great in the end, it’s worth the time to figure it all out!
A Financial Journey-
Gardening can be as expensive or as cheap as you like! Throughout my gardening journey, I’ve learned several tricks to help save money while creating my garden. There are lots of ways to cut back on spending when creating your garden for those of us on a budget– using newspaper as a weed killer, use a broomstick/wood as a trellis, getting FREE compost, and more! It’s always good to have a few gardening buddies around to bounce ideas off of or just to exchange tips. Every little bit counts… and so does every penny! Do as much research up front to make sure you don’t get mid-way through and be surprised with unexpected expenses. By doing your research and creating a “garden budget”, you can save a few dollars while investing in your family’s future/garden.
A Physical Journey-
Well, if you’re looking to shed a few pounds… creating a garden is a good way to do it! You’ll use muscles you haven’t used before or knew were there!
A Emotional Journey-
I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed creating my garden… it started as a family project and has continued to be one. As a family, we have invested time and energy and effort to making this a success. Each family member has come forth with ideas, suggestions, and work! Making this a “team effort” has made my family that much closer to each other. Seeing the excitement in the kid’s faces with new changes in the garden… seeing them learning about the various vegetables…it’s all been a reward I’ll never let go of! Not to mention, just seeing the fruits of your labor can create a joy and excitement like no other!
I am so excited to get ready to prepare for the next planting season… new crops… new beginnings… and most importantly, new family memories!
Cristi, author of The King’s Court IV is a full-time working, wife and mother of 2 who’s been blogging since December 2009. The goal of The King’s Court IV is to provide lots of frugal tips, fabulous recipes, and share the stories of family life for all to enjoy!
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