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Growing My Italian Kitchen Garden

Yesterday, was a big day for me. I got to enjoy the wonderful breezes and dappled sunlight filtering through the trees outside. It was the perfect day to get a good start on my herb garden. I like growing herbs, because the store-bought kind are so expensive. Dried or fresh, herbs are one of those grocery items that seem to cost as much per ounce as gold. By growing the herbs myself, I save on both the cost of the herbs and the cost of making trips to the store to buy them, since it seems I never have the … Continue reading →

Frugal lessons from The Amish: Growing Food

Since most Amish live on a farm, they are used to growing food. But farm or not, Amish women always maintain a kitchen garden, where they grow delicious foods for their families. Potatoes are a staple that is usually served in the afternoon as part of the biggest meal of the day. Canned vegetables that were once grown in the garden are also a very big part of the Amish diet. The Amish are so good at farming, that they often grow extra crops for tourists to buy, such as pumpkins and gourds in the fall. Because the Amish tend … Continue reading →

The Frugal Blog Week in Review: Jan. 27 to Feb. 2

Hello there! It is a quiet Saturday evening on the day before the Superbowl. my husband is getting the last kid to bed, I’m listening to my new Nora Jones music, and I am seriously thinking of taking a nice hot bath. Before that, though, I wanted to bring you the week in review for the Frugal Living Blog. I know you read every blog faithfully, so I’ll just assume you want to reread them all again. Saturday, January 27 Save on Paper: Take Advantage of Junk Mail In an earlier blog, Save on Paper: The Three Best Ways, I … Continue reading →

Growing Tomatoes Indoors

Growing your own food is certainly a very frugal hobby. But what do you do when it is winter, when your climate has a short growing cycle, or when you have a postage-size yard? Why not try growing your food indoors? Tomatoes are one of the best plants to grow indoors. An indoor tomato plant will yield fresh tomatoes any time of the year with little more than watering. For growing indoors, I prefer cherry and plum tomatoes. They are smaller in size, and there are plenty of sweet varieties that taste so yummy straight off of the vine. The … Continue reading →

When Should You Transplant Vegetable Starts?

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When should we move our tender tomatoes and growing squash outdoors? This is the burning question in our house. When you’re living in a cooler and much wetter climate than most, when should you move your vegetable starts outside? How about when you live in a climate that’s just really cold until June? Or one that is hot, hot, hot come April? Here’s a quick guide to what you should be doing with your vegetable starts. First, let’s talk a little bit about why you start vegetables indoors. The majority of our vegetables are not well-suited to the exact climates … Continue reading →

Beautiful Gardens

Am I the only one itching to plant a garden? As soon as we have a warm day or two I’m day dreaming about my yard. I have a confession, I’ve already planted peas and will get the beets and lettuce in the ground this weekend. Planting a vegetable garden does wonders for your budget and your eating habits. Yes, growing tomatoes takes longer than going to the store but just imagine how wonderful that salsa will taste when you can say it all came out of your garden. Also, when you grow it you know what chemicals it’s been … Continue reading →

Creating Color: Dye Plants in the Garden

If you have children, you’ll know about some amazing dye plants. Tomatoes (via spaghetti sauce) are pretty good, as are blueberries and cherries, particularly when they’re mashed on a white shirt. While many of us run for the wash at the sight of these glorious fruits being mashed into clothing, some people actively seek out plants that dye cloth. I want to be one of them. I love dyeing silk, and I would love to dye some wool this year. Through my experiments, I’ve discovered a number of plants that make lovely dyes. Over the next few years, I’ll be … Continue reading →

Container Garden: Grow a Hot Climate Herb Garden

One of the tried and true ways to garden in a container is to garden small and to garden strategically. The herb garden is a strategic use of space. Instead of going for bulk, you’re going for flavor. What would make your omelets delicious and your soup stocks the talk of the neighborhood? Herbs, of course! A hot climate herb garden thrives in the summer on a hot deck. If you have a sheltered and bright area indoors or if you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse, you can bring the garden inside for the winter. This is the beauty … Continue reading →

Gardening Tips for a Cold Spring

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Oh, spring around here has been cold. Some of you who live in cooler climates than I do might laugh at the fact that we’ve hit winter clothing temperatures repeatedly into May, but I’m not. My garden isn’t laughing too hard either. What can you do to salvage a cold spring in your garden? Take your cues from the weather. If it’s really, really cold, you don’t need to plant, even if it is officially spring. It’s better to plant when the garden is ready instead of by the clock. Get a head start, but hedge your bets. I’ve learned … Continue reading →

How to Harden Off Tomato Plant Seedlings

Starting vegetables indoors is a rewarding experience. The vegetables get a solid and early start to their lives, and gardeners are able to reap the produce much faster than if they planted the tomato seeds directly into the ground. Tomatoes love heat and light, so in a shadier or cooler garden it is important to get a head start on growth by starting seedlings indoors when the ground is still too cold to plant tomato seeds. However, care needs to be taken to keep these tomato plants seedlings safe as they transition into the outdoors. Plants naturally reach for the … Continue reading →