Money takes a long time to make but a short time to spend. When it comes to weekly and monthly bills, it only takes an unexpected expense to come up short. Things are rising in cost all over the globe, but it seems that wages are not reflecting this as more and more budget cuts are being announced in various sectors.
One thing that has risen in price considerably in the last few years is the price of groceries or more specifically, the cost of fruits and vegetables. These items are skyrocketed in terms of pricing with smaller portion sizes.
IMAGE: PEXELS
The other negative side is that you are never sure what is contaminating the fresh produce you are purchasing – especially exotic varieties from far away. These items could be covered in preservatives and pesticides to keep them fresher longer, more prominent in size and plus the markup is stemming from the shipping costs the store occurred to bring them in.
That is why more and more people are turning to gardening to save on their groceries. They are building their own vegetable and fruit gardens to fill the void in the pantry while reducing their expenses.
The bonus of growing your own fruits and vegetables is that there is no reason to be concerned about what type of soil it is grown in. So, want to know how to save money on your groceries via gardening? Then read on!
Grow The Right Varieties
The first thing to look at when growing a vegetable and fruit garden is to grow the right kind of produce. You don’t want to be disappointed when the climate isn’t the right one to grow things such as pineapples. Choose hearty vegetables that grow well in any environment – potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce.
You’ll also want to choose a vegetable and fruit that grows in higher quantities, such as the ones listed above or produce such as carrots, turnips, rhubarb, and even herbs. All of these make lovely additions to your dishes and will provide a fresh, crisp taste that didn’t come from a can.
Think Of Storage And Preservation Methods
Once your gardening starts yielding vegetables and fruits; it is essential to have a plan in place to store them. Look into constructing a cold room or a storage cellar in the basement of your home as fresh produce lasts longer in colder temperatures.
If you don’t have a basement; look into pallet crates. These are boxes that have been constructed from pallets, then lined with Styrofoam and newsprint to insulate against rising temperatures. These crates can be stored in your kitchen or on your patio.
Considering canning or bottling your vegetables for longer-lasting freshness. There are also things you can make with your overstocks such as relish, pickles, and salsa to further stretch your supply and add a touch of something different to your table.
Garden Commitment
If you are going to build and grow a garden that will produce enough fruits and vegetables to make a difference in your grocery bill – you are going to want to give it your absolute best shot which is going to take a commitment.
A garden is not something that you can just start and walk away from. It’s a daily commitment to ensuring there is an adequate water supply for the soil; a monthly habit of checking the plants and pulling weeds out of the ground that could choke the ones you want to grow; it’s a monthly (and longer) commitment of tilling the soil to “freshen” it up and applying mulch and/or compost when needed.
It is all about making a mulch and compost pile that will suit your garden’s nutritious needs and its ensuring that your garden has enough water but not enough to drown the plants. To control your water flow on your garden hose, head over to backyardboss.net to check out the best hose nozzles with adjustable water control settings.
If you water your plants too forcibly, they could crack off at the stem and whither. If you don’t water them enough, you will be leaving them open to exposure to the sunlight, where the leaves can burn.
Conclusion
It’s going to take physical work, time, and effort to grow a garden that will be beneficial enough to make a difference in your grocery bill, but the payoff is definitely worth it. Not only will you save on groceries; you will be able to make dishes for your family that is organic, nutritious, and free from chemicals and pesticides.
If you’ve decided to start a garden during the winter months; there is no reason that you can’t get a head start. Invest in a grow kit, with LED lights, and start your seeds indoors during the cold months.
This way, they will be ready once the growing season has begun. For further questions or advice, consult with a local farmer or gardening center to discover the best time for planting, harvesting, and what fruits and/or vegetables will grow best in your climate.
If you are interested in even more lifestyle-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.
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