After yesterday’s post, I feel the need to post a garden construction update. Because the proverbial man card is not bestowed by grace by is earned by works involving power tools and dirt under fingernails.
You might remember I started this garden project last week, following the instructions supplied by Dave (The Gardening Guru of Middle Tennessee) the best I could. Here’s I’m at on this.
The view from above: 3 6 x 9 boxes for veggies. 1 long box for flowers that are supposed to distract the bad bugs away from the plants.
And one 6 x 6 box for some more veggies.
The path in between the boxes ranges from 1.5 to 2 feet and it’s filled in with “Calico” rocks. Pretty cheap stuff, just big enough to stay put but small enough to walk on easily.
The boxes are just economical white pine held together with three deck screws at the joints.
Surely this earns a little of my man cred back right? Did I mention I used a circular saw on those boards?
Now all we need are the plants. That’s my father-in-law’s expertise; not mine. So while Becky and I are in India, he’ll be planting for us and we’ll come home to a backyard full of produce. And hopefully, with a larger garden this year, that’ll mean a much lower grocery bill. We’ll see.
How are you cutting corners on your budget?
Just keep your eyes out for termites with wood that close to your home.I’d think about pulling those frames up after the season. I’m an exterminator by day trade BTW.
Cutting costs by making more things from scratch (Yogurt, gronola…we’re becoming one of “those” families!), doing more shopping at the local Aldi (further away then the other stores, but save more when I shop there). And now I’m even wondering if we should put a clothes line out. I hated doing that as a kid and here I’m actually considering it!!! But in Indiana, between snow and rain, I’d only get 3-4 months of real use…but every bit would help. Funny how all the cost cutting tips are the same as living more simply.
How do you make your own yogurt?
You get a few points for the project……but I have to take a few back….unloading bags of topsoil from a mini-van?!?! Come on Shaun you needed to use a truck. I only hope you didn’t haul the lumber in the van….please tell me you didn’t!!!!
No. I did not haul lumber in my van. I hauled it in Brian’s van. The Honda Odyssey is roomier than my MPV.
How are you saving money by buying wood, rocks, dirt (?), fertilizer, seeds, water, gas used to go buy all the material, and labor?
Thomas
Obviously I am the only immature person who is CRACKING UP AT THE TITLE.
Business socks.
To the pure all things are pure, right, Boomama?
Thomas, all I can say is we’ve done the math and this saves us money…on paper. Time will tell.
This is JavaJoy’s husband, “nonjava” Larry.
Although the man card isn’t being pulled from you, brother, I am curious about the termite thing. And I am guessing you will be regretting putting those boxes so close together when you are trying to kneel down in between those skinny rows. Good thing you’re a skinny guy.
Having been laid off in Feb, and still no job, we are also trying to tighten the belt quite a bit. Aldi is definitely our store to shop and summer garage sales are our saving grace, second to Jesus of course.
I am amused by the title and did view the “Business Socks” video. It brought tears (of laughter) to my eyes.
JavaJoy already planted lettuce, spinach, radishes and kale. Since we live in Minnesota and she planted these two weeks ago, I am concerned about her premature enthusiasm. Last year all of her cool weather crops actually came up but I don’t think she planted them quite this early (she has major cabin fever this year). If they do come up, we will be able to enjoy our first harvest of lettuces about mid-May, thus saving us money at the store.
Kudos to you for getting things going and finishing the box planter project. Nice job with the power tools.
And a quick note to Redneck Neighbor:
Not everyone can afford a gas guzzling man truck in this economony. All hail the power of the minivan!
We save $$ by walking/biking when it’s possible, using a clothes line (things freeze dry pretty quick during the winter months here), plant vegetable gardens, borrow DVDs from friends or the library instead of renting, buy used instead of new, etc. Investing in a reusable garden set up will save you $$, providing the plants co-operate and produce.
Friends of ours make a LOT of their own healthy food, including yogurt. Check out Talena’s recipes(http://wintersdayin.ca/) when you get a chance. They’re pretty good.
These turned out great! Good job!!
Mary, whose husband rented a tractor today and made our 50×120 foot garden about 30 feet bigger. YIKES– there go my visions of lounging by the pool this summer
I was with BooMama on the title.
I’m in awe of you people who can make things grow. It just doesn’t work when my hands are involved. I finally decided it was cheaper to buy what I need from the store than to buy and plant seeds, kill the plants, and go to the store to buy what I need.
But gardening is definitely growing here. Story in the paper yesterday said seed sales in Austin are up 500% at one natural gardening store.
We have a co-op garden with our friends. I’m in charge of learning how to can vegetables so we won’t waste the leftovers. It’s at their house, because it’s really hard to have a vegetable garden on the third floor of an apartment building.
Looks good! I think I will just stimulate my local economy by buying at the Farmer’s market. It’s fun, it’s social and keeps me from killing more plants at home…though I think my husband will again plant tomatoes..in the front yard.