How to Garden in a Bad Economy

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

06 Nov 2008 11:01 AM

Let's face it, the economy is affecting everything, even gardening. In fact, I think it is increasing the prevalence of gardening, as people look to grow their own food, stay close to home and have activities that don't cost a lot of money.

There are many different ways to garden, and some strategies work better than others when the economy is in a downturn. Here are some ideas about keeping the economy in mind when you garden, getting the most out of your garden and adapting your gardening techniques to the current economic situation.

Let's start with the biggest trend, and that is growing your own food. One way to garden in a bad economy is to dedicate more space to growing food. Put in some of the basic vegetables that your family will enjoy, and especially focus on the varieties with high yields. It used to be that you had to be careful of how much you plant, but in today's times, use that high yield to your advantage by freezing and canning the surplus. Tomatoes can be made into paste and sauce, zucchini can be shredded and made into bread that can then be frozen, and many vegetables can be blanched and then canned or frozen.

With the bad economy, gardening is taking less of a rest in the winter. Many people are bringing their gardens indoor by means of a smaller but hardy vegetable container garden. Many plants can be grown year round in containers inside where it is warm. This allows for a bit of extra food during the winter. You may need to take some extra precautions. I keep our basil plant in a sunny window during the day, but as soon as night falls, I pull it in and away from the window where a cold draft might harm it.

There are many more tips about gardening in a bad economy, including concerns about how to plant, co-op gardening and more. Check back again!

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog and caring for little ones in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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