Garden Taking A Bite Out Of Your Budget?
Garden Taking a Bite out of Your Budget?
Garden Taking a Bite out of Your Budget?
This summer has brought drought conditions not seen since the days of the Dust Bowl. This is the nations widest drought, with more than half of the continental US in some stage of drought.
In the High Plains states, (including) Colorado, the areas designated as being in moderate to exceptional drought rose to 84 percent as of July 10th. reports the Denver Post. The nations corn crop has been especially hard hit with farmers already tallying their losses.
How is your home garden faring these days? Between the soil, plants, and accessories gardening is one hobby that can be very expensive! writes Julia Scott for Mint Life. And just like the real farmers are finding right now, water is at a premium.
Scott offers these DIY solutions to your common gardening problems:
1.Reuse water: Eco-friendly homes recycle whats called greywater to use on the yard. Greywater is waste water generated from domestic activities such as laundry, dish washing, and bathing, which can be recycled on-site for uses such as landscape irrigation. says Wikipedia. (Its important to note that greywater is not sewage water- aka blackwater.)
DIY Greywater: Fill a bucket with the cold water from your shower while you wait for it to heat up, suggests Scott. Water your plants and save money on your water bill!
2.Save money on weed control: You could boil that recycled water and pour the hot liquid on your weeds to kill them. Repeat as necessary.
Another handy method is to use cardboard or newspaper to lay over weedy areas to block out the weeds.
3.DIY Composter: Make your own composter for about $4 instead of buying one for $75 bucks at your local home improvement store! says Scott. All you need, besides a 5-gallon Homer bucket and lid, is a drill and or inch drill bit to make holes in the bucket and lid. Voila, you have a composter!
Once your compost is ready, mix it with your soil in the garden to add nutrients.
4.Plant Food! This seems obvious, but planting food you can harvest throughout the summer saves money on your grocery bill! Plant greens, herbs and veggies and replant often for a continuous supply.
5.Edible Weeds: Yep, some weeds are edible. Some Flowers too! You might be surprised by what is growing in your yard. Just be absolutely certain before you put a weed in your mouth or consider asking a professional! reminds Scott.
6.Bug control: Deter ants with cucumber peels, cayenne pepper, or vinegar. Says Scott, A 50-50 mix of borax and sugar sprinkled on an ants nest and trail will kill the little buggers.
Control slugs with shallow dishes of beer no kidding! They are attracted to it and drown. Spreading crushed eggshells around the plants also works.
Plant parsley, spearmint, sweet fennel, and dill in your garden to attract ladybugs, which hunt and kill aphids. says Scott. And you can use them in your cooking too!
7.DIY Raised Garden Beds: Use scrap lumber to make your own.
As a city farmer, my heart goes out to those who are struggling across the nation. In the meantime I will do my part to reuse and recycle and try to keep my garden growing!
For more great articles, go online to Metro Brokers TV.
by: Metro Brokers
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