Frugal Living Challenge 2011 - part 1

elly68

hi well not done too well in frugaldom this week but will get back on track think i will use my ms voucher for lunch and a treat that might get me back on track .

lynzpower

midwinter wrote: »

Saving plastic trays to start the seeds off in. Will start saving loo roll tubes. Should also think about a mini composter too, going to have to buy all my compost, and compost would augment it for next year

i think the best thing to have is a wormery if you have a small space. I had one then i ruined it and like an idiot disposed of it. However, ive been looking at making my own wormery over the last few days. the good thing about wormeriies is that they are quick to make compost. if i find a good video or something ill share it.

Banana boxes are no good as they will hold water and start to rot. however the big polystyrene boxes that fish mongers have are ideal.for eg beans or peas. you can do potatoes in pop up bins from £land they worked ok but i bought compost and it probably cost £3 for about a quids worth of potatoes. when i moved i couldnt bring it with me!

weve inherited a garden which was complete brambles and im dreading trying to sort it out, so Ill be definately using some of my containers as well for things i f i want them to survive

People also successfully grow many things in "bag for life" ikea boxes and big blue bags, I have plastic trugs, pots ive scrounged and stuff from £land

lynzpower

http://www.thekidsgarden.co.uk/MakingAWormery.html

here we go gang, making mini wormeries in pop bottles! might start a few of these tomorrow :beer:

lynzpower

Ok, I think this is the one to do- nice and easy! I think i have everything needed for this little project as well. I believe that redworms can be bought from fishing shops, some sites say earthworms from the garden will do it, not sure... ??

http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/Easywormbin.htm

miss_empty_piggy

Wasn't even thinking about doing veg in my garden, and i chopped down my plum tree last year to make way. Also may possibly be renting the house out in a couple of months to my friend. However, I think that I might still plant some stuff as my BIG plans (like moving) never actually seem to come to fruition, so the veg will be handy for summer time. Feel all inspired now to get out into the garden, tidy up (and organise the garage) ready for planting seeds etc.....can't wait to get started. Will have to get my allotment book out and see what i should be doing!!!!

seriouslyfrugal

Hi Everyone


another NSD for me today :T today is month end for me ( it's just how i've worked things out on my spreadsheet )


I noticed in the 99p shop they have started to get the veggie seeds and garden things in ( 4 packs of seeds for 99p) as well as other veggie packs ( herbs etc) i'm not sure how good they are though as i've not tried them before has anyone tried these would be nice to know if it's worth a go

Erme - i'm glad your feeling a bit better

have a good frugal weekend everyone

midwinter

lynzpower wrote: »

Ok, I think this is the one to do- nice and easy! I think i have everything needed for this little project as well. I believe that redworms can be bought from fishing shops, some sites say earthworms from the garden will do it, not sure... ??

http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/Easywormbin.htm

Thanks very much indeed lynzpower for the time you've taken & the links, this looks really easy to do, and given that £land seems to have lots going for it planting wise, I'll get to one over the next couple of weeks.

I do think the wormery seems a better idea given my limited space, and it seems quicker than composting also.

midwinter

seriouslyfrugal wrote: »

I noticed in the 99p shop they have started to get the veggie seeds and garden things in ( 4 packs of seeds for 99p) as well as other veggie packs ( herbs etc) i'm not sure how good they are though as i've not tried them before has anyone tried these would be nice to know if it's worth a go

I've tried these before, and some have worked very well. You do need to remember that you need to have the containers ready to take the plants as they get older, and don't be tempted to start them off too early, as they just grow lanky, and are damaged when moved to another container or outside to the ground.

lynzpower

I noticed in the 99p shop they have started to get the veggie seeds and garden things in ( 4 packs of seeds for 99p) as well as other veggie packs ( herbs etc) i'm not sure how good they are though as i've not tried them before has anyone tried these would be nice to know if it's worth a g

o

Yes I bought £shop seeds and they were fine, there were a couple of naff odd seeds- but you get quite a lot in the little sachets, I still have some left for this year in a tin, peppers, aubergine, cress, etc

Only bought "proper" seeds for quite random things like creeping squash that i didnt get in £land/ wilkinsons.

redglass_2

Aril wrote: »

Last year OH got very stressed trying to grow everything from seed at what is a very busy time of year for him workwise. We checked the price in the local garden centre for the reasonable sized seedlings last year and have calculated that by factoring in the time saved aswell as the actual plants we have room for it doesn't work out any more expensive. Both of us like to have some homegrown veg but this is the easiest way for us to achieve our aim.
Aril

Worth checking out in the local library: THE HALF HOUR ALLOTMENT by Lia Lendeertz which is full of tips for getting your veggies with less slog and being selective rather than work intensive. She's all in favour of plug plants. The book is quite expensive so best to loan, not buy.;) Bob FLowerdew has also got a book (I forget the title) about taking the sweat out of gardening and it has a veggie section. He tells you which plants are easiest to grow, easiest to save seed from, etc. And he's not in favour of digging!