With the ever-growing prices on food at the grocery store, here is a timely idea to cut down on your produce costs for this upcoming summer.

At the beginning of each spring, I go to the local dollar store and get all kinds of seeds. I can buy four packets of seeds for $1.25 so I get a wide variety of fruits, veggie, and herbs. (Walmart also sells seed packets for about $.20 per pack at the end of the season.)  If you have missed these great deals, Walmart does have a decent price on seeds compared to other home improvement stores.

It is a no brainer to get tomatoes (all diverse kinds), peppers, radishes, carrots, lettuce, cucumbers, and zucchini. (I do not get onions because I am allergic, but this would be another great vegetable for you to plant.)  You can also get cantaloupe and watermelon! (You will need more space to grow these.)  I also get a bunch of herb seeds as well. (Parsley, oregano, cilantro, basil, chives, dill, etc.)  Whatever you like…

I have all the herbs and two distinct kinds of lettuce planted in a 1.5 foot by 2-foot wooden container. I used the back of a pencil to make holes in the soil and put in seeds, covered, and watered. When the herbs grow, I cut off and bring them in to the house and wash. If I am not going to use it directly, I then dry them. (Lay on a paper towel for a couple of days and then I take them off the stems and put in little sandwich baggies that I label.) 

Tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini are planted along our back deck. And peppers, strawberries and blueberries are planted in pots on our deck. This past year I grew sugar snap peas, and I just ate them right off the vine!!!

Before I got married, I had a huge garden out back where I grew the usual tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and strawberries. I also had carrots, radishes, red beets, watermelon, and cantaloupe. Carrots, radishes, and red beets took more work in that you needed to weed and thin out. But, if you have the space and time, it will help save you a ton of money.

It does take time to have a garden. To plant, water, weed, and pick your fruits and vegetables. With just a little bit of time, we get a ton of fruits and vegetables. Last year we had so many tomatoes that I canned tomato sauce and salsa!

I have already started my seeds growing indoors (I used an empty egg carton for the herbs and an empty rotisserie chicken container for tomatoes, peppers, and sugar snap peas.)  It is amazing to me how fast they grow. Like my wallet, since I will not have to buy produce this summer!!!

Remember, Saving Money IS Making Money!