Growing your own edible garden is a great way to save money. You'll be able to grow different crops that are relatively expensive to buy in supermarkets and at farmers markets. Plus, growing your own vegetables is both fun and rewarding.
Another way to save money is to use your compost as fertilizer. You can easily make compost from garden and kitchen waste, although this is a bit more time consuming, it will save you money because you do not need to buy chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Steps:
- To get started, you'll need a few pots or a small space in your backyard. You can even buy small containers and grow herbs in your kitchen.
- Visit your local nursery, or even hardware store if they sell plants, and pick up a few seed packets of vegetables (and herbs) you'd like to grow.
- Plant and water regularly.
- Before you know it you'll have your very own edible garden.
Seeds are magical little things - pieces of dried out "wood" that, when watered, suddenly come alive to make tall redwoods, bright red poppies, even delicious tomatoes and eggplant. Cutting are almost more amazing. Lop off a branch, stick it into some potting soil and you soon have an entire plant! If you've dreamed about starting your own summer garden from seeds or cuttings, March is a great time of year to get started. Starting your own plants is extremely easy. It also allows you to try varieties of plants - fruits and vegetables in particular - that you never see offered in the nursery.
About Nan Sterman:
Nan is an award-winning garden communicator, gardening expert, designer, and author of California Gardeners Guide, vol II, (Cool Springs Press, 2007), which is all about gardening in California's Mediterranean climate. Nan contributes regularly to regional and national publications such as the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union Tribune, Sunset, and Organic Gardening. One of Nan's favorite projects is her television show, "A Growing Passion" which is slated to start airing on Cox Television in San Diego this spring. She is also a regular guest on other television and radio shows. She was trained in organic gardening methods, sustainable gardening and raised-bed gardening at the Farallones Institute in Berkeley, California. She also served as a Master Composter and Master Gardener. Her formal training includes degrees in Botany and Biology. She is a board member of the Garden Writers Association and coordinates a 5,000 square foot school garden.
Website: http://www.plantsoup.com
Event:
24th Annual San Francisco Flower & Garden Show
Mach 18-22, 2009
At New Location: San Mateo Event Center
2495 South Delaware Street, San Mateo, CA 94403
Kids and the young-at-heart alike will especially enjoy the colorful display gardens and learning more about carnivorous plants and insects. The "Sproutopia" area will have hands-on activities and workshops that are free with admission for families. Musical entertainment and special presentations are planned as well. Discounted ticket prices for youth and students make it affordable to bring the whole family. Children 5 and under are free.
More than 70 free seminars and workshops sponsored by Sunset offer more talent, more topics and more tips than any other horticulture happening in California. Also, 300 specialty shops will have demos and displays of the newest and hottest top-quality garden-related items available on the market today.
When/Where:
Wednesday, March 18 through Sunday, March 22 at the San Mateo County Event Center, 2495 South Delaware St., San Mateo, 94403. The show is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. On Sunday, the show is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tickets:
A one-day adult ticket purchased at the door is $20. Those who purchase a one-day advance adult ticket online (printable at home), by phone or at Bay Area nurseries through March 17 pay only $16. Students, 18-25, with valid student ID, $9 at the door. Youth (6-17) $4. Children 5 and under are free. A 2-day ticket is $29. Half-day tickets from 3 p.m. to closing Wed. through Sat. (Sun. at 2 p.m.) are $13 at the door. The All Show Pass allows unlimited access to the show, $65. Group tickets (20 or more tickets by arrangement), $15.
For More Information and Tickets:
(800) 569-2832
(415) 771-6909
www.gardenshow.com
