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Re: New gardener

Hi Molly and other "Budget Gardeners",

After eight years of college, 'poor' was my name. Still, I had a flourishing
garden, which helped immensely (!!) with my grocery budget during and after
college.

My number one rule is to not be afraid or ashamed to ask others for things.
People are generous with their offerings when it involves a garden. I first
went to the people at church. I put a message in the Sunday bulletin briefly
explaining my purpose and what I needed to get started. This is very
acceptable at my church, especially since growing a garden and maintaining a
food storage is strongly encouraged. Those that donate are, after all,
helping their brothers.

People lent me a drill and a nifty assortment of drill bits, compost, well
rotted- manure, seeds, plants, cinder blocks, weathered 1 x 6 no.2 untreated
pine (which gave my boxes a delightful seasoned look), various nails and
screws, and a hand saw. Then I went to a local business that refurbishes old
homes. They had a discard pile for wood they pulled out of old homes. I found
a wonderful piece of plywood for the bottom of my garden box (my garden was
on a balcony), sturdy wood stakes to wrap my shade material (cheesecloth
donated by a home canner), and 1 x 2 board to make a base for a full garden
cage. As I drove around I found a few windows that people had put out on
their lawn with a sign that said, "Please take-free", so I took them. A local
farmer gave me bailing twine so I could make a trellis. A wooden tongue-blade
type of stick worked well as a trowel for that first year. As Mel suggested,
a pencil worked just fine as a dibble. I needed one cup of lime for my
brassicas. My neighbor graciously gave me lime.

Initially, the only expense I incured was for vermiculite, garden plastic,
and chicken wire. I suggest buying the garden plastic and chicken wire at a
lumber supply company, not at the garden center. When maintaining a planter
box, vermiculite is indispensible. I tried to save money by not using it. I
watered twice a day and it wasn't enough. I worked in vermiculite after two
weeks and the water retaining capacity of the planting medium (soil) was
dramatically improved. It was well worth the blow to my budget.

So my suggestion is to involve others in your gardening adventures. People
enjoy helping a gardener. My 'helpers' still to come to visit and enjoy the
beauty of my 'unusual' garden. I am thankful for their support and
encouragement. Twenty years later I am helping new gardeners. I receive such
enjoyment to be a part of a new gardening endeavor.

Also, my garden box came with me as I traveled for my job as a traveling
nurse. For seven years I took my square foot garden with me as I worked
three-plus month assignments in all parts of the U.S. It was a great way to
meet people.

Good luck.

Lorrie
Vermont

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