Organic Garden & Home Magazine

Your practical guide to natural living

101 ways to save money

As prices continue to rise one of the first things that may be challenged is our commitment to organic principles. Are there ways you can save money without compromising? Gunars Ulmanis offers his 101 top tips for biting back against the credit crunch

(1) With the escalating cost of food, many people are now opting to grow their own fruit and vegetables, but even if you haven’t got a garden, (2) you can always use containers. A number of seed catalogues now label cultivars that are suitable for growing this way. (3) Getting an allotment is the next logical step, but if your local site is as over-subscribed as the one I belong to, your only choice is to try to share a plot. (4) Give your name to the allotment site secretary, pop up and ask around when most holders are working there and get yourself known. Even if you are successful in getting an allotment, sites vary considerably in the facilities they offer, so be prepared for additional expenses. (5) If a shed isn’t provided and you have the necessary DIY skills, make your own or if you intend to buy one, (6) choose a larger shed than you think you will need, as it will quickly fill up. (7) Try and get one without a window, as this should help deter thieves or if yours already has one, (8) attach a stiff metal grill over it. (9) At my allotment site, the local Crime Prevention Panel helped pay for bars to fit across the shed doors, as they were all broken into one night and (10) after much badgering, the Council finally installed a secure gate, nevertheless the fencing they promised has yet to materialise.

• See the other 90 ways to save money in the October 2008 issue...

• For the full story, see this month's issue, available to buy online!

Plan crop rotation

Copyright information

All content © Mortons Media Group • Kitchen Garden magazine | Subscribe to OGH | Buy current issue