Gardening can be expensive with all the tools, sprays, soil additives, and of course plants.
But not all products have to be expensive. Or something like that, in some cases.
These days when inflation is high and a dollar just isn't enough, here are five inexpensive ways gardeners can keep doing what they love.
1. Compost and mulch
Many places offer free compost and mulch or they can help you make your own if you know where to look. Here are some places to visit in Southern California.
Orange County . The Orange County waste management agency, OC Waste & Recycling, has recently branched out into composting. OCWR produces compost near landfills in Irvine and San Juan Capistrano and plans to do the same at a third facility in Brea, in line with state laws requiring green waste reuse. Compost consists of plant clippings, grass clippings, weeds, and other materials that are usually sent in green containers.
The agency opened its doors in May to Frank R. from Irvine. Bowerman made his first composting run to Orange County residents at the landfill, and people came in droves. Some took bags of prepackaged items, while others shoveled them and filled their trucks with large piles.
"They've collected every speck of dust," said David Theo, OCWR's deputy director for the central region.
San Bernardino County . Inland Empire Utilities of San Bernardino County also supplies green waste and bio-compost twice a year during Earth Day events and International Earth Awareness Week in April. Compost in early May. They also often partner with the City of Chino to provide bulk and bagged compost on Saturdays in May. People interested in composting should keep an eye on the agency's website for updates.
Riverside County . The Riverside County Waste Resource Department offers explanations about traditional composting and worms. They also offer free private lessons for everyone, according to an email from Janet Moreland, a recycling specialist.
Los Angeles County - Compost's cousin Molish is the star of the Los Angeles show. The city offers free distribution of mulch to residents of various locations. Some places only offer mulch on certain days of the week, while others offer mulch every day. For more information, visit the Los Angeles Sanitation website.
2. Ground coffee
Coffee beans are a popular soil supplement for gardeners because they contain nitrogen, which promotes the growth of green leafy plants and also promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. One place where there is a lot of free land is Starbucks.
Since 1995, Starbucks stores have been providing used coffee bags as part of the company's Land for Your Garden program.
This program is one of the ways the company is trying to reduce food waste by giving a second life not only to coffee, but also to Starbucks packaging. According to the company representative, the ground coffee is packed in bags containing espresso beans.
The email notes that not all locations participate in Grounds for Your Garden, so interested people should contact their local Starbucks to see if any are available.
3. Save seeds and seeds.
One of the easiest ways to save money is to save seeds from existing plants.
Keeping seeds is not only free, but gardeners who store seeds of the same variety for several seasons can grow plants more suitable for their region.
Tomatoes, cilantro, lettuce, peas, beans, and amaranth are easy-to-preserve plants for beginners, but for gardeners who want to thicken and save seeds from something like cantaloupe, there are plenty of information resources online.
The Seed Savers Exchange website has detailed instructions on how far apart different species should be planted to avoid pollination and how to remove their seeds.
4.) Seed supplier companies
Some companies offer free seed packets along with paid orders in the hope that customers will discover a new favorite.
Missouri-based Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds offers one bag of seeds for orders of $10 or more and two bags for each $35 order, according to Cathy McFarland, a spokeswoman for public relations at the company.
He said that repeat shoppers at Baker Creek who place multiple orders sometimes get the same effort more than once for free, but those customers often exchange their packages for different options in places like Facebook groups.
MacFarland said Baker Creek is receiving a lot of positive feedback on the free items.
“There have been enough testimonials from people who have received something they have never heard of and have never tried, but because it is free, they will try it and be glad they did,” he said. . . "That's also part of our goal. We're a historic seed company, so we want people to try something they haven't tried before."
MacFarland said the company also has an extensive donation program and has provided seeds for gardening events, community gardens, school gardens, seed libraries, and more. He said that the company will try to meet the demand for certain types of vegetables, but it will not be able to meet the demands of certain varieties.
He said the company prefers donating to nonprofits with a 501(c)(3) rating, but it's "not an absolute necessity."
5. Books and reading materials on the Internet
A little experience can go a long way in the garden, and an online search turns up many free books on topics ranging from beginner tips to information on how to grow.
Reading services like Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook offer a huge selection of books for the price of one, but there are also plenty of free titles you can find on every service and, of course, at your local library.
Those looking for vintage inspiration can find thousands of vintage seed catalogs for free at the USDA-supported Henry G. Gilbert Seed Trade and Nursery Catalog.
"It's all there," Craig Le Houllier, author of Epic Tomatoes, said in a recent interview. "People go to eBay and spend hundreds of dollars on old seed catalogs, but it's all digital and free."
People often like catalogs because they provide information on the old heirloom varieties that people have grown for decades, but Le Jullier said the catalogs also provide information on how to grow different types of plants and how to solve common problems.
"It's empowering and comforting because you realize that the diseases and insects that plagued your garden are the same diseases that people suffered in the 1870s or 20th century," Lehullier said.
