Just curious who else is living super frugal

[tntchix]

Any tips on growing the slips? I haven't tried sweet potatoes yet, but that's my next goal for my garden.

I just toss one (organic) into a big vase fill it about 1/3 full of water and leave it in a bright, but not sunny place on my counter. I change the water when it gets icky. They grow like mad.

I did an experiment last year with store bought vs organicly grown in someone's garden and the store bought slips grew straight up into the air, while the organic ones grew like vines are supposed to, twisting around everything. So weird to see. If I can find my picture I will post it later.

 

[PlaidBattleAxe]

I just toss one (organic) into a big vase fill it about 1/3 full of water and leave it in a bright, but not sunny place on my counter. I change the water when it gets icky. They grow like mad.

I did an experiment last year with store bought vs organicly grown in someone's garden and the store bought slips grew straight up into the air, while the organic ones grew like vines are supposed to, twisting around everything. So weird to see. If I can find my picture I will post it later.

Awesome! I think I'll try that right now. I've got a few from the store (need to scout around and try and find some organic local ones somewhere). I'm curious to see how it turns out. Thanks for the info!!

 

[tntchix]

Awesome! I think I'll try that right now. I've got a few from the store (need to scout around and try and find some organic local ones somewhere). I'm curious to see how it turns out. Thanks for the info!!

farmers market is your best bet. Good luck let me know how it goes.

 

[dutchbunny83]

I don't know how "frugal" this is because when it's said and done it cost me much more than the grocery stores
5/$1 corn specials in the summer BUT it's fresh, GMO free, organic, and put lots of chicken poo to use.
And as you can see my 2 year old absolutely loves growing it.
I just adored this photo wanted to share

 

[DennisK]

That picture is a KEEPER Dutchbunny83! I can relate to the cost of raising your own compared to what you can buy at the store. Keeping our chickens can’t be justified from a pure financial position, but then I counsel myself with the fact that I am really still learning. If our grandparents could economically keep chickens, why can’t I? So it turns into, not only a pleasurable hobby, but a financial goal that I think can be achieved. If you make, as a goal, growing your garden so that it is a financial advantage, I believe you have a very good chance of doing just that.

 

[tntchix]

I don't know how "frugal" this is because when it's said and done it cost me much more than the grocery stores
5/$1 corn specials in the summer BUT it's fresh, GMO free, organic, and put lots of chicken poo to use.
And as you can see my 2 year old absolutely loves growing it.
I just adored this photo wanted to share

so precious! Wholesome food is always frugal IMHO. You know where it comes from, and it didn't have to travel to get to you. That counts.

 

[erinszoo]

How many of you forage for seasonal fruits and things in your quest to be frugal? We always harvest wild blackberries and sand plums in the early summer and then sumac and elderberry in August. We also pick plantain and dandelion. My husband is watching some grape vine this year too.

 

[perchie.girl]

Hi I am new reading back posts as I go.... but I spotted something right away I can contribute... I am a city girl... even though I have eighteen acres I am not living there at this time. My Grandpa was a share cropper... Dad has shared many of those stories with me.

I have gathered Mustard greens here in San Diego.... filled my jacket and strapped it to the back of my saddle. Seared in bacon grease... and served up with what ever meat you have for dinner... Wild greens are pretty bitter so sprinkle with a little vinegar.... OMG good.

.deb

 

[PlaidBattleAxe]

How many of you forage for seasonal fruits and things in your quest to be frugal? We always harvest wild blackberries and sand plums in the early summer and then sumac and elderberry in August. We also pick plantain and dandelion. My husband is watching some grape vine this year too.

We harvest the wild strawberries (mostly just for eating, it'd take waaaaaay too many of the little guys to can, but the kids love picking them) and have wild blackberries that grow all around my yard. I pick dandelion and lambsquarters as long as I can for fresh greens to use. I just started with plantain for medicinal purposes. @erinszoo do you use the plantain as an eating green? I've heard you can sautee it and it's pretty tasty. My goal is to identify all the "weeds" in my yard and the surrounding woods and learn about them and figure out how to use as many of them as I can for either herbal or food purposes. Its a fun and tasty challenge but I have to cross reference my identifications with multiple sources to be sure (so no poisonous mishaps occur).
@perchie.girl those mustard greens sound really good! I've never had them, but a few people that I know have mentioned how good they can be sautéed like that.

 

[DennisK]

Blanching in bacon grease; I got to try that. And lambsquarters – I believe that is a weed that I have been pulling from my budding vineyard. I had no idea that was edible. Thank you ladies for those great ideas! During early spring, minerslettice grows under the oaks out here. I enjoy them as a salad. Last year, I was pulling a weed from my garden – I have no idea what it was, but I nibbled a little of the leaf and found that I liked it more than the lettuce we were growing.