Frugal Tips for Gardening with Kids.

Gardening and self sufficiency is a lifestyle that has been handed down for many years. Most people who garden learned from their parents. Other’s held an interest in gardening from clubs or associations that they were involved in growing up. Frugal gardening tips have also been handed down through the generations. Parents that spent very little but harvested a lot. Some aspects of gardening can be expensive. Learning how to garden with what is on hand, and recycled products keeps down the cost. Like anything else, if you want to spend a lot, then that is possible. Saving money is a conscious choice. Some ways that I have helped my kids learn is by working with me. Milk jugs and sticks tied to a pole. These devices were created to keep birds out of the garden. I

Plan a Special Garden Area

Gardening without a plan creates unnecessary expense. Using seed packets and a “special” garden plan for spaghetti sauce is an idea. Plan out the ingredients, then grow them. Buying seed packets for the ingredients, and growing them in frugal homemade pots costs under $10.00.

Let them find a recipe for their sauce in a canning book. Then, later in the year at harvest let them learn how to can the spaghetti sauce.  Teach them how to set a budget on plants and seeds. Let them make a pros and cons list on which would be better.

Frugal Garden Planning Tip

Put plants together that they will need on paper, and teach them how to layout the garden plan. Learning how to plant and take care of vegetables is a life skill. Growing up, I learned a lot from the home garden.

Many times I have laid out my garden wrong and it costs me time and money. One year, my zucchini wrapped around several of my tomato plants and killed them. I use tomatoes and can them for chili sauce. Laying out the garden allows for the plants to grow with the space they need to be bountiful. An abundant garden is a compliment to the gardener. Teaching children to rely on their own skills for food is life changing, and one of the best frugal tips I

can offer.

Find Garden Tools Made for Kids on Sale.

Kids love to have their own stuff. This is the time of year to hit a few sales and see if they have any tools for kids. A few year’s ago I scored some gloves that mine could use, and some diggers.

I don’t know why, but I can hand my kids a bucket and they find 101 uses for that bucket. I purchase buckets, gloves, diggers and hats for them at the dollar tree. Gardening season is something  for them to look forward to every year and now it is a tradition.

Aprons are a fun art project and can also be used for gardening. Kids love projects and this frugal project can be done in a day.  

Let them make their own place markers

Homemade is more fun. Creating and designing place markers for a garden allows for ownership in the project. Getting out the paint and making a design for their markers taught them art skills and planning. The colors needed to be bright and the words very clear.     As we worked on this project ,detail and precision came into play. My kids made some really easy and frugal place markers out of rocks.     Working with kids on life skills and different hobbies is rewarding. I enjoy teaching them about the hobbies I love and hopefully, someday they will too. Enjoying a frugal garden with kids can be satisfying. In many ways frugality is learned, and not taught. The more chances we give our kids to be around us, the more they will pick up our frugal living habits.     Follow me on Instagram @momsarefrugal for more adventures in homeschooling and saving.