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There is a reason why buying fresh produce at the farmers’ market will cost you more than shopping at your local grocery store. Even though fruits and vegetables are supposed to be healthy, you have to remember that they are mass produced, which means they may have been exposed to things like pesticides. There’s no question about it – buying exclusively organic produce is the way to go if you want to ensure you stay healthy. Nevertheless, this is without a doubt the pricier option. If you’re looking to save money but want to continue eating quality food then you should start growing your own food. What Should You Grow? Thankfully, you can start gardening even if you don’t have any experience. It’s really easy and you can find all the necessary information online. What you should start planting depends on how patient you are. If you’re willing to wait a few years to see results, you should plant a fruit tree. However, most people choose to plant only vegetables in their garden because they prefer fast growing plants. For instance, after sowing carrots you can harvest them in just 50 days. When it comes to spinach it takes just 30 days to harvest it. On the other hand, you need to wait three to four years for a peach tree to start producing fruit. With that being said what you choose to grow is entirely up to you and how much patience you have. If you want to have a fruit tree you should definitely plant it. However, don’t expect it to save you a lot of money. Keep in mind that although fruit is a delicious snack you can’t make various meals with it. In other words, if you want to save money you should focus solely on growing vegetables. To do this, simply choose the veggies you like. Which Foods Can You Store? Once you make a list of all the vegetables you enjoy eating it’s time to do some research and determine which of them can be preserved or stored easily. By freezing or canning your food, you’ll be able to enjoy food from your garden all year long. Not to mention that this will help increase your savings. Some of the foods that can be stored for several months include onions and potatoes by keeping them at a certain temperature. Meanwhile, freezing or canning is the way to go when it comes to veggies like tomatoes, beans, sweet corn, and cucumbers. What You Need to Get Started Before you get started you should get some gardening tools, as they’re essential if you want your crops to grow properly. It’s also crucial you check your soil before planting anything. If you don’t have quality soil, your vegetables and fruit will get ruined. If you don’t have a lot of space, you can consider container gardening on your patio or balcony. Even those of you who live in apartments can grow small amounts of food at home. A herb garden, for example, takes up little space. The reality is, if you live in a really small space you won’t be able to grow enough to sustain you but you can certainly still start a small garden just for the enjoyment of growing and eating your own food. To start growing items in a larger space, keep in mind that different vegetables grow in different seasons. The Farmer’s Almanac is the traditional source for determining which months to plant which vegetables. I personally have had a lot of luck with squashes and gourd. Zucchini is one of my favorites (it tastes great on the grill!). Cucumber is also easy. Pumpkins, spaghetti squash and other gourds are fun to grow as well. The key is to experiment and have fun while you are at it! Conclusion Apart from helping you save money, you’ll see that the fruit you grow in your garden will be tastier than anything you can buy at the grocery store or the farmers’ market. It’s worth noting that even though gardening is not difficult, it will take you some time to master it. Note that plants will require your regular attention as they need to be watered, maintained, and harvested. While it’s definitely recommended you try growing your own food, you should start small. Planting too many vegetables your first year will leave you feeling overwhelmed. Begin with your favorite few vegetables and work on improving your skills before you expand your garden. Do you grow your own food at home? What do you think would be the easiest thing for someone to start with? Let us know in the comments below! RELATED POSTS 7 FREE 52-WEEK MONEY SAVING CHALLENGE PRINTABLESHOW TO SAVE 3,000 IN A HURRY

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