In the age of the coronavirus pandemic, people around the world are searching for ways they can help their families and communities stay healthy while saving a little money at the same time. For some, this involves heading into the backyard with a packet of seeds and a mission: to grow vegetables! Here’s how you can get started.

 

First, Let’s Get Things Set Up.

 

Naturally, you can’t grow a garden if you don’t know how to do it. There’s an incredible number of resources available online to guide you, but we’ve assembled a few helpful guides that will get your garden growing in no time!

 

  • New to the world of gardening? No problem! Almanac.com has a great beginner’s guide to ease you through the process.
  • For people working with a small budget, try growing your garden from seeds instead of jumping right in with starter plants. This will take a bit longer, but you’ll end up saving some money over the long term.
  • Likewise, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on equipment — you can find many options under $50. You could also borrow from neighbors and friends.
  • And to help save you money on fertilizer, you can create your own compost by using coffee grounds and peels from fruits and veggies.

 

You Have a Pile of Veggies — Now What?

 

After some hard work and a lot of care, you’ll (hopefully) have a pile of vegetables to make into tasty dishes for your family. What’s more, you can share any extras with your neighbors or donate them to a charitable organization in your community.

 

  • Here’s one of the best things about veggies: You can feature them as the main course, or you can use them as a side dish. It truly all boils down to what you and your family want to do for dinner that evening!
  • If you have a particularly bountiful harvest and don’t want anything to go to waste, consider learning how to can your vegetables. And don’t worry — there is an assortment of remarkable dishes you can create using canned vegetables, from vegetable casserole to veggie pot pies!
  • If you have more produce than you know what to do with, then you could always donate to local food banks and churches. Or, you could set up a “food swap” in your neighborhood to help spread that love around.
  • Planning to donate food to the hungry in your community? Get your kids involved! This will help them learn that giving back truly matters and that you can make a difference through the smallest gestures.

 

Additional Resources

 

While these resources will help cover a lot of the basics, they merely scratch the surface. If you want some additional material, check out some of the following articles.

 

 

As you can tell, gardening requires a bit of hard work, but the benefits you’ll receive far outweigh the time and energy you’ll spend on it. So, figure out what your family would love to eat, invest in some seeds and tools, and start digging in the dirt! The benefits you, your family, and the community will receive at the end of a harvest are endless.