Cheap Ways to Eat Organic

Choosing organic foods is not only the trendy thing to do- it’s the healthy thing to do, but eating healthy can come with a pretty hefty price tag. According to the New York Times, organic food can be anywhere from 20 to 100 percent more expensive than non-organic food. A single dollar can buy you 1,200 calories of harmful, processed food or a meager 250 calories of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, or organic meat. So how are we expected to eat healthy when we can’t afford to buy the foods that are good for us?

Growing your own organic garden is the easiest and cheapest way to eat healthy. Not only will you be saving money by growing your own food, you’ll also be improving your health by limiting the amount of toxins and chemical filled foods you’re putting into your body. 

Don’t have a backyard? Make use of your rooftop, balcony, fire escape or windowsill. There is no excuse as to why you can’t eat healthier without dipping into your piggy bank.

Before you begin, make sure you have the right tools. You’ll need gardening gloves, a trowel, pruning shears, a watering can,  a shovel, a spading fork, a rake, and a wheelbarrow. If you’ll be growing your garden at an apartment using a windowsill or other type of container you’ll only need the first four items.

Decide what to grow. Pick up seeds of some of your favorite fruits and vegetables at your local grocery store or home improvement store such as Wal-Mart and Lowe’s, or visit your local organic nursery. If you’d rather have a head start on your crops, you can purchase starter plants.  Are you going to be growing your garden indoors? Remember to keep in mind that certain plants don’t do well indoors.

Read the instructions. If this is your first time trying your hand at gardening, remember to pay close attention to the directions on the seed packages and the information tag. Here you can find what kind of care the plant needs, such as how much sunlight is required or specific instructions on how to plant the seeds. Some plants can handle direct sunlight while others will need to spend the majority of the day in the shade.

Maintain your garden the natural way. Weed problem? Try spreading mulch to discourage them or simply pull them out yourself. Remember to pull out the entire weed by the root. If you’ve noticed pesticides in your garden, use organic alternatives when attempting to get rid of them. Ladybugs for example will kill spider mites and aphids without hurting you, your plant or your pet. For more tips on how to control pesticides, log onto the internet, there are plenty of websites that offer ways to control weeds and pests naturally.

You’ll be enjoying organic fruits and vegetables from your own garden in no time, without breaking the bank.

 

Starting your own garden? Share your tips and favorite crops with us!