With the current rate of inflation, bringing down the grocery bill is a priority. The price of food has become unbearable for many people. Most of us are already saving where we can. We opt for cheaper brands and use coupons. We take advantage of promotions where we can. But with a tight budget, it’s easy to still end up short of food supplies before the month is over.
But don’t despair, we’ve got you covered to save on fresh produce.
Buying groceries in a store, rather than sourcing and growing our own, is in reality a fairly new concept. The first true supermarkets opened in South Africa in the 1920’s. And since then, we’ve become accustomed to hunting and gathering with trolleys instead over decades.
We challenge you to start growing whatever fresh produce you can. It’s time to go back to our roots. Pun intended.
A veggie patch is an easy and fun activity for the whole family. It encourages you to eat healthy and it saves money. You can’t go wrong with a fresh salad from your garden. Or a roasted tomato soup from tomatoes you harvested, topped with fresh basil from your herb pots. And the best part? You can get started for a small amount of money.
Free Seeds and Kitchen Scraps You Can Regrow
Seeds are central to growing your veggies and fruits. But the cost can quickly get out of hand. Particularly around the growing season. Luckily there are ways to get free seeds. And kitchen scraps from food you’ve already consumed, can be regrown into more food. Many fruits and veggies have seeds that can be repotted. It’s a sustainable, and a cost effective way to put healthy chemical free food on the table.
Start small. Learn how to get your green fingers going before spending money on seeds.
Where to start? Next time you buy the following be sure to store the seeds to regrow when their growing season arrives.
Perfect for seeds:
- Tomatoes
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Green Pepper
- Chilli
Perfect for scrap growing:
- Onions
- Lettuce
- Potatoes
- Carrots
- Leafy greens
The list is endless…
You can of course also buy plants already grown. And buying seeds is also super exciting once you realise you can get a wide variety of fruit and veg that just isn’t available in supermarkets. Did you know you get rainbow spinach, yellow beetroot and pink and purple carrots? Websites such as Seeds4Africa and Living Seeds have an enormous range with excellent prices.
How to Start Growing Your Own Food
As a starter grower, there is a wealth of information to help you out. One excellent youtube channel produced by an avid Australian grower is Self Sufficient Me. Because Australia has a similar climate with the same seasons, watching his videos will help you make your own compost, grow veggies to maximum size and learn excellent tips and tricks that work.
Tomatoes
The easiest plant to grow is the tomato. Tomatoes are used in everything. They are jampacked with Vitamin C, D, and E and excellent for your health. If you do not have money to buy the seeds, simply take them from the next tomato you cut open. Wash the seeds thoroughly to get rid of the gel-like substance on the outside. Place your seeds between two pieces of toilet paper and inside a clear plastic bag. Spray a little water on the seeds, seal the bag, place it in a dark place and check on the seeds every day. When you see the roots emerge, take the seed, and place it into the soil with the root facing downward. Remember not to place them too deep in the soil, approximately 5 mm from the top.
Spinach
Spinach is used across the country to make a wide variety of dishes that adults love. Children, not so much. Unless you hide it inside very well disguised recipes, such as these awesome chocolate muffins. Spinach grows very easily but needs to be grown from seed. Unlike onions and leeks, spinach cannot be grown from the stem. A patch of ground can be used, a metre by a metre will do. Spinach will take over the area, so keep it strictly for spinach. You may also find bugs eating the leaves before you get to them. Use chilli infused water and sprinkle cinnamon powder around the base of the plant.
Green Peppers, Chillies and Jalapenos
Chillies might be cheaper to buy, but green, red and yellow pepper prices are through the roof. Jalapeno’s as well, despite how easy it is to grow them. All three can be grown from seeds collected from your next shop, or you can buy the seeds online. Chillies, jalapenos and peppers can be grown in their own separate pots or next to each other in the ground. Make sure that you mark the plants as they all seem to look quite similar when coming up. No one wants to mistake a fresh green pepper for a green chilli or jalapeno.
Potatoes
Potatoes are so easy to grow. They will start in your cupboard if you give them half a chance. Use two paint buckets that fit into each other. Cut large slit openings about 10cm wide around the bucket. Place the cut bucket into the first one, fill with soil and use about 5 potatoes per bucket. Within a week or so you should see the potato plants coming up. When it is time to harvest simply lift the inside bucket, take out your potatoes and put the bucket back in to continue growth.
Can you grow these veggies on the windowsill?
Yes, besides potatoes, almost all your daily veggies can be grown in pots in your kitchen. Growing your own fresh produce is now more important than ever. Looking after your budget in every way, shape and form will make sure that you can make it financially from month to month. Good luck growing, and let us know how it goes. Share photos on social media and help other South Africans to start their own veggie patch.