Supply suggestions (getting depressed)?

16 years ago

Hi everyone. IÂm getting into a little herb garden, as IÂve heard that planting and growing veggies yourself saves loads of money over time. But IÂve been having trouble finding the right kinds of tools and supplies. I live in a small suburb, but IÂve spent so much money and time trawling through the phone books and directory assistance for supply shops. IÂm afraid to go to grocery stores for seeds and things, because those things there are full of pesticides and preservatives (right?). What should I do? IÂm on a fixed income and am on something of a saving spree.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (15)

fatamorgana2121
16 years ago
One of my favorite places to suggest for people just starting out and wanting to experiment with different seeds is Pinetree Seeds. Their seeds are usually $.075 to $1.30 a packet. They have good quality seeds and are a good place to do business with.

You'll love your own veggies and herbs. Many of them are very simple to grow and nothing tastes like something grown in your own dirt with your own hands. And for the cost of your time and a packet of seeds, you do get a lot of value back.

FataMorgana

Here is a link that might be useful: Pinetree Seeds
booberry85
16 years ago
Put up on your trade list what you're looking for. Post your wants on the Exchange side of this forum as well as on the Seed Exchange forum. There are a lot of kind, generous folks out there that can help you with seeds.

For gardening equipment (shovels, hoes, digging tools, hoses etc) check www.craigslist.com. Check in both the "free" section and the "farm & garden" section. I'd also check the Pennysaver and other small local newspapers to see if anyone has gardening supplies listed.
Related Discussions
Dedicated supply line or tee off existing supply line
Q
Comments (4)
tay, 1) Maybe, if you want the maximum pressure compared to taking water off your outside faucet which has its pressured reduced along with your house to about 45 psi. Usually the street pressure is somewhere between 55 to 70 psi. If the street pressure is too high then the pressure needs to lowered to about 60 psi with a pressure reducer. Lower pressure means more zones you will need to operate with your controller. 2) It is fine. It just means a higher velocity through the smaller pipe which causes more noise. If buried not a real problem. A larger pipe means less velocity and a larger maximum flow rate for a certain system pressure. 3) This question is confusing. Are you asking about installing a compression tee at your house mainline and then bring 1" pvc from there. Is that your mainline that feed your house at the bottom of the excavation. It looks small. Usually mainlines to houses are 5/8" up to 1". That line looks like a 1/2" main. My suggestion is test your system pressure then lets discuss you answers again. Aloha
...See More
This is getting depressing
Q
Comments (23)
Dirtygardener, you have alot of company here, and alot of company who have dug themselves out of the emotional loss of a beloved garden. Many here have suffered through job loss, loss of home, loss of loved ones. We eventually do find our way back into the sunshine, and you can too. I know some have suggested volunteer work in a community garden. It's a great idea. Or, what about checking out the global movement of Guerrilla Gardeners? Some communities have so much need for some greening up, and some will surely welcome your expertise. We've all lost plants, more than I can count, on my end. I think some of the more successful gardeners here in the deep south have lived in their homes long enough to have some established shade-giving trees and plantings. Those without any shade at all have the brutallest conditions, for sure. I've lost a couple of fruit trees here this past Winter, in the drought. I tried so hard to keep things watered, but there's only so much one can do, when the landlord doesn't want to repair the sprinkler system. And I'm not about to pay for supplies and labor to fix the thing myself. So I grow in pots, and they are mostly in shady areas, where I have some chance of keeping them alive, even thriving. Hook up with other people, not just gardeners. What were your hobbies in good times? Can you offer some expertise to a scouting group, or through some of the local associations? It's always amazing how friendships become just that more interesting when one discovers some common interests, previously not shared. If you were local, we would surely snag you for a garden swap. Just do it! Randy
...See More
Where to get garden supplies on the cheap?
Q
Comments (12)
You don't need to purchase pots or cups to start your seeds either. I recyle soda bottles, any kind of plastic container that food items come in, paper towel and toilet paper rolls for sowing seeds of plants that dislike transplanting (just plant the entire roll, soil, and seeds in the. ground, or a pot Sometimes nurseries and garden centers will sell you their discarded black nursery pots for el cheapo. For seed starter mix, you can buy a big bag of milled sphagnum moss and mix half and half with perlite. You can get a bag (3 cubic feet or so) of peat, and the same for perlite, at American Plant Products. They are wholesale but will sell to public if you call in advance and tell them you can't find source at local garden centers. This will make a ton of seed starting mix. It won't have fertilizer or starter growth ferts in it like the seed starting mixes sold at garden centers and such, but you don't need it to get your seeds to germinate. You can then fertilize with a diluted water soluble fert. Other pot suggestions: plastic see-thru to-go containers. For instance, I got a Sundae to go at Braum's today and it came in a clear, domed container that I will wash and use for seeds. You can make a seedling flat out of the waxed cardboard boxes that fruit arrives in at the market. They will part with them for nothin. The waxed coating will prevent the cardboard from getting wet and deteriorating long enough e to start some plants in. Clean these or wipe down with a cloth in 10:1 bleach/water solution. Always make sure you have drainage holes in the bottom, and a few holes in lids, too. You can get tons of other stuff from APP in larger amounts and for much cheaper than it is sold retail. Use old blinds cut up for making plant labels, or I have also used the larger size popsicle sticks with a sharpie or pencil. You'll probably have to figure out something different for when they go into the garden if use the wooden popsicle sticks, tho. Right now is a good time to start looking at the curbside trash for items like blinds, buckets and other containers, etc. to be converted to garden use. If you need veggie seeds, I've got tons I will give to you. I got several last year from Seeds of Change and I will never use them. They include beans, eggplant, corn, cukes, sunflowers, cilantro, peas, and so much more. If you want them, they are yours. I never used any of them. Plus I have tomato and papper seeds and many other vegetable seeds from last year, too, a few used from the packs, and some unopened packs. Susan Here is a link that might be useful: American Plant Products
...See More
Can dogs get depressed?
Q
Comments (7)
Our 15 y.o. cat's littermate/brother passed away in January. She is still not right. She didn't eat well for a month or two afterwards and has had some pretty intense yowling sessions to this day. She's been to the vet twice and they haven't been able to find anything wrong with her (she is hyperthyroid, but it hasn't changed in over a year, so meds were not off). Her sleep patterns also switched around completely after he passed away. I am convinced that she has taken his loss pretty hard and is still grieving even now. Some people around me think I'm nuts- most tell me that she doesn't even remember him at this point. They were a close unit and looked out for each other, his loss changed the entire dynamic of her world. After this last 6 months, I am certain animals can grieve long and hard, and maybe never be quite the same again. I'm so glad that your dog bounced back upon seeing you. Hope you get a chance to go spend more time with her soon- it sounds like you are good medicine!
...See More
User
16 years ago
Depending on the size of your garden area a couple of good knifes from a second hand store can be used for most processes until you are able or can afford equipment. The Old Hickory work best. I wore out several iin a community garden when all I could afford was the 10 for a $1.00 seeds.

Everyone including me wants the newest and best but sometimes it is better to use what you have rather than invest in a lot of tools then decide that you neither have time or patience to garden.

As far as using the seeds in the spice racks, yes they may have had pesticides applied while growing but you probably eat them everyday if you go to a resturant. If you can afford the organic seeds go for it. You should find many available right now at your local hardware store.

At one time "Organic" really meant few or no chemicals but with the USDA becoming envolved organic has become more of a advertizing ploy unless you can work in the fields with the growers. You might want to consider a CSA if there are any in your area. For a set amount of money or donation of time you will receive what is available to the group. Different CSA's have different requirements. But you will probably need to expand your eating habits.
ksrogers
16 years ago
Peaceful Valley is a HUGE source on the west coast. Not everything you want can be bought locally in your area, so you must make use of more resources. Even though I live on the east coast, I still have to get striped cucumber beetle lures from Peaceful Valley, as I have never seen them anywhere else.
homegrown1
16 years ago
Let me know what you are looking for in terms of herbs/veggies. I have a great selection of seed to spare. I always order from pinetree gardens, superseeds.com, or park seed. If you have a limited income and a small amount of space try veggies and herbs which do well in containers. Some of the best of both I have grown have been kept in containers. They are easy to move if needed for light requirements, watering, etc. Wal Mart carries huge plastic containers which are awesome to use. The best tomatoes I have ever grown were grown in 2-5 gallon plastic pots purchased at "Wally World." The plant environment is easy to control in these containers. Let me know what you are interested in growing. I may have seeds to send.
barbe_wa
16 years ago
I've found Artistic Gardens an inexpensive place to buy small quantities of herb seeds. I've had very good results with their seeds.

Here is a link that might be useful: Inexpensive seeds
constancegaw
16 years ago
I think your fears are a little unfounded. Sure, groceries donÂt always sell the healthiest veggies (unless theyÂre organic groceries, and even then), but itÂs not as if theyÂre deadly poison shops. Anyway, if youÂre just starting out, start simple. Get yourself a small plot, simple fertilizer, and cheap tools. See if itÂs right for you. You donÂt need to spend money getting expensive things if you end up quitting or throwing out your back taking hoe to soil. And if youÂre intent on saving up, have you thought of switching to free or low-rate services for phones? Comcast and other carriers now offer low-cost combinations of phone, net and tv, and 1800-Free-411 is a free directory assistance service. With that you can pretty much trawl all you need without worrying about the charges.
zengeos
16 years ago
I am still impressed with the breadth of varieties of seeds offered by FEDco. Prices are reasonable, and often quite cheap.
rosefenn
16 years ago
Pensivet -- you can also do Internet surfing, your local library should have free internet access if (like me!) you don't own a computer! Also, Every spring the Walgreen's stores in my area (Omaha, Nebraska) have seeds for sale -- 10 packs for $1.00, and also I picked up some great hand tools there on the cheap. And I also found a wheelbarrow at the local Goodwill store!
Heathen1
16 years ago
I don't know if gardening is cheaper... and if you are poor, like myself, you will end up doing a LOT of labor! Gardening isn't for sissies. :o) But it's worth it as we've given up taste for convenience and you'll get nice tasting tomatoes instead of those mealy unripe dyed ones from the store. Everything tastes better from your garden.
Chard is a good one, if you can get chard seeds and you don't have too cold of a winter, it's perennial. It's not an attractive plant after the first year, but you still get chard!
scents_from_heaven
16 years ago
I have lots of stuff to share. Let me know and I will pop some in the mail for you. I have lots of tomatoes, peppers, veggies, herbs, some rare seeds. I love to experiment and so have lots of extras. My email direct is(loverofdisney@hotmail.com) I know what it is like to want to do but don't have the money to do. You will discover that most gardeners are generous and caring. Linda
granite
16 years ago
Yes, and speaking of generous and caring, you should check out your local garden and herb clubs. Lots of them have ways to share plants (sales vs. trades vs give aways). If you are fairly bold and outgoing (like me), you go knock on the door of a local gardener and say "I love your garden, its wonderful. Where do you recommend I go to buy herb starts?"

Its better than even odds that at the house of a true gardener they will say "I really like [local garden center] but I need to divide my oregano, thyme [fill in blanks] and I'd be happy to give you some starts."
fatamorgana2121
16 years ago
Too true - I never met a true gardener that didn't have something to share with other gardeners, especially people just starting a garden. Garden clubs would be a good way to connect with these people.

FataMorgana
emmakitty
16 years ago
thanks barbe_wa, that seed site is amazing.
maricybele
16 years ago
What part of Oregon are you from? I'm in the Beaverton area, are you near me? Email me we talk about some cuttings if you are close.

Supply suggestions (getting depressed)?

Comments (15)

fatamorgana2121

booberry85

Related Discussions

User

ksrogers

homegrown1

barbe_wa

constancegaw

zengeos

rosefenn

Heathen1

scents_from_heaven

granite

fatamorgana2121

emmakitty

maricybele

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US