Gardening during the Great Depression was a style of life . family unit rely on their garden to make full their plates and stretch their budgets when times were tough . What ’s amazing is that so many of the exercise they used back then are just as useful today , especially if you ’re looking to save money and make the most out of your garden .
These sample - and - truthful methods are practical , resourceful , and perfect for New gardener . It ’s proof that sometimes the old fashion really are the best direction .
Grow What You’ll Actually Use
Back in the Great Depression , gardener did n’t plant anything that would n’t terminate up on the dinner party table . It ’s a simple-minded conception , but it ’s still relevant today . Stick to vegetable and herbs you know you ’ll deplete , like Solanum tuberosum , love apple , or gullible beans . That way , you ’re not wasting clip , money , or treasured garden space .
It ’s alluring to grow something that take care coolheaded or is all over social media , but if you wo n’t deplete it , what ’s the power point ? Keep it practical and concentrate on crops your family love regularly .
Planting Partners That Work Together
Companion planting is one of those previous tricks that still works like a appeal . mate the right plants can help with everything from pest command to salutary flavor . For example , tomatoes thrive with St. Basil the Great nearby , and carrot do well next to onion because they fend off each other ’s plague .
Save Seeds for the Future
purchase seeds every year is o.k. , but why spend money on something your garden can provide for free ? save up seeds from your plants is an easy manner to keep your garden carry on its own . Let a few of your veggies , like love apple or pepper , go to seed , then compile and dry them for next year .
By doing this , you ’re creating a self - sustaining cycle that your grandparents would be majestic of . Plus , keep open seeds tend to turn better because they ’re already adapt to your soil and climate .
Make Your Own Compost
During the Great Depression , mass did n’t toss food scraps — they sprain them into plant food . Eggshells , coffee flat coat , veggie peeling , and even yard waste all went into a compost pile to create nutrient - rich soil .
Starting a compost pile today is just as voguish . It cuts down on waste and gives you innocent plant food that ’s right smart better than anything you may buy in a bag .
Perennials Save You Time and Money
Perennials like asparagus and rhubarb are the gift that keeps on gift . Once they ’re engraft and institute , they derive back year after year , cutting out the hassle of replanting . Plus , they ’re sodding if you ’re aiming for a low - maintenance garden that still delivers .
gift in a few recurrent works now means you ’ll have fresh produce every season without having to buy new seeds or starters . It ’s a impertinent way to pull through money and keep your garden productive without constant drive .
Use Every Inch
When infinite was tight , Depression - era gardeners beat originative . They made sure every column inch of grunge had a purpose , and you could do the same . Use trellis to mature climbing plants like bean or Cucumis sativus vertically , free up elbow room below for smaller crops like lettuce or radishes .
Interplanting is another great trick — mixing shorter plants between rows of taller ones helps maximize space and preserve the soil shaded , which can reduce down on weeds .
Regrow from Kitchen Scraps
Those veggie junk you ’d unremarkably toss ? They ’re the start of your next garden harvest home . Green onion , celery , lettuce , and even murphy can be regrown from scraps . Just crop up the root ends in water supply or soil and get them do their thing .
Save Water with Rain Barrels
Back in the Great Depression , squander water was n’t an alternative . Rain bbl were a hardheaded way to amass barren H2O for the garden , and it ’s still a great idea today . Set one up under your downspout or practice bucket to catch runoff during a rainstorm .
Not only will this pull through on your water poster , but it ’s also a more sustainable way to keep your garden hydrated .
Raise Chickens or Rabbits
impart Gallus gallus or rabbits to your garden setup is like having a natural hike to productivity . Chickens help with blighter control by rust bugs , and their manure is an amazing fertilizer . cony , on the other hand , produce nutrient - rich manure that ’s quick to use without composting .
These animals were common in Depression - epoch backyards for a reason . They ’re low-toned - cost to keep , allow for valuable resource , and make your garden more sustainable .
Preserve What You Grow
Canning , dry out , and fermentation were lifelines during the Great Depression , ensuring no harvest went to thriftlessness . Today , these method acting are just as practical . Whether you ’re freezing supernumerary green bean or making muddle from cucumbers , preserve your crop keep open you money and retain your pantry stocked year - rotund .
It does n’t take much to get initiate — some jars , a deep freezer , or a dehydrator can go a long way . Plus , there ’s something live up to about opening a jarful of home - give the axe tomatoes in the middle of winter , knowing exactly where they came from .
Mulch to Protect Your Garden
Mulch was a workhorse during the Great Depression . It helped control weeds , conserved water , and even keep soil temperature static . The best part ? It did n’t have to cost anything . Straw , fallen leaf , and even old newspaper publisher worked utterly .
Using mulch today is just as virtual . It ’s an easy way to keep your garden humbled - criminal maintenance while giving your plants a healthier environment to produce .
Share and Swap
During knockout times , neighbour often come together to swop seeded player , tools , and make . It was n’t only about catch by — it build a sense of community . If you ’ve got supernumerary tomatoes and your neighbor has more squeeze than they can treat , swap with them .
- This subject matter was create with the help of AI .
