Plant edible garden

Planting an edible garden is trendy. Provided you remain frugal (it is possible to spend a fortune on a garden, thereby nullifying most of the reasons to do it), you’ll certainly save money. More than that, you’ll know exactly what you’re eating and where it came from.

There are myriad ways to get started. You can grow a garden in a black plastic trash bag, on a deck, in a pot or even on a windowsill. You don’t need acreage and perfect conditions to get started. You can do it now with what you have, right where you are.

There’s something soothing and satisfying about getting your hands dirty and watching stuff grow. Speaking of dirty hands ... once you get going, here is a collection of tips to further your success and enjoyment:

Clean nails. Keep dirt out from under your fingernails by scratching a bar of soap before beginning. When you’re finished, wash your hands thoroughly. The soap will wash away from under your nails. No railroad ties. Avoid using railroad ties in or around your vegetable garden. The chemicals used as preservatives to keep the wood from rotting are now thought to be toxic and harmful. Make it yourself. Control powdery mildew with milk. Dilute one part milk in

nine parts water and spray on the plants.

Master’s touch. Gently brush your hands across your tiny seedlings several times a day. This stimulates them to grow slightly

slower, resulting in stronger, sturdier stems.

Free weed “cloth.” Use newspapers as weed barriers when creating a new bed. They are printed with soy ink and decompose nicely, and they are simple to replace once decomposed.