One of my favorite hobbies is growing plants. The house has its fair share of house plants and Orchids. The front garden and driveway have an abundance of fragrant roses but the annual vegetable bed is my pride and joy. Since I have allergies to most chemicals my gardening is primarily organic.
My basic requirements for a successful organic vegetable garden is fertilizer, water, and full sun. Since I have access to a very large supply of organic horse manure I am not at a loss for fertilizer. The manure also doubles as a great soil additive that will help even the poorest of soils. The horse manure is aged and composted for at least 3 months before being added to the vegetable bed. At that time the composted manure is very dark and soil like. It looks almost like top quality potting soil. I wheelbarrow enough composted manure to cover the top of the vegetable bed to a depth of 6-9 inches. I then water it thoroughly and let it sit for 2 weeks. During that time in very early spring, earthworms will work their way up from the soil into the compost. The earthworms do a great job of the rototilling of the garden bed for me. During the same time, I watch for weed seedlings and pull them out by hand each day.

Picking out the right vegetables for your garden depends on your locality. In my area, strawberries and other fruits are what it is noted for. I do grow strawberries but I also choose vegetables that are not normally found in the local supermarkets. When choosing what to grow I go for the more expensive or rarer fruits and vegetables.

Pest control is totally natural. I do not use any kind of pesticide. I find that the plants, when grown in the composted manure are stronger and more resistant to insect pests. They tend to attract ladybugs which in turn like to eat aphids, a major pest in most vegetable gardens. To avoid fungus problems such as powdery mildew I just water early in the day. Leaving water on the plants overnight is the major cause of powdery mildew.

We are on well water that has been tested to be highly pure and soft. Years ago I lived in the city and had a small vegetable garden in our backyard. The tap water I used was very hard and high in chemical additives such as fluoride and other chemicals to kill bacteria. I found the water was not very good for the vegetables. In order to grow a decent garden where I had tap water, I collected rain water in plastic barrels during the rainy season. Later we installed a water purifier and the garden faired much better.

Full sunshine is very important in making a vegetable garden a success. My garden is blessed with long full sunshine from late winter to the first frost in October. I am in a mild climate area so scorching summer heat is not a problem. Our nights are still cool and the days can be long during our summers, with sunrise at 5am and sunset at 9pm.

When is comes time to harvest the fruits and vegetables of my labor I always am reminded of the delicious taste of home raised organic food. The tomatoes have much more flavor than the store bought ones. My lemon cucumbers are never tart or bitter like some of the green cucumbers I have bought at the supermarket. I always have more than enough strawberries for all kinds of desserts and smoothies. My advice to you is go organic with your garden. You will save money on not having to buy chemical fertilizers and pesticides, plus you will have the best tasting fruit and vegetables around.

It may be the hardest decision in your life or one which you consciously choose to help you save money; eating on a budget of $20 or less. Is it really possible to eat healthy on just a single $20 note? The better question is whether it’s possible to find food locally which can keep costs down enough that you achieve your goal. Whichever your reason for eating on a budget the following tips will help you keep your costs low and your stomach full.

#1. Find a local farmers market

The fastest route to eating on $20 a week is to seek out local farmers markets which offer food from local farmers at a highly discounted price.

At these farmers markets, you’ll be able to find a wide range of vegetables, fruits and homemade goods for just a few dollars. Pick up whatever essentials you can find here that will keep your costs within your $20 budget; remember to pick items which will keep you healthy and energized as well.

#2. Go with the off-brand

The big box companies only difference in quality between off-branded food products is the marketing campaigns. Large companies will spend millions on marketing their food which in turn raises the price of each individual item.

Because off-brand food doesn’t go after a wide market, you’ll be able to find the same quality food at nearly half the cost. Many food chains have begun opening more shelf space for off-brand food products but you may still need to seek out places such as dollar stores to find the largest variety.

#3. Shop at a scratch and dent

Food that has its packaging damage doesn’t mean it’s gone bad; it’s just lost its visual appeal. Large food chains do not want to sell items which have ripped packages, dented cans or have become maimed during the shipping process; however, this is your opportunity to find many great food products for very cheap costs.

Scratch and dent stores are all around the country usually located in smaller shopping centers. With just $20 you can walk away with grocery bags full of food that will hold you over the entire week.

#4. Keep your leftovers and eat frugally

Many families throw out whatever left over after their meal; this food isn’t bad but the attractiveness is enough to essentially throw away money.

To stick to a budget of $20 a week for your food, be conscious of what you throw out and always save leftovers.

#5. Food vendors

Most people have the misconception that eating out is very expensive but that’s because they often visit large restaurant chains that will make up for their marketing and employees by increasing the food price.

Instead of going out to a restaurant, consider swinging by a local street vendor that’s selling food. It may seem dangerous at first but these food vendors fall under the same stipulations that restaurants have in terms of quality and safety of food.

Local food vendors will offer a wide range of ethnic foods that will not only open your food horizon but allow you to eat on a budget of $20 a week.

Everyone has a favorite snack and kids are not exceptions. My daughter, for instance, wants just about the same snacks every day: fish crackers and raisins. But there are many other good snacks she could have and sometimes chooses instead of her regular snacks. Here are some good snack ideas to have at home for the kids or even for you.

Dried Fruit: Raisins, Dried Cranberries, Dried Papaya
Dried fruit is one of the best snacks available. These good snacks don’t spoil quickly (if ever) and are so healthy for the human body. Raisins, dried cranberries, dried papaya and other dried fruits are so sweet and tasty that kids eat them up. Raisins can be found at any grocery store and even at Wal-Mart, while other dried fruits like papaya may be harder to find. I find dried papaya and other specialty fruits at my local health food store.

Fresh Fruit: Bananas, Grapes, Berries
Depending on the season, fresh fruit is the perfect snack. Fruit like bananas, grapes, and berries are easy and good snacks to grab and eat when a child is hungry. For my 2-year-old daughter I peel and usually slice bananas for her to eat as snacks, but she can hold them and take bites at this age, too. When I bring grapes home from the grocery store (when they’re a decent price) I wash them immediately so that they’re clean for impromptu snacking. Berries should be washed right before being eaten only since they spoil quickly after being washed.

Pre-Packaged Snacks amp; Fruit: Pudding, Jello, Fruit Cocktail, Mandarin Oranges, Peaches
Pre-packaged snacks such as pudding, jello, fruit cocktail and other fruits can be a bit pricey when compared to other snacks, but still these offer a snacking variety for children. These good snacks do sometimes have added sugar and may not be as healthy as other snacks.

Refrigerated Dairy: Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, Sliced Cheese, Cheese Cubes
I have a very difficult time keeping yogurt in my home, since my husband takes it with him to work every day and my daughter gobbles her portion right up and asks for more, but yogurt is just one delicious dairy snack. Cottage cheese is another good dairy snack that some kids really like. It tastes even better to some mixed with sliced peaches. And, of course there’s cheese in general, which most kids absolutely love eating. Whether sliced or cubed, cheese is a good and easy snack for kids to eat right up.

Fresh Veggies: Avocado Slices, Seasoned Tomato Slices
I can’t speak for all children, of course, but my daughter really likes avocado slices and tomato slices. Both of these veggies (yes I am calling the tomato a vegetable because that’s how I feel about it) are extremely nutritious and taste very good as snacks – especially when seasoned. Avocado tastes great just plain or with salt, pepper, garlic, or lime juice sprinkled on it. Mix avocado with salsa for another tasty snack or dip. Tomato slices, too, taste great with salt and pepper. Both of these vegetables are special treats at our house.

Crackers: Fish Crackers, Animal Crackers, Graham Crackers
Occasionally I will purchase animal or graham crackers as something different for my daughter to snack on, and I almost always have fish crackers on hand since they make such an easy and good snack for at home or in the car (and my daughter loves them). However, some parents may wish to avoid snacks such as these since crackers often can lack nutritional value and may add unneeded carbs or sugars to one’s diet. They sure are good, though!

Frozen Snacks: Fruit Bars, Sherbet
For hot summer days, a good frozen snack is especially good (although these cold treats can be consumed at any season). Frozen fruit bars are available and sometimes can be found made with fresh fruit or fruit juice only and no added sugar, which is the type of fruit bar snack I must recommend. Sherbet is a nice alternative to ice cream, since it contains fewer fat and calories.

I hope this snack article gave you a few ideas of what good snacks your kids or you might enjoy. Remember to make snacks relatively small, so that all snackers will still be hungry for dinner.