In spring, a frugal one's fancy turns to ... gardening! If you'd like to have an abundance of cheap healthy foods, now's the time to get your garden started. There is nothing quite as tasty as a homegrown tomato or berry. Fresh herbs add a zest to your cooking that can't be matched by those dried versions and the satisfaction of knowing that you grew the food yourself adds a special flavor to your meal (or so they tell me).
Disclaimer: I am not really a gardener myself. I'm more of a food parasite actually. I don't grow it, I don't cook it, I just consume it. I am, however, quite good at watching those who actually do the work, so follow me below the fold to reap the benefit of years close observation of other people's toil.
[Edited to add: thanks again for mbzoltan and xysea for filling in the last two weeks. I made good use of my break, I promise.]
Herb Pots and Gardens
Question: what is the most expensive produce item (price per pound) that you buy? If you are like most people, the answer is probably fresh herbs. Fortunately, many herbs are extremely easy to grow on your own and they can take a minimal amount of room. You can even grow many varieties in a pot indoors year round. You could buy a fancy pre-made herb pot, but for a fraction of the cost, you can get some seeds and a flower pot and you are good to go. Even simpler, some herbs, such as basil, can be grown from cuttings. Early in the season, we buy several different bunches of basil (Italian, Thai, ...) from the local farmers market and stick several stalks in a glass of water. In a week or so they are starting to root and can be potted in soil. Voila! Fresh basil for the rest of the season for just the cost of a single purchase. (Note: by "we" I mean my husband. He does the work while I mostly stand by and make snarky comments.)
Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Tomatoes
Personally, I think that if you are only going to grow one full sized plant, it should be a tomato plant. If you've only ever eaten store-bought tomatoes, you will be amazed at the taste difference, particularly if you try some of the heirloom varieties which are now available. An added bonus is that they are not that difficult to grow. One caveat is that they do need a lot of sun and if you live in a climate that gets hot, they will do even better.
If you are growing tomatoes in the ground, they need to be caged or staked to keep the vines up off the ground and to keep the fruit from rotting. You can buy commercial tomato cages, but unless you are growing pretty tiny plants, you will probably find that they are too flimsy to really do the job. The best tomato cages (most sturdy, most affordable) I've found are ones you make yourself from concrete reinforcing wire. They are incredibly robust and last for years (although they do rust quickly).
If you don't have much room, or if you just like to do things a little differently, you can grow tomato plants upside down. Here's how to make your own planter from a 5 gallon bucket.
No Room for a Garden? Pish Tosh!
"But I live in a city apartment!" I hear you cry. That's still no excuse. If you have a balcony, or a well lit area, you may still be able to have a few potted vegetable plants. If not, you may be surprised to discover that many communities have garden areas the public can use. Check with the American Community Garden Association to find a community garden near you. You may only be able to utilize a small plot, but you can grow an amazing amount in a single square foot. The Square Foot Gardener can show you how.
Community Supported Agriculture
Alright, maybe you are convinced that home grown fresh produce is really the way to go but you honestly don't have room or time to grow your own. That's OK, there is still a good option. It's not nearly as frugal as growing your own, but joining a CSA farm is a great way to get fresh locally grown produce every week. This is a fast growing business model that is being embraced by small farmers and consumers across the country. The idea is that you sign up to get a portion of whatever the farmer harvests each week over the season. You get a box of mixed vegetables each week, and the farmer gets paid up front, so he can better manage his resources. It's a win-win situation. Keep in mind that this is probably not going to be cheaper than buying your produce at the local supermarket, but it will probably be healthier, tastier, and better for your community. You can find local providers from this web site.
Canning and Preserving
Whether you grow your own, or you join a CSA farm, you are probably going to find that at the peak of the season, you have more produce than you and your family can consume before it rots. You can donate the excess to friends, coworkers or your local food bank or you can try your hand at preserving it. A good place to start for info on canning and food preservation is this diary by monkyebiz (check in there for links to previous versions). If you want a more detailed resource with information on various methods of preserving food, one book that comes highly recommended is Putting Food By.
And Finally ...
If you are looking for more information on gardening be sure to check out Frankenoid's weekly series: Saturday Morning Garden Blogging.