Breaking news, organic gardening will not turn you into a damn dirty hippie

Well the garden is coming along nicely with tomatoes, beans, peppers, squash, herbs and salad greens. I'm hoping for a bountiful tomato harvest so I can work on canning my own salsa and pasta sauce to last me through the winter. We're also going to try our hand at freezing produce so we can have a greater variety of food during the long winter months. (Not that I mind potatoes, but really, they get OLD).

I'm really surprised that more people don't try gardening. It is rewarding to grow your own food and despite what many people say it's NOT that expensive. Okay, it can cost a lot if you don't plan ahead, but with a little advance work you can save a lot of money.

For example, if your soil isn't stellar start a compost pile/bin a year or so in advance using food and yard waste. There ya go, free soil conditioner plus it keeps all of that stuff out of the trash. What is that? "But Mean Green Girl, buying a compost bin is SO expensive." BAH, here's what you do. Get an inexpensive outdoor trash can with a lid (used if you can). I think the one we got was metal and 32 gallons or so. Take something hard and pointy and punch a series of holes in the bottom 1/3 of the can and on the base. Do not poke holes in the lid as this lets in too much water when it rains. Bury the can with 1/2 below the ground. Viola, an inexpensive DIY compost bin. Toss in a mixture of green (food waste) and brown (fibrous waste), stir occasionally, red worms are optional and you are good to go.

Instead of buying $6 a pop tomato cages get four thick sticks/stakes and some string. Notch the sticks to hold the string in place, stick them in the ground around the plant and wind the string in a square and across to form a support structure for your plants. Similar things can be made for pole beans, beans, etc.

Need a cold box (or any other home improvements for that matter)? Head to your local restore and grab an old window, some wood planks, hinges and a handle. Make a base with the wood big enough to grow your plants and make a lid out of the window. These look cool, reuse products and save money.

Also, always take the long view on the money you spend setting up your garden. Many things are a one time cost and will last for years (i.e. tools and boarders) and therefore will average out over time.