It happens to the best of us green thumbs, a period of physical limitations, in which you can’t make your garden grow.
So, instead of getting sad or mad, here are some ways to enjoy the spring, summer, and fall gardening season, even if you can’t do it on your own.
Friends & Family
For goodness sakes, take advantage of all the gardening goodies that your friends and family offer you.
In today’s time, there are 100’s of recipes you can find to can, grill, or bake that overload of gardening goodies! LOL
Canning is a great way to not only save, but healthy. There’s nothing like a can of canned green beans, especially when you put them in your Thanksgiving green bean casserole. Gobble! Gobble!
If you’re wanting to see what canning essentials you need to get started, check out my link here :
And don’t forget to buy veggies and fruit when they’re in season. Strawberries, blueberries, and peaches all go on sale right after each other.
Buy in bulk, and can those babies. I personally love getting a gift of canned goods, and they’re perfect as gifts for the holidays.
Think Autumn jellies, Christmas jams, and Thanksgiving veggies such as corn, sweet potatoes, and green beans are just a few ideas that come to mind.
Local Market Square
Almost every city or town has a market square of local farmers, big and small. If you’re wanting to find one near you, here’s a free Local Food Directory of Farmers Markets
I love this search directory, because it gives you a link to websites, payment acceptance, and products available.
And, if you want to learn all there is to know about how to cook, clean, and use the growers harvested goods, they are more than happy to share their wealth of information.
Facebook, Craigslist, and Online Newspapers
One of the best ways to get super deals on fruits, vegetables, honey, or herbs is through social media.
I have a friend who is a bee keeper, and when his honey is ready to sell he posts it on his Facebook page, and you better be ready to buy, because it usually sells out by the end of the day.
Also, I don’t think twice about asking people if they got anything to sell, such as tomatoes, corn, or green beans.
Word of mouth is the best way to go, and many times people don’t want their veggies to go to waste, and they practically give it to you.
I’ve seen larger growers post veggies by the bushel or pound if you’re wanting to can or freeze for the upcoming year. I would also join some local gardening groups, and you can check daily whats on sale.
Grocery Stores
Finally, I check every week, whose putting their fruit and veggies on sale from Kroger to Aldi, and whatever discount I can get I buy in bulk.
I have found some great deals on strawberries, peaches, cherries, and blueberries this way, and trust me when their in season, they want them to move.
Also, many times grocery stores have a clearance section, and it’s worth taking a look at.
They might have onions, green peppers, apples, or tomatoes, that are ripe and need to go, which equals a deep discount for mwah!
See, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a garden, even if you can’t grow one yourself.
As always, I’ve enjoyed sharing some of these tips with all of you, and I appreciate your stopping by, and if you have any other ways that you like to garden when you can’t please let me know in the comments below.
Do you or someone you know follow a low carb lifestyle? If you do, here’s some of my top gift ideas to give them this holiday season.
Super Tip: Check out my Low Carb Love Amazon page, for more ideas.
(Note: I AM NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, SO PLEASE SEE YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO TRY ANY DIET PLAN).
Also, some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and I will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking on some of them. Read my disclosure policy here .)
The Instant Pot is my #1 go to cooker that I tell everyone to get. It’s simply amazing all that it can do, from making yogurt, cheesecake, and most importantly a tender piece of meat in half the time it takes to cook in the oven. This is very important when your following a low carb plan, especially if you work all day.
I recently went to a girlfriend’s house and tried a few pumpkin seeds that she had made. They were simply delicious, and not greasy! She told me that she made them in a air fryer.
That took me completely by surprise, and I knew that I had to get one too.
(All I could think about was chicken wings I was going to eat in the future).
My mom bought me a Vitamix blenderyears ago, and it has been my best friend when it comes to low carb cooking, shakes, or making my own nut butter spreads. This guy above is available on Amazon, and it’s refurbished, which means you get a professional grade blender at a super price, but if you can afford more, go for it.
This Spiralizer 5 Blade Vegetable Slicer is really a super gift for any diet out there. It basically, puts those zoodles on the table in a flash, and it’s super easy to use. This really is a super gift for any home chef out there.
Low Carb Gift Basket
Maybe you would like to put together a Low Carb gift basket, and these are the products that I would recommend below:
PB2 powdered peanut butter is a must for me in my home. I add this to my shakes, yogurt, and recipes. You can also get PB2 in individual packets, but if your going to give a gift, just get a bigger basket. and both flavors 🙂
Sometimes you must have a little chocolate, right? ChocZero Keto Bark comes to the rescue, when you can’t make your own. They come in individual packets and a variety of flavors such as almond, coconut, hazelnut, and peanut.
I hope that some of these suggested low carb gift ideas will keep your loved ones or yourself motivated to keep going on your wellness journey.
I have seen some amazing transformations by following a low carb lifestyle, and I want to wish everyone, no matter what eating plan you follow, a safe and happy holiday season.
It’s that time of year when your garden veggies are about to burst, and they are begging for you to take them out of the dirt. The problem is, that the veggies & fruit can become garden overload, and then certain people start to secretly put their tomatoes, zucchini, and squash in grocery bags and drop them off on their family and friends doorsteps. (This just happened to me the other day). 🙂
Now…..I know it’s because they don’t quite know what do to with all the extras, and they definitely don’t want to feel guilty for throwing it out, because that’s just not right. So, to take advantage of your garden overload, I am sharing the top 3 things that you can do save some money, and enjoy all your hard work.
Learn How to Can For Goodness Sakes
I have several raised garden beds, which has allowed me to enjoy spring, summer, and fall produce, and I like to extend my saving for the entire year by canning. I keep it simple, I grow tomatoes, green beans, peppers, a little squash & zucchini, and grapes. Which means I get to get creative and make my own salsa, marinara sauce, relishes, green beans, jellies, and preserves. I can usually get through and entire year without buying these items, and they simply taste fresh and fabulous!
What equipment do I use? Click here:Canning Essentials
Freeze Them Baby!
Instead of paying for frozen veggies & fruits, you can save a whole lot of moolah by freezing them yourself. I have an extra stand up deep freezer, just to keep this, and any other seasonal sales that I might find at the store safe. Here’s some tips on How To Freeze Fruits And Vegetables from AllRecipes.com.
Compost It
Don’t throw those veggies out! Put them in a compost bin, watch the fertilizer magic happen, and put it in your garden. Plus, this is something that you can do year round with all your food scraps, and I’ve seen some pretty creative DIY composting bins such as this one by Practically Functional below:
I know that growing a garden is hard work, but I can’t express enough the savings that you will reap, as well as accomplishment you will feel the first time you make that can of salsa with ingredients you grew yourself. I thank you for stopping by, and just so you know that some of the links above are my affiliate links, and I may get a small commission fee if you decide to buy. I appreciate all of your support, and here’s to Happy Gardening Season.
I am now in my third year of canning and I thought that I would share my first canning post. Seriously….look at my first batch of pickles below, and my picture-taking skills. WOW! LOL If your interested in learning how to can a super place to start is on the Ball Fresh Preserving site.
I have come a long way since then, and I am getting ready to tackle some strawberries, blueberries, and cherries. If any of you have any canning recipes you would like to share, please do. Family recipes are the absolute best. Happy canning y’all! 🙂
Home canning has become a passion for me! Not only for the savings, but I just love that you can preserve the wonderful taste of summer and fall produce, and enjoy it all year-long. I must say up front, that I am canning newbie, and I have so much to learn. In fact, it wasn’t until last summer when some close friends of mine started to learn how to can for themselves, that the thought of canning even came to my mind. At first, I thought that my friends were crazy, because it seemed to me like an awful lot of hard work. But once they began to show me all of the health and savings benefits, I started to give canning a second thought. So, earlier this summer I traveled to my friend’s home and watched how they canned some fresh green beans from their garden. I sure hope that they love green beans, because I am pretty sure that in the end, they must have canned at least 100 or more quart jars of green beans.
By the way, I have learned not to assume that everyone out there even knows what canning is, especially the younger generation, so I have provided you with the official definition:
Canning is: the act, process, or business of preserving cooked food by sealing in cans or jars.
The above definition of canning is very informative, but for me as well as many others, the concept of canning our own food means much more. For the past 12 years I have been fighting food allergies, and my worst offender seems to be the chemicals and preservatives that are added to our foods. I figured out very quickly that if I learned to can my own veggies, meats, and fruits, that I would be preserving them with all natural ingredients like: fruit pectin, lemon juice, and salt. Also, I can reduce the sugar content by using a substitute, such as Agave syrup, without losing the sweet taste.
Canning is also a great way to save money on seasonal foods that go on sale, and your savings will increase even more if you grow your own produce. (I will blog about my gardening experience this past summer at another time) ! LOL
My goal with this blog post is to share in another DIY way to save some money, as well as keeping the ancient art of canning alive! I welcome you to visit my canning supplies suggestions! (affiliate store) I have chosen products that were highly recommended to me, and that I have purchased for myself. There is even a beginners canning kit for those of you who want to start out small. Come on….if this city girl can do it, so can you. Trust me. 🙂
This past weekend here in East Tennessee was sunny, bright, and in the 60’s! So, I decided to head outside and see what needed to be done in my backyard garden. This is what awaited me. 🙂
Scary I know, but I can’t tell you how excited I am to put a little green thumb power into these raised bed gardens, add some seeds, and watch them come alive again this upcoming season! By the way, I have to ask, “Have You Got Your Seeds Yet”? If not, now is the time to buy and save some money by starting some of your seeds indoors. If you need some help in which seeds to buy, I suggest that you click on over to a really cool place that specializes in Organic, Non-GMO seeds called SeedsNow.com.
Not only does SeedsNow.com share in some savings with their .99 cents seed sample packs, but they are loaded with gardening tips, videos, and grow guides for all levels of gardening buffs, from beginners to advanced.
Here are some other super variety seed packs that are already put together for you to grow below:
Here’s the perfect way to get some greens growing in your garden this season. Again, these seeds are all organic & Non-GMO, so for only $14.99 it’s a super price. Many people are starting to grow their own herbal gardens and taking advantage of these plants healing powers, and if you want to learn more about herbs, please check out this book called:Your Backyard Herb Garden: A Gardener’s Guide to Growing Over 50 Herbs Plus How to Use Them in Cooking, Crafts, Companion Planting and MoreAnd finally …if your limited on time & space or want to give the perfect gift to the gardener in your life, this Garden In a Pail tomato kit is just what you need. It’s only $29.99 and ready to grow.
HAPPY GARDENING ALL!
Just so ya know, that some of the links above are my referral links, which means I may get a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you of course. Thank you for your support, and I hope you take the plunge and become a gardening green thumb!
I am one of those people who love watching DIY reality tv show competitions. Some of my favorites is Four Weddings, Next Great Baker, and Master Chef. It’s so cool to see what creative ideas that these people come up with, because sometimes they work out, and sometimes they don’t! 🙂 But, this should give the rest of us hope, because to be the best, you have to learn, try, fail, and start all over again to get it just right. I’ve also seen some great examples of people saving some serious money by making their own wedding cakes, desserts, or appetizers which is really inspirational for those of us on a budget. So, if you’re considering making your own DIY wedding cake, baking some specialty breads this holiday season, or simply want to learn how to make an authentic buttercream frosting, then check out the online classes & discounts available at Craftsy!
You got to start somewhere right? Well here’s a class on mastering buttercream skills!
Class Description:
Learn to pipe the buttercream decorations of your dreams, and apply your skills through three festivity-friendly cake projects. Expert cake decorator Beth Somers teaches all the essentials, from achieving the perfect icing consistency and color to filling and handling different styles of decorating bags. With confidence in the basics, you’ll be ready to use star tips to pipe borders, zigzags, scrolls, and much more. Attach a round tip to start piping stringwork, latticework, Cornelli lace and writing. Then switch to petal, basket weave and grass tips to pipe textured decorations that make your designs pop! You’ll even use a flower nail to bring ribbon roses and shaggy mums to life with ease. Click here to give this class a try!
This class is perfect for anyone who wants to add a little something special to their wedding, baby shower, graduation, or any other special occasion cake. How cool would it be to learn how to make your own cake topper!! 🙂
Class Description:
Create adorable toppers with fondant pro Brenda Walton’s tips for achieving her signature sweet faces, precise fondant measurements and more. Start by making a groom topper with tailored pants, four-button jacket, bow tie and boutonnière. Bring his bride to life with a ruffled gown, bejeweled bodice and beautiful bouquet. Make a lovable grandma holding a cake she’s ready to serve and a jovial grandpa wearing comfortable khakis and a dress shirt. Create a daydreaming little girl with a fun sash and frilled accents on her dress. Plus, learn how Brenda makes her figures even more impressive with shading and painted details. Add personalized toppers to your cakes and show guests of honor just how special they are. Click here if your interested in this class.
I had to slip this baking class in for any of you who are going gluten-free, and want to enjoy the upcoming holiday season of baked goodies with the rest of your family & friends.
Class Description:
Join Certified Master Baker Richard Coppedge Jr., as he shares years of research and expertise in baking mouthwatering gluten-free treats. Get started by learning how to mimic the texture and taste of your favorite gluten-filled goodies. Then, create custom flour mixes, one for tender doughs that won’t crumble and one for stronger doughs with the structure you need. You’ll even find out how to modify commercial gluten-free flour blends for your own unique uses. Moving on, whip up the ultimate Saturday morning pancakes, and ensure that your cookie jar is always well-stocked with jam-filled spritz, Mexican wedding and shortbread cookies! Favorite quick breads like blueberry muffins, biscuits and Irish soda bread will no longer be out of reach after learning Richard’s secrets for mixing and baking. Plus, create the perfect pie crust filled with luscious chocolate cream. Finally, master the holy grail of gluten-free baking — light, yeast-raised bread! Click here for this class!
And for those of you who want to learn the fine art of bread making the old-fashioned way, this Artisan Bread Making class is for you!
Class Description
Let Peter Reinhart, baking instructor at Johnson & Wales University and award-winning author of The Bread Baker’s Apprentice, introduce you to bread-making techniques that go beyond the recipes and raise your baking skills to a whole other level. Explore the 12 stages of bread making and learn trade secrets for measuring, mixing, proofing and baking six different types of bread, including supple French bread, rich marble rye and a sweet chocolate babka. Learn to balance time, temperature and ingredients to create delicious, fresh breads in your own kitchen. Click here if your interested in this class.
These are just a few of the online cooking classes available at Craftsy, and because I am an affiliate with Craftsy, I want you to know that I may get a small commission if you decide to buy one of their classes, kits, or supplies at no cost to you. I really appreciate your support, and if you want to start out with a FREE class, just click on the pic below and give Craftsy a try. 🙂
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And finally …if your limited on time & space or want to give the perfect gift to the gardener in your life, this 
