Day 120-Cheap-Ass Hobby: Time to Get Dirty

Day 120-Time to Get Dirty

Today, we look at different hobbies that could save or earn you money. Check out last week's post to learn the principles of Cheap-Ass hobbies.

Ahhh, springtime--where thoughts of young people turn to dirt. Yup, I love spring. I never really appreciated spring living in Southern California--where the world is plunged in perpetual spring.

But the feeling of renewal. The magic of new plants. The sun and the rain. Green leaves and grass. It is all so wonderful. So why not take advantage of this wonderful season and plant some seeds? In the early 20th Century, families across America showed the Kaiser and Hitler who is boss by starting Victory Gardens. I love the idea of planting my victory garden, too. In a society in which our government asks so little for us when it comes to this war, my victory garden is a way to show our corporate overlords that I don't care for their disgusting war. But enough about that.

Planting seeds is an excellent way to have a wonderful and fulfilling hobby without spending a lot of money. Seeds cost just pennies for the burpee brand stuff you can find anywhere. They are so cheap this time of year, you can't go very far without some one just giving you seeds sometimes.

And Burpee is fine. The seeds will grow. They will make plants with pretty flowers and tasty fruits and veggies. But they are a multi-billion dollar company that uses crazy hybrids to make your veggies huge and sterile. Any seeds you may collect will most likely not grow plants next year.

On the other hand, I love Seed Savers Exchange. They are an NGO whose sole purpose is to bring heirlom, antique and heritage seeds back from the brink of extinction. There you will find all sorts of neat plants to grow. Things like Healy's Pride Melon, Bull Nose Bell Pepper, and the Double Yield Cucumber. You pay a little bit more for these seeds. But you pay knowing that you are doing your part to keep important cultural species of plants on our earth.

As for tools and space, you don't need much. You could go out and buy a bunch of fancy pots to grow your seedlings in. Or you could use left over yogurt containers. They are perfect for growing seeds in.

Also, don't forget about soil. Soil is cheap. Cheap as dirt. But after you get your plants all happy and in the ground, why not start composting? Make Magazine has a tutorial on your very own compost tumbler. And Get Rich Slowly shows how to turn junk mail into garden mulch. But I love my worm farm the best for quick, rich soil.

Once your seeds are strong, they can be put in the ground. If you don't have a lot of space--like me--you can make a squarefoot garden. There is a neighbor down our street who has a squarefoot garden where he grows lettuce all summer long. At our house, we just tore up the whole front yard and grew some plants. But if you have no lawn space, you can grow your plants in big buckets or pots.

Finally, I love harvesting seeds. You Grow Girl has a great tutorial on how to harvest seeds. About 75% of the seeds I planted this spring came from seeds I harvested last year from things in the garden or at the farmer's market.

And now, some shameless plant porn. From our garden this year:

Yay! Plants! You see there Tomatoes, Cantaloupe, Eggplant, Cucumbers, and Marigolds. I am just so very proud.