Today's Inflation Fighting Vegetable Garden !!

There are a few basic things you must have for a successful Vegetable Garden:

1.] You NEED a space, 40x50 is a good size garden it can be less. In the beginning start smaller and add space as knowledge and confidence permits. You can get easily discouraged by taking to big a bit in the beginning.
What is important is that garden space is fairly level. You will NEED least 8 hours of full sun, no shady spots, no bordering Walnut Trees. You will WANT a sandy loam type soil, if it is too sandy and you will need more water and fertilzer. If it is a clay soil it will be hard to work and will clump, and will stay too wet at times, both clay and sandy type soils can be worked with and amended. If you have those soils all is not lost but they will take more work, time and money. [I will write on this later] A good soil is truely one of Gods great gifts to man. The you will NEED easy access to water. You will WANT easy accessability with a good site of vision. Your garden will be like magic to daily watch grow.

2. You will NEED some basic garden tools, a good hoe, a garden rake, Some string and stakes, A garden spade shovel, a one gallon tank sprayer, a trowel, a weeding claw and a sprinkle can. You don't need to spend a lot of money on these items. The most of them can be located at garage sales, flea markets or resale shops. You will need to buy a new tank sprayer with plastic tank. You will WANT a Roto tiller but in the beginning borrow, rent or hire the garden tilled. If you decide vegetable gardening is not your cup of tea you will not have a larger investment sitting in your garage. A couple of items you could WANT are soaker hose and some lengths of 2x8 planking.

3. Eventually you will NEED some canning jars and supplies. You will WANT a freezer so keep your eyes open for a good deal. A note needs to be made here and that is, The idea of a Inflation Fighting Garden is to raise vegetables, as cheaply as you can. DO NOT over spend, pay up front for what ever tools you buy. A vegetable garden is a something you can do on the cheap. You will continue to gather tools, supplies and knowledge as growing seasons come and go.

4. The most important ingredient is yourself. You will need patience, persistence and perspiration. A good vegetable garden takes constant work and attention. God provides the sun, the rain and the soil, you are expected to provide the work ethic.

5. The vegetable garden will provide you with fresh eat out of the garden produce at a can't be beat price. The garden will provide you with fresh air and exercise, you may loose a few pounds each summer. The garden will provide your children with something to do, a chore that will teach them stewardship lessons. It will provide a source for you to get them away from the TV and computer games. When you are ready it will provide you with wholesome produce all year long that will then save you big $$$$. But maybe for you the big pay off will be the satisfaction you feel when you look at that green garden and the full freezer, and realize you did it.

6. The next lens I write in this Vegetable Garden series will concern itself with the actual layout and preparations for the garden. We will get into weed control, amending of soil types, and general planting. Then I will write lens on the cultivation of specific vegetable crops.