Gardening experts say at-home garden beds can save families up to $50 a week on groceries

ABC NEWS (Australia)

As household budgets are squeezed, seedling growers say demand is growing, with simple garden beds giving people some control over their food bills. Gardening experts say a low-cost, no-dig garden bed can save people up to 50 dollars a week on their grocery spend

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00:02In Hobart, volunteers help keep the 24-carrot veggie patch thriving.

00:08Today we've planted some peas, planted some garlic and we've also put in a green manure crop as well.

00:14Each week fresh produce is sent to the school lunch program.

00:18For home gardener and volunteer Sarah Chugg, it's a source of inspiration.

00:23It's easy to think that there's a wrong way to do it, but there's not really

00:27and you just keep learning from your mistakes. I've definitely learnt from a lot of mistakes

00:31and I've learned some new things here as well.

00:33A recent national survey cites cost of living pressures as the main driver of food insecurity.

00:40With grocery prices high, more and more people need food relief

00:44and they're looking for cheaper ways to feed their families.

00:47As soon as we saw the petrol prices go up, we just noticed a significant number of people.

00:52Our orders increased five-fold and we're having trouble keeping up.

00:56Once set up, the experts say growing your own can save money.

01:01I've read that people can save about $50 a week on vegetables if you grow your own.

01:05You don't need to spend that much time to do it.

01:08Horticulturist Louise Sales recommends creating a no-till garden bed.

01:13To do this you'll need to pick a sunny spot and lay some compost.

01:17First, cover the area with cardboard to suppress weeds.

01:21Add mulch like pea straw or aged grass clippings or horse manure.

01:26And finally, create pockets on top of this and plant into them.

01:30Broad beans are a really, really great crop to get in.

01:32They're really, really reliable and they also actually feed the soil.

01:36If you plant those broad beans now and some winter lettuces and broccoli seedlings,

01:42they'll be ready in winter.

01:43And garlic takes that little bit longer, that'll be ready in late spring.

01:47I cook a lot at home too, so it's convenient to always have herbs and leaves

01:53and green things always in the garden.

01:55We don't have to have bunches of herbs in the fridge going bad.

01:58More digging leading to less spending.

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