Covid-19 has made us more aware of how much food we have in our pantry. You just have to look at the supermarket lines when a lockdown threatens and which foods come out the door first, such as pasta and flour.
So there’s never a better time to focus on growing your own dinner – a fantastic way to smartly budget your meals each week using your pantry staples and weekly grocery store specials like those in our Savvy Forms guide.
The most important tip is to only plant the vegetables and herbs that you actually eat. .
Another great way to stock your freezer with quality food is to grow your own. Winter is the perfect time to do this as it produces the best vegetables that can be enjoyed all year round.
Growing vegetables can be time consuming. It requires daily maintenance of weeding and watering and regular fertilizing.
I know we are busy, but gardening is also the best therapy for a busy life. There’s something magical about digging your toes in the dirt and the smell of freshly watered tomato plants.
So here is my guide based on my experiences and mistakes. The most important tip is to only plant the vegetables and herbs that you actually eat.
THE MOST CHEAP PLANTS THAT PLANT NOW
Plant the garlic, mint, parsley, arugula, and spring onions in pots. They don’t take up much space and add flavor and color to all of your winter dishes.
I planted my herbs right outside my kitchen door so I can see them every day and just snip them fresh when needed.
Cabbage, tomatoes, pumpkins, potatoes, corn and broccoli grow in the vegetable patch. You can get special potato grow bags from your local hardware store or gardening store – they are cheap as chips and make it so much easier to find your potatoes when they have grown. These are the basics for most winter casseroles and soups.
And save the vegetable scraps to make your own compost, of course.
HOW TO FREEZE YOUR PRODUCT
Once you’ve harvested your crops, you need to prepare the excess produce for freezing. And it’s not just about cutting it up and pounding it in the freezer. You want to get all of the nutrients the vegetables contain – and that means blanching. Blanching is the process of parboiling or steaming the vegetables for up to three minutes before submerging them in ice water to stop cooking. Use a large saucepan of boiling water (add a little salt) and use a slotted spoon to “dip” the vegetables until they are really light (3 minutes maximum).
Once the vegetables are blanched, place them evenly on a flat tray and place them in the freezer. Once they’re set, put them in a ziplock bag – and your veggies will be properly stored for up to 10 months.
FOR THE MEAT EATERS
Winter is also the perfect time to invest in bulk meat purchases. My family and I buy half a cow from a local farmer. The butcher will cut it to your specifications and everything will be delivered ready to freeze. Just make sure you have a big enough freezer.
If you buy a whole meat or half of it, the price of meat will go down significantly. The last half that I bought was just under $ 10 / kg.
I say winter is the best time to shop because then you can use all that braised meat that can be low and slow cooked for hours.
Think of delicious casseroles, pies and roasts with baked vegetables.
NUTRIENT AND FRUGAL WINTER IDEAS
When your products are ready – try these super cheap and filling recipes.
Pumpkin soup is a great option. Make it in the slow cooker and freeze it into individual servings so you can grab one for a hot lunch.
Potato and pumpkin frittata is delicious and filling for lunch. Add grated vegetables from your garden to make it even further.
Cabbage pancakes sound gross, don’t they? They are not – they are delicious.
Stuffed potatoes are a favorite. We fill them with coleslaw and leftover chicken and top it with sweet chili sauce.
Winter is the best time to save a fortune on groceries. Remember, gardening is not so much work as it is mental health and wellbeing.
Jody Allen is the founder of the Stay At Home Mum network of mothers. Find her at @StayHomeMum on Facebook, @ jodyallen.stayathomemum on Instagram, @JodyAllen_SAHM on Twitter
Originally posted as Why Gardening is Good for Your Wallet
