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3 Ways to Save Money by Gardening

People have many different motivations for gardening. For some it is a pleasurable hobby to help relieve the stresses of daily life. Some people are trying to get away from the preservatives and other chemicals contained in processed foods purchased at the grocery store. One often overlooked reason for gardening, however, is for the simple fact of saving money.

Growing your own fruits and vegetables can really put a dent in your monthly grocery bill. What often starts out as a hobby can quickly become a way of life when you realize just how much money you are saving every month. Here are several ways that you can save money by making the most of your garden harvest.

Freezing Produce

Freezing is one of the most popular methods for preserving fruits and vegetables. You do not need a lot of special equipment that is necessary for canning.

Just about anything you grow can be frozen. Some vegetables need to be blanched first (boiled for a minute or two) before frozen, so look up directions for freezing that particular fruit or vegetable. Some produce, like cherry tomatoes, can be frozen whole.

You can place items to be frozen in reclosable freezer bags, or you can purchase a vacuum sealer that will remove the air from the package before you freeze it, significantly extending the item’s storage life.

Freezing is very easy and only requires a little extra freezer space.

Canning

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