I’m a gardener, but people are sometimes surprised that I don’t buy a lot of plants or devote a ton of money to my hobby. Why?
Because I don’t need to! Most of what I need can be upcycled. Besides, growing plants from seeds is rewarding. When neighbors stop by, you can say, “Look at these flowers! I grew them myself!” You’ll either discover that your neighbors love gardening, or they’ll avoid you in the future. Win-win!
With gardening, the upcycling possibilities are really endless. From license plate planters, to old mailboxes for gardening supplies, you can create a unique garden and re-use materials. I tend to be a little simpler in what I use, and focus on function.
Starting plants
I start many of my plants indoors. The last frost date in my area is in mid-May, so it gets me a head start on the growing season. I usually save seeds from plants to grow next year. If you’re gardening for the first time, seed packets are inexpensive from garden stores. I have the best luck with starting marigolds and zucchini.
You can buy trays for planting, but it’s much cheaper to upcycle a few things. The only thing I really buy is a small bag of potting soil, and it often lasts two years. For containers, I use whatever I can save. Yogurt cups seem to be the best. The generic brands have thinner plastic, so it’s easier to poke holes in the bottom.
You can also use coffee pods. Don’t run out and buy coffee pods for this - I’m sure you know someone who uses them, so ask them for their leftovers. Knock all the coffee grounds into your compost bin or garden; it’s great fertilizer.
Cardboard egg cartons are compostable, so you can start seedlings, and toss the carton in your bin when you’re done. I haven’t tried starting seeds in them yet, but I have it on my list for next year.
Whatever you use, rinse out and dry the containers, poke drainage holes in the bottom, and then spoon in some potting soil. This is a step best done outside, as potting soil yearns to be free and will get everywhere. Pour in some water and let the soil settle. Then put in your seeds and cover with the amount of soil needed (usually one inch or less).
To deal with escaping soil and water, grab a few saucers. Not the UFO kind; the ones that go with tea cups. If you don’t have any, your local thrift store probably has a ton. Slip one under each container and you're good to go.
Growing Plants
A bit of advice: some seeds will not start unless they reach 70-85 degrees. Sometimes just putting them in a really warm spot, like next to a computer, will jump-start the growing process.
You can use all sorts of containers if you need to protect your tiny plant nursery from pets - empty plastic containers seem to work best. My plants are currently sitting under a plastic cookie container. Otherwise, put them next to a sunny window.
Outdoors
Outside, there’s a lot you can do. A compost bin is awesome for gardening, and you can make one yourself with some chicken wire and posts. Also, one thing I didn’t realize early on was that you need about 20x more dry items like shredded cardboard and leaves than wet stuff like fruit/veggie scraps in your compost. Junk mail? More like worm food. Do that for a few seasons, and you won’t need to buy fertilizer.
For some plants, you can use sticks and a bit of string to stake them. Vines like tomato plants require dedicated cages, though.
To mark your plants, use popsicle sticks and marker. And if you don’t have a watering can yet, an empty milk jug will work in a pinch.
Once the gardening season is done, collect and dry your seeds, and store them in a paper bag until next spring.
I hope these ideas have been helpful! Happy gardening (and upcycling).
Ellie Daforge is a writer and office worker. She writes fiction as well as health/lifestyle writing. You can follow her on Instagram @elliedaforge.
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