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Abstract

s for your garden. You can get free milkweed seeds to support monarch butterflies in your area at <a href="https://www.livemonarch.com/free-milkweed-seeds/">Live Monarch’s website</a>. You can get Black-Eyed Susans or butterfly milkweed seeds from the <a href="https://altnps.org/seed-packs">National Park Service website</a>. You can get a sample of <a href="https://landersnaturals.com/">all-natural insect repellent here</a>.</p><figure id="b720"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*Fl4yzc1O0CW8WNm-"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@asthetik?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Mike Kenneally</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h1 id="80d4">Grounds for Your Garden</h1><p id="7bd0">Did you know that many Starbucks locations participate in <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-coffee-grounds-for-the-garden/">Grounds for Your Garden</a>?</p><p id="e0e6">You can pick up free, used coffee grounds for composting purposes. I called my local Starbucks and asked, and I had the most delightful conversation with the barista who answered my call.</p><p id="cf4c">Not only did they participate, they had plenty to set aside for me to pick up. They even took down my name and number to call when they have more, which is above and beyond.</p><p id="3d04">Apparently, many gardeners are not taking advantage of this sweet deal!</p><p id="6f65">While I do drink coffee at home, I use Nespresso capsules, which I donate back to Nespresso for recycling. Using the Starbucks program is an easy way to get composting supplies for FREE.</p><figure id="23ce"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*nKzrhIG9TNa5EXpK"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@victoria_chen?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Victoria Chen</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h1 id="3ccb">Free Trees</h1><p id="322f">You can even request free trees for your property from <a href="https://planttomorrow.org/trees/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAy9msBhD0ARIsANbk0A9dl3ne1xKQF89GKdugSX4WC0EifPDCHDeENI-74vRkV8uJAGS7gjcaAtjKEALw_wcB">Plant Tomorrow</a>. You specify what trees and how many you want, and they fundraise to provide it. They might even help you plant it.</p><p id="c951">I honestly wish I’d known about this one before I bought myself a whole orchard of dwarf fruit trees for my property. Even though I shopped a Black Friday sale, free would have been even better!</p><figure id="af9f"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*ekcyiyLZFQ3XUW3Z"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@lanirudhreddy?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">ANIRUDH</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h1 id="c01a">Free Landscape Cover — Delivery Boxes</h1><p id="9b54">If you share my Amazon shopping addiction, you already have a free resource for gardening projects. You can use cardboard for landscaping cover to help keep weeds from growing into your plant beds. Collecting those boxes can help you supply your own landscaping and gardening projects for free.</p><figure id="5d82"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*7DT0HmU6Q63t

Options

Cfsb"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@alterego_swiss?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">AbsolutVision</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h1 id="d92f">Free Landscape Cover — Newspaper</h1><p id="db6b">Boxes aren’t the only free landscape cover you can access. You can also contact your local news office to see if they have extra newspapers you can use for gardening purposes.</p><p id="198f">Apparently, people do this all the time. A quick stop at the local newspaper, and I had a carload of outdated papers to add to my no-dig garden.</p><h1 id="7bd9">Gardening Resources</h1><p id="7893">There are so many ways to obtain free local supplies for gardening and landscaping, but there are also non-local resources we shouldn’t overlook.</p><p id="2bfb">Social media doesn’t just have the benefit of a marketplace. It also offers the potential for learning about any interest.</p><p id="58a0">Plenty of experts and even talented amateurs have social media pages where they share tips for gardening and landscaping both affordably and sustainably. It can be a great place to pick up knowledge — assuming we fact-check what we read.</p><p id="4846">Free resources are out there. We just have to be willing to look around and see what’s available. Gardening is great for the environment and for our own health and well-being. It can certainly be a money pit — but it doesn’t have to be.</p><div id="46c8" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/5-easy-things-you-can-grow-to-be-more-self-sufficient-8e0867c66290"> <div> <div> <h2>5 Easy Things You Can Grow to Be More Self-Sufficient</h2> <div><h3>Yes, even if you’re notoriously bad with plants.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*8joiiy2uQYxD69H2)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="0061" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/you-cant-knit-red-flags-together-to-make-the-wrong-relationship-right-efce1ab3f184"> <div> <div> <h2>You Can’t Knit Red Flags Together to Make the Wrong Relationship Right</h2> <div><h3>Ignore the red flags at your peril.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*OzLVnDOKG-Jn0aL4)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="dfef" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/my-weight-loss-injection-diary-understanding-my-why-81f903d2a0a2"> <div> <div> <h2>My Weight Loss Injection Diary: Understanding My Why</h2> <div><h3>It’s important to understand our internal motivation.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*qu6H4etZQ9oDmJ1a)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

7 Free Local Resources for Gardening and Landscaping

Gardening doesn’t have to be a money pit.

I can squeeze a dollar until George Washington cries, and that’s a skill that has come in handy as my income has decreased at the same rate my expenses have increased.

The maths aren’t math-ing right now. But it’s okay because I am nothing if not resourceful.

That’s how I came to discover the following completely FREE resources that can be used for gardening and landscaping purposes.

I am in the southeastern United States, which should be kept in mind, but some of these resources may be available in your area.

Here are 7 FREE things you can access to get ready for your springtime gardening efforts:

ChipDrop

Did you know that you can get free mulch from ChipDrop?

I have half an acre, which didn’t sound overwhelming until I was trying to maintain it. I love to garden, but it’s expensive to buy mulch for this many plants.

ChipDrop connects arborists with gardeners by arranging for free delivery of wood chips and logs. Arborists pay $20 per load, but it’s free for the gardeners.

Keep in mind: If you sign up, you will get an entire truck’s worth of wood chips delivered. Have a place ready for the delivery, which could come at any time. I’m expecting my first delivery this week with much excitement.

Social Media Marketplace

If you’re on social media, you might be able to find free gardening or landscaping supplies.

Check out Facebook Marketplace or the sales section on NextDoor.

Anywhere that offers a sales site might have items that people are giving away. I did a quick search of my area and found free cinderblocks, a chicken coop, wood pallets, lumber, and more. Don’t overlook Marketplace as a great resource to help your gardening efforts.

Free Seeds

I went down the rabbit hole on this one. There are so many websites that will give you free seeds for your garden. You can get free milkweed seeds to support monarch butterflies in your area at Live Monarch’s website. You can get Black-Eyed Susans or butterfly milkweed seeds from the National Park Service website. You can get a sample of all-natural insect repellent here.

Grounds for Your Garden

Did you know that many Starbucks locations participate in Grounds for Your Garden?

You can pick up free, used coffee grounds for composting purposes. I called my local Starbucks and asked, and I had the most delightful conversation with the barista who answered my call.

Not only did they participate, they had plenty to set aside for me to pick up. They even took down my name and number to call when they have more, which is above and beyond.

Apparently, many gardeners are not taking advantage of this sweet deal!

While I do drink coffee at home, I use Nespresso capsules, which I donate back to Nespresso for recycling. Using the Starbucks program is an easy way to get composting supplies for FREE.

Free Trees

You can even request free trees for your property from Plant Tomorrow. You specify what trees and how many you want, and they fundraise to provide it. They might even help you plant it.

I honestly wish I’d known about this one before I bought myself a whole orchard of dwarf fruit trees for my property. Even though I shopped a Black Friday sale, free would have been even better!

Free Landscape Cover — Delivery Boxes

If you share my Amazon shopping addiction, you already have a free resource for gardening projects. You can use cardboard for landscaping cover to help keep weeds from growing into your plant beds. Collecting those boxes can help you supply your own landscaping and gardening projects for free.

Free Landscape Cover — Newspaper

Boxes aren’t the only free landscape cover you can access. You can also contact your local news office to see if they have extra newspapers you can use for gardening purposes.

Apparently, people do this all the time. A quick stop at the local newspaper, and I had a carload of outdated papers to add to my no-dig garden.

Gardening Resources

There are so many ways to obtain free local supplies for gardening and landscaping, but there are also non-local resources we shouldn’t overlook.

Social media doesn’t just have the benefit of a marketplace. It also offers the potential for learning about any interest.

Plenty of experts and even talented amateurs have social media pages where they share tips for gardening and landscaping both affordably and sustainably. It can be a great place to pick up knowledge — assuming we fact-check what we read.

Free resources are out there. We just have to be willing to look around and see what’s available. Gardening is great for the environment and for our own health and well-being. It can certainly be a money pit — but it doesn’t have to be.