Another great round of reader’s questions. Listen up because their question might be your question, too:
How to you decide which plants to pick and let keep growing {like lettuce} and when plants are done? I feel like I may hang on to some vegetable plants too long. I’m in Oregon.
~Kate
It really takes a bit of time to get a feel for your garden and it also depends on how you like your veggies. I like smaller zucchinis so I’ll pick them before they get too big, but as far as lettuce goes, that’s a personal preference. I like to pick it earlier rather than later. If you wait too long, it gets tough and I prefer a softer leaf. Plus, the more you pick your lettuce, assuming you are properly breaking off your leaves and not uprooting your whole plant, the more it will produce. So I pick it early and pick it often. Keeps the leaves soft and the taste from getting bitter. So moral of the story: for me, sooner is better!
I love the idea of pallet gardening… but do I really have to worry about the nails and cleaning them thoroughly? I’m a “newbie.” If it’s too much work I’m afraid I won’t get it done. Thanks.
~Traci
Pallet gardening is as easy at it comes. I always give mine a good spray with the hose before planting, but as long as you aren’t using chemically treated wood {that’s a no-no when it comes to pallet gardening}, you won’t have to worry about deep scrubbing. Use heat treated wood and you’re good to go. Also, many stores offer free pallets if you call and inquire about them. Free is always best! 😉
I’ve been having trouble finding budget-friendly sources for bulk food storage. What do you use to store your bulk foods, and where do you get them?
~Charlotte
I’ve used the same containers for years, so I’m not much help when it comes to what I use because I wouldn’t even know where to direct you to buy them anymore. But I have heard of people getting food grade 5 gallon buckets {with lids} for super cheap or free from bakeries. They have to be thoroughly washed out, but then they make perfect bulk food containers. If you don’t find any luck there, I’ve also noticed better sales on bulk food bins around the first of the year. I think it has something to do with all those New Year’s Resolutions!
I have a family of 6. I only have 100 a week to spend on groceries. Can you give me some ideas on making this possible?
~ Cindy
I wrote a whole post on How to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half. There are 10 great tips that span everything from meal plans to freezer meals to buying in bulk. Hope that helps!
Please tell me if your strawberries produced better planted in the pallet versus the standard garden soil? Looks easier to care for, I have osteoarthritis and am looking for options where I can do gardening easier. I have a really good size strawberry patch that I would like to try the pallet method with this spring.
~Rita
I did have some success with my pallet strawberries, but I definitely saw a greater strawberry crop in the ground. Growing them in pallets was a bit easier, but if you are looking for a substantial strawberry crop, I’d stick to the ground. But you also might have greater success growing them in pallets than I did. Keep me posted if you try it.
Hi, awhile back maybe last year, you mentioned a bag that you LOVE to carry on trips. I remember it was a cross over bag. Getting ready for lots of travel and can not find where I saved the hint.
~ Joan
I love my Sherpani App Shoulder Bag so much I kinda want to marry it. But all Sherpani bags are freakin awesome. Highly recommended for travel and for tootling around town.
Hi, Mavis. Just read your piece about schools not using local grown food. We are in the Indiana flat farm country. I remember the PTA mothers meeting at the school kitchen in the summer and canning tomatoes and corn for the school. How about that! That would have been in the 1940’s, the war years. Why is it all so complicated now?
~Marilyn
That sounds amazing. And what I think a PTA {and mothers should be all about}. The “It takes a village” mentality is long since gone, but it sounds like it was alive and well back when you all stood shoulder to shoulder canning for the benefit of all of your children. I love that mentality and I love your story. Now if we could only get everyone to adopt that in the this day and age…
Monica says
I was driving home the other day and noticed someone down the street has two sitting on the side of their house by their garbage cans. I am hoping they put them out the next garbage day so I can stop and scoop them up!
Kayla says
I have a suggestion for big storage containers for free. If you live in California, Texas or Utah, POLITELY ask a manager at In-n-Out Burger if you can have their left-over pickle buckets. Their pickle buckets are 5 gallon size and wash out easily. You might have to swing by on different days to see what they have, but it is worth a try. Their buckets have resealable lids that are perfect for food storage-and you can’t beat free. It might even be worth making a friend of one of the employees. 🙂
Nancy says
I think Firehouse Subs also has pickle buckets. They sell them for $2 each, and the proceeds go to charity.
Madam Chow says
Tractor Supply has their brand of 5 gallon food grade buckets. The lids come separate, but a bucket and a lid sell for around $2.00
Sally says
Costco bakery, will save and give you the buckets that the frosting comes in for free. They go through them quick, so we were able to get a lot of them in a short amount of time.
Pam says
It’s not an option for everyone but I ended up taking a part time job in a local bakery for about 6 months. I ended up with HUNDREDS of buckets in a variety of useful sizes (all with lids and seal rings). Where I lived before, trying to get free buckets from anywhere was a joke. A lot of the mom and pop type stores had deals with most of the places to (quietly on the side) purchase the buckets so they could put them in their store for considerably more money. By working in the bakery, I ended up with all the buckets for free. It was worth the hassle for me.
Carol says
Most supermarkets with bakeries will give you their frosting and fondant buckets for nothing. You just have to get there at the right time of day. I’ve found going in the AM between 8 and 11 is the best time because they’ve just finished using them. I scored about ten of them at a Publix.