Monday, May 25, 2020

Free Plant Trays

planttrays
cardboard box cut down and lined with grocery bags

IMG_1527
pictures taken in April

Gardening can be just as cheap or just as expensive as you want it to be. Frugal gardeners find ways of obtaining or making things for free. For new gardeners with a budget, money is better spent on better plant genetics, quality grow lights (if using hydroponics), and good indoor seed starting setups instead of labels, pots, and trays. 

Labels can be made from recycled plastic containers like milk jugs and yogurt containers. Trays can quickly be made from boxes lined with plastic. Pots can be recycled containers, buckets, found in thrift stores and yard sales, and so forth. Old boots make great pots too! Net pots can be made from yogurt cups and similarly sized containers. Hydroponic pots and reservoirs can be made from recycled containers. 

Sometimes, you can also take a tray when you purchase garden plants at the stores. I've also received them free just for asking. I like to make it a challenge to see what I can create on my own or find free so I can divert that money to more worthy things. Most gardeners feel a sense of stewardship over the earth, so they are very good at repurposing and recycling.