5 Ways to be Generous in Tough Economic Times

Image via WikipediaWith prices rising and the fear of deepening recession over our heads, its easy to justify a little selfishness. Its hard enough to look after our own families in these times of doubt, let alone trying to help anyone else, right?

Our communities have become so fragmented, and people are so busy with their individual concerns, that quite often they don't even know their neighbours, let alone know how they are coping in the current uncertain economic climate.

But for our Communities to come out of this better off, we all need to give a little - or even a lot. And I'm not talking money here. Peruse the list below for ideas on how you can give even when times are tough!

1. Got a Green Thumb?
If you already have a vegetable garden, consider growing extra to donate to the local foodbank or to families you know that are in need. You could donate your expertise to help start a community garden or teach your neighbours how to grow their own food. You could organise for everyone in your street to grow a different vegetable and share amongst yourselves.

Read more about growing your own vegetables in pots here. Find out about creating your own Urban Homestead here.


2. Be Kind
Be thoughtful, try not to judge. Nobody in financial trouble specifically chose that outcome. They probably made choices along the way that made it more likely, but I doubt they woke up one morning and decided they wanted to be a statistic in the next recession.

Many people are afraid at the moment. Afraid they may lose their jobs, their businesses, the things they have worked hard to accumulate. Bear this in mind during your dealings with others and be kind.

Read more about the importance of remembering to be kind here.
Check out Operation NICE's beautiful NICE Tip Cards here.

3. Are You Good with Money?
Personal Financial Management skills are sadly lacking for many people these days, and frugal living is only just coming back into fashion. If you have budgeting and frugal living down to a fine art, offer your services to others in your community. You could work with individuals, or offer classes in the evenings or weekends.

4. Got Skills?
Are there people in your community that need things done but can't afford to pay? If you've got the skills to help them out, then be generous with your time and offer your services for free. It could be anything from advocacy to yardwork, car repairs to home maintenance. You could even set up some sort of Time Bank or barter system.

Read more about Time Banking here.

5. Be a Good Neighbour
Support you neighbourhood. Shop locally wherever possible - it saves you money on petrol and it saves you time because you don't have to go as far. Shopping locally keeps money and jobs in your community (in comparison, when you shop at the supermarket about 80% of your spend leaves the community), and a thriving neighbourhood keeps your property values up!

Read more about building a strong neighbourhood here.

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How to Grow Vegetables in Pots

You don’t need a big backyard to have a vegetable garden. All you need is a sunny spot on your patio or balcony and you can grow a range of vegetables. If you choose bush, or dwarf varieties then most vegetables will lend themselves to be grown in pots.

There is no need to purchase expensive pots either. You can use buckets, heavy plastic bags, barrels . . . you are only limited by your imagination and drainage. Whatever you decide to use you have to make sure it has adequate drainage or your plants will drown.

Make sure the containers are the right size. Too small and your plants will dry out quickly and become root bound. Too small and the soil will hold extra water and your plant's roots will rot.

Try to find containers in a pale colour so they don't absorb too much heat and cook your growing vegetables.

Invest in some good quality potting mix to get started. If you would like to make your own soil you could invest in a worm farm. Not only will you make wonderful rich soil, you will be recycling your green waste - no more food scraps in the rubbish - and you will also be creating fantastic liquid fertiliser.

Remember to water your vegetables regularly. Vegetables in containers dry out quickly and need more regular watering than those grown in a garden plot.

When looking for vegetable varieties to grow in your container garden keep an eye out for bush, space-saver or dwarf varieties. Below is a list of Vegetable varieties that work well in pots:

Tomatoes: Patio, Pixie, Tiny Tim, Saladette, Toy Boy, Spring Giant, Tumbling Tom, Small Fry
Peppers: Yolo Wonder, Keystone Resistant Giant, Canape, (Hot) Red Cherry, Jalapeno
Eggplant: Florida Market, Black Beauty, Long Tom
Squash: Dixie, Gold Neck, Early Prolific Straightneck, (Green) Zucco, Diplomat, Senator
Leaf Lettuce: Buttercrunch, Salad Bowl, Romaine, Dark Green Photo by FreeFotos.com Boston, Ruby, Bibb
Green Onions: Beltsville Bunching, Crysal Wax, Evergreen Bunching
Green Beans: Topcrop, Greencrop, Contender, (Pole) Blue Lake, Kentucky Wonder
Radishes: Cherry Belle, Scarlet Globe, (White) Icicle
Parsley: Evergreen, Moss Curled
Cucumbers: Burpless, Liberty, Early Pik, Crispy, Salty

This list is by no means exhaustive. You can grow potatoes, carrots, celery, most herbs . . . if you like to eat it then give it a try!!

Happy gardening.

For more info take a look at these websites:

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/container/container.html
http://gardening.about.com/od/vegetablepatch/a/ContainerVeggie.htm
http://gardening.about.com/od/vegetablepatch/a/ContainerVeggie_2.htm
http://www.mygreathome.com/outdoors/vegetables.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1620935.htm

5 Ways to Make a Difference to your Grocery Bill

Lets face it, we've all got to eat, but you don't have to spend a fortune on groceries to eat well. Here are a few tips to help you keep your grocery bill from getting out of hand.

1. Grow your own vegetables.
You don't have to have a lot of space to grow vegetables. You can grow most things in pots if you don't have a garden!

2. Make a list and only buy according to your list
Put a list up on your fridge and get into the habit of writing things down as you get low or run out.

3. Plan your weekly meals in advance
This way you know you have everything you need to cook delicious healthy meals every night. It makes it easier to prepare your shopping list and you don't have to think about what to cook at the last minute!

4. Don't shop when you are hungry - you'll buy more.

5. Don't buy pre-prepared items
Make your meals from scratch. Double a recipe when cooking and freeze the extra, or set aside a day to make several meals and freeze them. This way you save money and time!