FORGOTTEN HISTORY: 20 | History Defined

Sugarbeets, Sugarcane, and Vegetable Costs: What Gardeners Can Learn From Commodity Stress

A bag of sugar at the grocery store or a basket of vegetables at the market might seem far removed from a backyard garden, but the same forces affect both. Sugarbeets, sugarcane, and vegetable crops all depend on healthy soil, reliable water, and favorable growing conditions. When drought and weather…

Frugal Gardening · Jul 11

10 Vegetables That Give the Best Return for Small Gardens

A small garden does not mean a small harvest. The right vegetables can turn a tiny backyard bed, patio container, or sunny corner into a surprisingly productive food-growing space. Choosing crops that keep producing, grow vertically, or deliver multiple harvests can help gardeners squeeze more value out of every square…

Frugal Gardening · Jul 11

Make the Switch to Microclover Lawns: Clover Mixes Feed Themselves, Suppress Weeds and Stay Green

The traditional grass lawn has ruled neighborhoods for generations, but microclover lawns are changing the backyard game. This tiny-leafed clover mix brings a fresh approach to landscaping by adding natural nitrogen, reducing weed pressure, and keeping a greener appearance with less fuss.

Frugal Gardening · Jul 11

Growing with Graywater: Use Shower and Bath Water to Irrigate Ornamentals Safely

Every shower can leave behind more than a clean person. Graywater from showers and baths can give ornamental gardens a helpful drink when gardeners handle it carefully and choose the right plants. Instead of sending every drop down the drain, homeowners can redirect some household water toward flowers, shrubs, and…

Frugal Gardening · Jul 10

The Crops Worth Planting Now If Grocery Produce Keeps Rising

Unfortunately, it feels like grocery bills keep climbing higher these days. Thankfully, a backyard garden can become more than a hobby; it can become a smart way to bring fresh food closer to home. The right crops planted at the right time can help stretch a food budget while adding…

Frugal Gardening · Jul 10

Drought Conditions Are Affecting U.S. Agriculture—What Home Gardeners Should Watch

Dry weather across parts of the United States is putting agriculture under pressure, and home gardeners should pay attention because the backyard often feels the effects before the grocery cart does. Drought conditions can change how plants grow, how often gardens need water, and how gardeners manage everything from tomatoes…

Frugal Gardening · Jul 9

Farm-Level Vegetable Prices Are Up 70.2% Year Over Year—Should You Grow More at Home?

Vegetable prices have grabbed attention lately, and the farm-level cost of vegetables jumped 70.2% year over year, according to the USDA Economic Research Service Food Price Outlook. That eye-catching number has many gardeners wondering if the backyard plot deserves a bigger role this season.

Frugal Gardening · Jul 9

Beaumont, CA Weed-Abatement Season Starts May 15: Ignore It and You’ll Get a Bill

Beaumont yards do not get a free pass when the calendar flips to May 15. That date kicks off weed-abatement season, and it comes with a very real expectation: keep vegetation under control or the city may step in. What looks like harmless overgrowth in spring can quickly turn into…

Frugal Gardening · Jul 9

Turn Rain Barrels into Low-Tech Irrigation by “Puncturing” Them—Let Water Drip Slowly to Plant Roots

Rain barrels usually sit at the garden’s edge doing one job: collecting water and waiting for a watering can to come along. There is a quieter, smarter trick that turns that storage tank into a slow-release watering system that feeds plants right at the root zone. By carefully adding small…

Frugal Gardening · Jul 9

The Heat-Wave Watering Mistake That Can Kill Container Gardens

A scorching heat wave can turn a beautiful container garden into a wilted mess faster than most gardeners expect. The biggest mistake is not always forgetting to water, but watering the wrong way at the wrong time and leaving roots struggling in a cycle of stress.

Frugal Gardening · Jul 9