Growing abundance and saving money

Words MORAG GAMBLE

It’s official. Australia is in its first recession in almost 30 years, and we have no idea how long it will last. We are starting to think differently about money and finding ways to stretch each dollar further. Exploring different ways to meet our basic needs is critical to finding a real sense of security in this time of financial uncertainty.

REDUCE SPENDING

Weekly food bills can be a huge chunk of your budget, particularly if you’re choosing healthy, fresh organic food. But you don’t need to skimp if you create your own edible permaculture garden. Begin with the fast and easy-to-grow plants like salads, kale, tomatoes, pumpkins and herbs – you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can have a green oasis. If you don’t have land, start in pots or join a local community garden.

RESILIENCE IN A GARDEN

Access to a food garden is about local resilience. Not only can it help you save money and eat fresh, nutrient dense food, it can also be a place of inner resilience – a peaceful oasis where you can recharge. So much evidence points to how gardening makes us feel calm, happier and more connected and purposeful.

GETTING STARTED

The first thing to do is make compost to divert your food waste into food for the soil life. Happy soil life will support strong and happy plants and help your garden thrive.

Next, set up a diverse no-dig permaculture garden. Imagine being able to wander through your garden, picking what you need and finding what looks good that day – the freshest seasonal organic herbs, salads, vegetables, eggs, fruits, nuts and herb teas at hand whenever you want.

SUPERMARKET IN YOUR GARDEN

An Indigenous elder once told me my garden is my supermarket. Moreover, if you don’t need to go shopping as much, you’ll save money because we inevitably come out of a shopping centre with way more than what was on the list.

GET INTO THE GIFT ECONOMY

You don’t have to grow everything yourself; that would be impossible in a small garden and hard work. Trade with your neighbours. And don’t stop there – swap clothes, share tools, exchange childcare favours. With an enlivened gift economy we can cut our spending by more than half.

So grow what you can and share your surplus. Put a free-box at your gate or have friends over for a jammaking or fermenting afternoon. Join apps like Spare Harvest and Share Waste. Create a local Facebook group to facilitate exchange further in your neighbourhood. Maybe you are feeling the pinch already; maybe not. Either way, voluntary simplicity makes good common sense, and permaculture is full of great ideas to help you get there.

MORAG is one of the world’s leading permaculture teachers with an abundance of online resources to help you. Sign up to her newsletter to receive her fabulous guide: 12 Tips for a Thriving Edible Garden. www.ourpermaculturelife.com