Money Saving – Freebies – Things you can get free just from asking around…

Thought I’d share with you on what I have done to get my plot up and running for (almost) free… anyone can do what I have done.

I generally only do free… well nearly all the time and my whole plot has been done for “almost” free.. see my blog site here you will see loads of work I did in the first few months and all collected in my car..


Other than seed and fertilizer etc I have only actually paid or maybe the word is “stole” the 6 month old shed for 60 quid and bought the auto vent opener for the greenhouse for 15.. The rest of the infrastructure I have had for free..

I go to building sites, stop at every skip I drive past, look at peoples driveways where building works are going on… etc. etc… I always just knock on and ask.. With skips do need a quick ask before you take stuff..
My plot was totally bare of infrastructure when I took it over and have been given the following… 

Pallets – (See an article about pallets here) I love pallets and you can use them for so many things.  20 large security fence panels from building sites, water and gas pipe hoops for netting beds, all my flags for the centre pathway and shed surrounds. Scaffold planks for intermediate pathways between rows of peas etc which stop compaction, scaffold netting for keeping moths and birds out, a fully glazed greenhouse, strawberry plants (loads), raspberry canes. Something else which is really handy are the 1 tonne builders sand bags that get delivered to builders all over the place. If you cut all the sewing threads it opens up to be about 5mt long x 1mt wide.. Ideal for laying down as pathways and covering with tree chippings. Loads and loads of pallets used for all sorts of stuff (fencing, gates, kindling, stairs, shed base, compost heap panels etc. etc.). Large roll of 5mt weed fabric, wheelie bins, builders sand bags to slit up and use as weed fabric, 1000 Lt. IBC tank used as my water butt, poly carb window and roof sheeting and plastic corrugated roofing for cloches. For the gates I use wood from pallets and for the hinges I use strips of car tyre… Another freebie you can use!!   Manure from a local stables where they normally have a pile to bag yourself for free and tonnes of manure delivered free to the site. I also got loads of plums, japonica quinces and apples for making loads of jams and jellies from asking people if they were going to use all their fruit.

See also  Easter Sunday on the plot

I normally call in next day or so with a jar of home made jam which I give as a thank you to people who gave me stuff.

The freecycle website for your local area is also another really good place to get free stuff. Search for it on google and join for FREE… you see free is the way to go.

People have loads of handy stuff free to a good home and you can also advertise (normally twice per month) for things you are looking for.

I got 2 large red currant bushes, 2 compost dalek bins, some plastic flower pots, glass jars for jam making, loads of flag stones…. and more bits of garden tools etc..  Horse manure etc is quite often offered as well.

So with a bit of guts needed to knock on and ask you can get loads of stuff FREE…. the worst thing that can happen is that they say no.. occasionally.. happy scavenging…

  

Gavin Conway
Moved to the UK from Zimbabwe in 2001. We had a 12 acre plot with a 2 acre normal garden, loads of Koi ponds, a 2 acre veg garden, 3 orchid sheds with over 400 plants, bonsai shed, granny cottage and workshop area.. Comming to the UK and into a 3 bed semi was a shock!! But we knew what to expect and just got on with our lives. I love growing veg and started to grow on my flat garage roof for a few years then moved on to a couple of garden shares then onto a full sized allotment at the end of 2011. I have done loads of work with it and got it looking good. see my blog site at www.gavinconway.net Hope I can help others with info on growing and getting ground and allotments to their liking. Self employed with Kleeneze www.HowWeEarn.com Gavins grafix doing vinyl signs www.gavinsgrafix.co.uk and a personal courier with Yodel..
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