Michael Podlesny began gardening as a child and now grows all sorts of vegetables in his Burlington, New Jersey, backyard.
"With the rising cost of everything, people are looking for ways to save money," Podlesny says. "So it's really been just a good thing to do and it's just a lot of fun."
Michael shares gardening tips on his website, AveragePersonGardening.com, and now runs the Seed of the Month Club.
He says he got the idea from something that had nothing to do with gardening.
"A couple of years ago, we joined one of the movie clubs and I was sitting there and I said, 'this would be a great idea to do with seeds.' "
Michael buys seeds in bulk from farms all over the country, packages them and distributes them to people who pay between $1.79 and $2.48 (depending on subscription length) a month to join the Club. The seeds end up costing about 50% less than retail prices.
He explains, "Their first month, they'll get all the staples, peppers, tomatoes, things of that nature. And then every month thereafter, they'll receive four more packs of different varieties, based on customer feedback, seed popularity, and the cost of what the vegetables are going for in the stores. So this way, people are growing things so they can save money."
Since the seeds last two to five years, Club members can hold onto them until they're ready to plant. And once the vegetables begin to grow, they can harvest some big savings.
"You're already saving from the get-go, and then once you start harvesting the fruits and vegetables, you're going to save even more," he says.
To learn more about the Seed Club, click here.
