Tip #12: Using food stamps for your gardening

Editor’s Note: THIS is a continuation of a series of articles on low cost gardening. See Tip#1 on Planning; Tip #2 on Soil; Tip # 3 on Compost; Tip # 4 on Tools; Tip # 5 on Containers; Tip #6 on Seeds; Tip #7 on Pollinators; Tip #8 on Other Amendments; Tip #9 on Mulch; Tip #10 on Pesticides; Tip #11 on Harvest!

When you’re trapped inside for quarantine or pandemic purposes, or you have a job or family responsibilities that keeps you indoors a lot, having some time around plants can make a huge difference. If you live in an area with lots of concrete and little ground, finding some green space helps clear the air and improve the neighborhood. Just being around plants helps your immune system. Plants help your mind reset from the ruts your thoughts create. Being around plants, from a nature walk or a home garden, pays off in big ways.

But as noted throughout this series of tips, gardening can also cost in unexpected ways. If you’ve got the budget, you can afford the time-saving products and devices within your means. If you don’t have the budget, don’t give up! There are a lot of ways to garden with very low or no expenditure of funds.

A lot of what I’m sharing here is information I’ve gleaned from obsessive watching of YouTube videos, reading lots of articles and plant studies, and my own successes and failures. I am not an expert gardener — far from it! Just sharing what I’ve learned.

Here’s hoping these tips help.

Tip #12: Using food stamps for your gardening

If you are receiving food stamps, there are several ways in which they can help you with your gardening. Even if you don’t have food stamps, you can use your budget for dual purposes that help your gardening.

Cheap and easy: When you spend your NAP benefits at the grocery store, or otherwise buy your groceries, you can consult your plan and buy things that are going to give you containers that you can use for seed starters and transplanting. See Tip #5. You can buy things that will give you seeds or plant starters as well as food. See Tip #6. You can buy things to use to cure what ails your plants. See Tip #10. You can buy beverages in bottles for mixing up your fertilizer solutions and pesticides. You can purchase foods and drinks that come in containers that can be repurposed into tools. See Tip #4.

I think, based on information on the CNMI government site, that you can also use your food stamps at the gardening center for the tools, soil, seeds, containers, or pesticides that you need today. See Tips #4, 6 & 10. In contrast, in the mainland, SNAP benefits can only be used for seeds and plants that will bear edible fruits, vegetables or flowers. (Yes, there are edible flowers like nasturtiums and you can use your NAP benefits to buy the seeds for them.) According to our CNMI website, food stamps can be used here for farming and fishing gear. The store still needs to be eligible to accept food stamps, though.

I recommend that you make a plan for using your food stamps and stick to it. It’s always better to find another way that is cheaper and available than using your NAP benefits for gardening costs, if you can, so you still have your NAP benefits for food for your family. Part of your plan should be to scope out the selections that are routinely available. Ace Hardware, True Value Hardware, Hong Ye Hardware, and I Love Saipan all have gardening supplies. I’m sure there are other stores with some stocks of gardening supplies that may come in seasonally. Call around and ask if they accept Food Stamps for their gardening tools and supplies. This information can be listed in the resources section of your plan.

Warning: One of the things that might seem like it saves money is to buy a cheaper version of a tool or accessory. In the long run, good quality will outlast and outperform a cheap tool. It is generally worth spending the money for good quality tools and accessories. Shop around, though, because you might find a better deal at one gardening place than at another. Then you need to decide where you can spend your NAP benefits and which way is best for you — a good product at a cheaper rate that you pay for yourself or a good product at a more expensive rate that cuts into your food budget because you use your food stamps for it.

Here’s proof that you can use your NAP benefits for farming and gardening supplies (at authorized stores):

Website: https://cnminap.gov.mp/about/

Compare and see information about using SNAP benefits in the mainland U.S.

Video: SNAPgardens channel: “SNAP Gardens-Grow Your Food Stamps” 

One issue that I don’t know the answer to is whether you can use your NAP benefits to purchase food preserving supplies, like canning jars and lids, or freezer bags. SNAP benefits in the mainland cannot be used for this purpose but the CNMI may have a different regulation. Being able to preserve food that you’ve grown is essential. You could ask at the grocery store that accepts food stamps. If you don’t like the answer, you could call the NAP office and raise the issue with them directly. Based on the regulations, it doesn’t look like, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Make a plan. Plant what you love. Garden for a healthy and happy future.

Last thought: cultivate your connection to nature through gardening for all the wonderful benefits our environment provides.

Video: Los Angeles Times channel: “Your brain on plants: why gardens are good for you.” 

Here’s hoping these tips help with your gardening budget.

Good luck! Happy gardening! Happy harvest! Happy budget!