We have a compost heap – mainly grass clippings and a kitchen waste composter (everything except meat/fish/dog poo). The sawdust from the chicken house is added to this every few weeks. This year I’m making leaf mould. We have 12 sacks that will be spread next autumn.

We supplement these with sulphate of potash, sulphate of ammonia, blood fish and bone and bone meal. If I find organic fertilisers on offer I invest. A layer of chicken pellets in our kitchen garden pots gave us giant squash and a courgette harvest to die for.

I’m also experimenting with Rockdust(tm) http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/rockdust-soil-conditioner-5578 Much cheaper than commercially produced organic fertilisers and some say it has good results. I have spread 60 kilos on our relatively large patch. You need a minimum of 500g per square metre. The soil is already looking and feeling better.

Old tea leaves have revitalised the border that houses one wonderful rose and a (now) fructulent clematis. Just toss on the left over tea leaves straight from the pot!

If you have some cash to spare Vitax4 is a wonderful fertiliser (I don’t think that it’s organic). Vitax also produces a great organic fertiliser that sometimes is on a 2 for 1 offer – then I invest. I want to get to the stage where we don’t have to spend ££££ on fertilisers. A homemade Bokashi system http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/forum/growing-vegetables/compost-does-anyone-else-bokashi/?value=bokashi&type=1&include=1&search=1&ret=all might be the answer in the end. I must admit I was horrified by the amount we spent on fertilisers this year.

Re the summer watering. We were given two 1500 litre containers bought from the Jaffa factory. We also have six biggish water butts (collecting water from shed, greenhouse and neighbouring roofs that back onto the garden) and these can all be attached to a drip feed water butt system http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/setting-up-the-drip-feed-water-watering-system-for-the-summer-283. This gets the maximum yield out of every drop of water and encourages strong deep roots to develop. This is a system that is used extensively in third world countries where water is scarce. It costs a bit to set up but you are reaping the benefits relatively quickly (within a year). If we run out of water we refill the big containers rather than spray with a hose it works out so much cheaper to water with this effective way. We pay for each litre of water here so are loathe to waste it.

Thinking around the box (rather than just outside) has saved us pounds. Would love to hear your money saving tips!

Can you please share about how to save your fertilizer cost since you have a year round garden.

In addition, how do you keep your garden alive once drought days happened?

Hi Paula – wow, stone floors! I know now that we would never knowingly install them, beautiful though they are, unless we could also afford to install under floor heating. That combo is absolutely wonderful, if expensive. I like the idea of micro-encapsulated paraffin panels. It seems to make sense. But I would like to read some significant benefits over the old and cheap Styrofoam stuff.

Hi Sylvie – I think that a first step of reducing the temp is a simple and great idea. I am not proposing being a martyr to fuel costs and temps but I like wearing a simple woolly hat/cap when going to bed. As kids, we used to laugh at illustrations in old books that showed Scrooge going to bed in an old fashioned nightcap. It really does work! Simple.

Hello, Ammi – great minds think alike! Keeping costs down is an admirable objective but there comes a point where some aspects are just not worthwhile, especially when young children are involved, It’s a question of balance.

Hi Rachael – I think it is good to try everything once. Like I said to Ammi, the welfare of children comes first. When times are tough and it may be a few days before you can afford the next heating fuel bill, I bet that kids would adore snuggling up in a communal bed in front of the fire! The novelty value would take everybody‘s mind off the shortages.

Oh crikey, Joanna, what a horrible responsibility when to decide heating on or heating remains off. I guess that you guys have taken the right decision and can remain neutral by installing your own heating gear. What a bummer, though.

Kate – the simple solutions are the best, although this generation often overlooks them. I work with a blanket or rug draped over my legs. It makes a vast difference. Simple but effective.

Hey Mandi – no need to feel guilty. It sounds as though your house is super-efficiently insulated. £1.50 per day would not keep us in firewood here, so relax and enjoy your comfort and let all of us feel envious!