Rainwater collection system..less than $12?? Is that because you recycled/used something you had on hand? I'm listening...

Prairiegirl-Yes I got the 55 gallon drums for free from a local printer, used lumber for the raised platform from a torn down shed, bought the screen for the tops and the faucets from Lowes for $11.29. Made no special trips for any of it.
What's your favorite idea?

My favorite idea is getting free mulch from a woodchipping contractor in my town. It saved me a fortune!

I do almost everything cheaply or free related to gardening. Hard to say the best idea, mainly it is taking stuff other people don't want and using it. Makes for a cluttered garage and basement, but it works for me. Have gotten several wheelbarrows free, all my many dozens of tomato cages, flower pots, trellises, etc. Helps to live in a nice suburb where people throw out really excellent stuff. Also helps to train your friends to save garden supplies, lumber, etc. for you. Freecycle is great, too.

Did the same ultra-cheap just buy a faucet rain barrel thing, my brother had dragged several plastic 55 gallon drums home at various times. Cheap compost bins by putting a few screws into free pallets. Getting other people's bagged leaves, horse manure, and old produce by the truckload all free for the picking up. Free pots from friends who actually BUY plants. Getting vegie seedlings for half price or less by giving the nursery owners free produce. Using gallon sized plastic #2 bottles with bottoms cut off as cloches for plants in the spring. Taking advantage of that poor Gardens Alive! company by getting $20 free merchandise from them several times in the course of 18 years (no additional purchase needed.)

I have 5 raised beds, except for screws, all the material for them (4 are wooden, 1 of concrete bricks) was free. All the material I put into them to make soil is free. If you try hard there isn't much you have to pay for with gardening. I also get seeds and plants free from freecycle and some relatives, and give seeds and plants to friends, and have participated in plant swaps.

By the way, you mean "your" not "you're" which means 'you are'. (Sorry, can't help myself, former spelling bee winner, technical editor, and English teacher.)

Marcia

Marcia, you are correct about the spelling. I knew better, just had a senior moment. I'm a publisher for goodness sakes!
Sounds like you really "work" at being frugal. I'm not quite there yet but do what I can. I just got finished tearing down an old turkey pen and bringing home all the treated 2x6 and other lumber. I removed all the nails and now have about $200 worth of very good lumber including 8 treated 4x4 posts 12 ft. long.