How Poor People Get Rocks for Their Garden

What do you see in this picture? A construction site? A huge pile of dirt? A convenient place for teenagers to make out?

Me… I see free rocks. I bet some people are going, “So, what’s so big about free rocks? Aren’t they just anyplace? Aren’t they free already? Aren’t they cheap as dirt?”

I don’t know when the last time those people had to buy dirt, but let me tell you, buying dirt is anything but cheap. Just ask anybody who has those hand spray painted signs out that read “Fill Dirt Wanted”. They don’t put those out for kicks. Dirt is damn expensive and rocks are doubly so.

Funny thing is that for as expensive as it is to buy dirt or rocks it is just as expensive to have someone haul them away. Someday, I envision that there will be a MyDirt.com site where people can post their dirt and rock profiles and those in need of dirt and rocks will finally be able to connect with those who have some to share and the world will finally have enough free dirt and rocks for all.

Until then, I am just too poor to buy rocks. So I keep my eye out for places like this. Construction sites freshly dug with big ol’ rocks just laying around like gold for the taking. Frequently the construction site manager is just as happy to let you haul away all you would like. It is less they have to pay to have hauled away.

I use rocks all over my garden, to edge beds and for decoration. If you are really ambitious, you can build walls and the like as well. Buying rock for these projects… expensive. Hauling them away from a construction site… priceless, literally.

So there you go. You now have your frugal tip of the day. The only bad news is that with the housing boom over, the number of construction site will probably go down. It’s really a trade off. ‘Cause now the housing costs will come down, so maybe you can buy a house and afford to buy your rocks as well.