Altoid mints are a small budget gardener’s two-for-one purchase. The boxes are ideal for storing seeds. This tin lasts a long time and it doesn’t crush easily. It seals with an audible click so I know they are securely stored. A blank address sticker or piece of tape makes a perfect label on the flat top with name and date of collection.

Summer is the best time to gather seeds from your garden or those that fall onto common ground around town. Right now my orchid trees and palo verdes are so heavy with seed pods I’ve filled the Altoid tins with them. Come holiday time the seed makes great gifts in-you guessed it-decorated Altoid boxes!

Aztec Dye on Your Prickly Pear Cactus

Precast concrete stepping stones are gardeners’ best buys at the big box. Standard foot- square steppers cost just $1.34 each, and at that price you can make this tower for under $10. Make it taller for slightly more. Create a pair to frame a view for under $20!. Top with a planted bowl or a sculpture or create a collection of cool objects you can rearrange each day. Oh, and did I tell you it makes a seat too? No footing and no mortar means it disassembles to move with renters. Homeowners, can up the ante with color by saturating like stain with watered-down latex paint. Concrete sucks it up like a sponge. A perfect one day project for pennies that looks like a million bucks.