As if there weren't enough going on here at Budget Artists, we've added a new channel to help you get the most out of life on a budget. Shelley McKever is our resident gardener, and she'll be showing you how to turn your own backyard into a farmer's market full of fresh-off-the-vine vegetables, herbs, and other fresh foods.

Please join us in welcoming Shelley, and getting our hands into the dirt!

Thanks for joining us for the Budget Artists grand opening! There's a lot happening this week. Every day this week we will feature new content, two prize giveaways, and informative seminars you won't want to miss!

Click here to enter the seminar room. The seminar room will open 5 minutes before the start of the seminar. Space is limited, so be sure to arrive a few minutes early!

Official Rules for BudgetArtists.com Prize Giveaways:
BudgetArtists.com Grand Opening prize giveaways are open to all United States residents 18 and older. Every comment you leave is one entry into the drawing and you can enter new drawings every day.

Winners will be announced on the Budget Artists website the week of March 23, 2009. Please check back to see if you've won, and contact the editor at Editor at BudgetArtists.com to claim your prize!

Did you miss an earlier seminar? No problem - we'll make the transcripts available next week!

Prize Giveaways and Seminars on Friday, March 20:

Creative Cartography Coaching with Marney Makridakis, founder of Artella artzine (and often featured in Somerset Magazine!)

Gorgeous hammered silver hoop earrings from jewelry artist Jenn Trott, jNicDesigns.etsy.com

3pm Eastern: Tips on Revamping Your Wardrobe for $0 with Joanne Victoria, author and life coach

5pm Eastern: How to be a Green Parent with Jenn Savedge, author of The Green Parent

NEW TIME!

7pm Eastern: Creating a Home Command Center with Andrea Flowers, professional organizer

We are currently accepting article submissions in all channels.

Articles should be between 500 - 1500 words and include specific, actionable tips that will help readers live well on a budget. We gladly accept original material and reprints. Please send queries by email to the editor.

Channel Editors provide the vision and sense of purpose to their slice of the Budget Artists community. They monitor user diaries, promote great entries, write articles, and keep the conversation going. If you are passionate about one of the following channels - or if you’d like to suggest a new one! - we’d love to hear from you.

In hard times, we all have to cut our budgets, but being thrifty doesn’t have to mean lowering your standard of living – just changing your priorities and working smarter with what you have. Many alternatives to typical bought items are not only less expensive, but higher quality and better for the environment than their mainstream counterparts. So why don’t more people choose these alternatives? Often, it’s a lack of information and the assumption that it’s always easier or better to buy a pre-made item than to create it at home.