Budget-conscious cooks will learn tips and techniques to enjoy delicious meals while saving money on food bills during an upcoming program at the Buckley library, 123 S. River Ave.

Kristine Farley, self-sufficient gardener and cook, will share information at 2 p.m. April 25. She will tell her audience how to adapt your family’s favorites into time-saving meals; go green in the kitchen to save money and the environment; preserve the harvest and feast on seasonal foods; and streamline your grocery shopping routine.

The free program is sponsored by Friends of the Buckley Library.

To help people save money during this tough economic time, as well as support their wishes to eat healthy and locally-produced foods, Pierce County Library System is purchasing more gardening books. According to the gardening industry, right now people are putting in the highest number of gardens since the 1970s.

Also, home-improvement retailers report that more people are taking on do-it-yourself projects. The Pierce County Library System is beefing up its selection of books on topics including home plumbing and household repairs, as well as home remodeling, because people who used to pay for these services are turning to libraries for guidebooks so they can do repairs on their own.