05.19.09
It’s Link Day
Perhaps you’ve read about how home gardens are all the rage this year. Seed companies are selling out of popular varieties. The cost of soil and (gasp) manure have gone through the roof. Really, $3.99 for 2 CF of steer manure? They used to give this stuff away for $.99 a bag.
So I’ve been thinking about just how much my garden costs. Here is a great link to a blog that talks about How Much The home garden actually costs. He is trying to track EVERYTHING that goes into raising vegetables. This is a scary thought for me. This past year I’ve spent WAAAAAy too much in the way of securing my garden. The deer fence, rabbit fence, chicken moat, clearing land, moving dirt, buying dirt, buying compost, 2500 gallon water tank, hoses, hose repair kits becuase the DH cut my main line in half with the chain saw….you get the idea. I really cannot think about how much the lettuce has cost me this year. I have to think toward the long haul.
I also purchased a $40 ten year garden journal from Lee Valley Tools. This was, at the time, a splurge for me. But I can see it will be an invaluable resource. I can plan the garden, year to do’s, purchases, what works and doesn’t. Of course, I have to actually use it for it to work for me. Thus far I make lists of to do things and have noted the weather. I actually enjoy looking at it each morning to plan my day.
Finally here is an article on the 5 foods that are cheaper to grow. Keep reading and you’ll see they’ve listed the 5 items to leave to the large farmers. Basically I agree with these listings but there is something about walking outside, pulling some garlic, picking a cabbage, harvesting fresh carrots and digging some potatoes for dinner. Add an onion, cut up everything into pieces and saute’ with olive oil. You’ve got what we call 50 foot meal. Grown right here in our little part of the world. Fresh, organic and tasty. Nothing is better!