The Community Garden Project - The Easy Garden Community WEIGHS In!

[vfem]

So, this is a little project I started over on The Easy Garden (BYC's sister site). I am planning on writing a book from my experiences eventually, and really want to share that experience and excitement for gardening with the world. One of the most exciting parts? When I find out I saved $1000's I didn't waste on poor quality grocery produce (though some stores are getting better and carrying more organic and locally grown produce as good prices). But still, when something goes from garden to my table in 30 minutes... how can you beat that!?

Anyways, I want to share this project as a way for everyone to see what their efforts have come to, right on paper. You can actually SEE what is happening in your garden, now you can see if from your wallet's stand point. AND your health!

Come over to the easy garden listing for the project:
http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=27660

Here you can learn more, download a spread sheet from my website and be involved with the project.

Anyone who wants to share their spreadsheets at the end of the season, it would be welcome data for my writing, but not needed!

I just want to see how happy everyone is with themselves... or if it doesn't work out well, why?! You can post here your current plans, your garden size, what you've invested so far, or plan to invest this summer! So use here or TEG to post for this project!

And most of all... reap the rewards mentally and physically from gardening... you can not beat that!!!

 

[babymakes6]

I have to tell you-this post got me to FINALLY sign up at the Easy Garden site

I will try it, but I am not promising anything-I am horrible at record-keeping!

 

[vfem]

Usually I have a problem with organization when gardening... usually because I day dream!

However, I read a wonderful article by a woman in California in Mother Earth News who kept track of her 100 sq ft garden all summer. She weighed her harvest and was pleased with the results.

I'm hoping to learn the average savings in cost of food per square foot of garden. I only wish more people ate veggies and fruit to make it worth wild for everyone! I do have some fabulous people trying this only using pots on their porch! That really shows they're willing to invest more in time, fertilizers, soil and pots to try to make healthier more affordable food.

My best part of this whole thing is the amount of time I spend outside all season WITH my daughter. She knows mama is completely ok with her getting dirty because mama does it too!

Hope to see more of you make your way over... I know Nifty would appreciate it as well

 

[saddina]

Are we talking measurements of ediable bio-mass/sqft only? I've done it before, and have sqft gardening experiance as well. Organic, only or chemical as well? Hate to skew data.

 

[vfem]

Again, its personal choice! If you use pesticides, denote you did... and when going and getting market value for the produce ( that you WEIGH by pound and ounces) you get the market prices for NON-organic produce to put in the spread sheet.

So you'll have to take the time to walk through the produce section to write down prices each time you go grocery shopping. I also stopped and looked when I walked through myself last summer. I just laughed at the people bagging up those potatoes or apples and thought how lucky I was I took the time and investment to garden.

So all you really need is your costs for 2010 (do not claim garden tools you bought last year, or 3 years ago), weigh your harvests, give your TOTAL sq footage of your gardening space. Currently mine is 200 sq ft, but will go up as we add more space. Just fill in the blanks on the spreadsheet and we'll all do the math for 2010 at the end of the season.

No need to get too in depth, this is meant for the home gardener... if you do this to grow food to sell that is not what I am trying to do...I'm trying to show a single season savings, not a years ag. profit. Completely different models.

I just want the little guy to see simple benefits in savings, spending and health. Its really quite a small project. The most consuming of your time will be weighing your produce. I did find a produce scale (plastic) as kohl's on clearance last year for $7! It was quite a deal!

Oh, and harvest dates are important... one harvest of cucumbers may be worth more in August, then they were for the same harvest weight in June. Trying to follow your local market's value... and your local market price can be a grocery you visit or the farmers market... WHICHEVER you shop at the time. We're not being scientific down to a tee. This is supposed to be fun and not frustrating!

 

[Acre of Blessings]

vfem.....where is the spreadsheet on your website? I guess I had to much fun feeding the fish

 

[vfem]

LOL! I guess you found your way to my Blog.

The spread sheet is here:
http://www.foglskitchen.com/2010-Garden-spreadsheet.xls

I hope at my blog you signed up for the free seeds!