I admit to being a little slack this week. I had the best intentions to have this latest post and video up before the forth of July holiday. But the closer we got to that date, the less motivated I became. And based on the activity on Twitter and Facebook, I’d say a lot of you were feeling the same way.
This video covers the end of June up to just a couple days ago, so we’re pretty close in real time as to what you see and how things really look today. The exciting news is that as of yesterday, I’ve harvested over 18 ½ pounds of vegetables and the best is yet to come. The cucumbers show no signs of slowing down, the squash are just getting started and the heaviest fruit are still green on the vine. We're talking of course about my tomatoes and they are looking beautiful! With eight healthy plants and all in bud or fruit, I dream of harvesting over 100 pounds out of this little garden with a total expense fixed at around eighteen dollars!
By the way, speaking of expense, I was at $14.55 total but as you’ll see in upcoming episode 13, I purchased some organic fertilizer at a garage sale for fifty cents! I was pretty proud of that purchase since I talked them down from their original asking price of seventy-five cents! I’ve also charged my budget for some Velcro tape that secures my tomato plants to their stakes. I actually already had all I needed of this and didn’t need to buy anymore. But in the spirit of doing this as a first time gardener, they likely would not have this on hand so I’m charging myself just to keeping the playing field level. Sure I could have used the twine I already purchased but I’ve used this tape for years and am very sold on it. I feature it in the next episode as well but here’s a link if you want to see what I’m talking about now.
So I guess with that, I’ll wrap this entry up with a revised summary of my budget and feeling pretty good about where I stand today with total expenses:
Current Expense Count as of July 6, 2009:
Seed starting Mix: 2 bags….$7.00
Twine for bamboo……………$2.27
Two tomato plants………..…$5.28
Organic fertilizer……………..$0.50
Velcro brand plant tape……$3.15
Total……………………….$18.20
Available…………………$ 6.80
With weeks to go in this challenge, I’m hopeful I can pull this off within budget. I’ll keep you posted either way.
JL
About Joe Lamp'l
Joe Lamp'l is the Host and Executive Producer of the award winning PBS television series Growing A Greener World. Off camera, Joe dedicates his time to promoting sustainability through his popular books, blog, podcast series, and nationally syndicated newspaper columns. Follow Joe on Twitter
We have a small pond behind our property – technically a drainage pond for the neighborhood. The neighborhood kids have stocked it with fish, and I’m finding it’s a GREAT organic pest control….especially for the squash bugs! I can pick one off and throw it into the pond before it can take flight, and the fish gobble it up in under 2 seconds. The Japanese beetles require me getting closer to the water for the throw – they’re better at catching themselves mid-throw and flying away if I toss them from too far.
I think the fish really appreciate the bugs. 😉
Hi Verab. Glad to assist in the pest i.d. And to your question, I dissolved the whole bar, although I bet you could get by with less, but I’ve never tried.
By the way, insecticidal soap based sprays will not kill the “adult” squash beetle or any hard-shelled pests. You have to catch those pests at their earliest life stage when they are larvae on nymphs. The soap sprays penetrate soft tissue only and that is how they work to eliminate that pests. As far as the squash beetles and squash bugs (different) and cucumber beetles, I’d either pick them off and squish them or knock them into a cup of soapy water. Both are 10% effective!
Hi! Thank you for showing that squash beetle and letting us know that it is not a friendly bug – although it looks like a ladybug.
Hey, did you disolve the ENTIRE bar of soap for the 1 quart of water?
It’s looking great Joe! Good idea putting the cats to work on those voles…
Sorry to see your nice leafy greens bein attacked. But, and I know you already know it, this is all a part of it. Japanese beetles are doin their thing here right now. I say “beetlejuice” three times though and they’re gone! (Read: me and my two teens patrolling with three jars of soapy water.)
Thanks Mike. Glad you like. I’ve been quite pleased with what’s come out of the garden so far but I am anxiously awaiting the first ripe tomato! Unfortunately, we’re still a few weeks away. I have some real beauties on the vine but no color yet. The effect of the cucumber vines and squash climbing and cascading over the bamboo fence was by design. Although I think it is attractive by itself, I really like it with the greenery intertwined.
And in regard to keeping up with the totals, every time I harvest something, which is every day now, I weigh it and keep other records. I too think it will be really interesting to get the final numbers based on my total out of pocket expense. Thanks for your comment.
Joe, your garden is gorgeous, compact, neat and orderly. I really like the recycled bamboo fence/trellis, and the way your plants are exploding over them. The selection of produce you are already enjoying is pretty impressive. Keep us updated on your total yields; it will be interesting to see what it costs per pound.
Great to hear you found me Deborah. You sound like someone after my own heart and yes, even as well as you are doing costwise, you CAN get that lower. If or when you have time, it might be fun for you to go back to episode one and watch through to the current, latest episode 12 to get the feel of how this all started and actually see the transformation so far. Quite remarkable if I do say so myself. For my 240 sq. ft. garden, I’ve only actually spent $14.55 and have harvested a good bit but with most still ahead of me. Thanks for your comment and I look forward to hearing more from you soon.
JL
I just discovered your blog through Garden Rant and LOVE your idea of the $25 Victory Garden. I keep a tally of what mine costs, just for the sake of having that information. Mine is quite a bit higher, around $100, mainly due to the fact that I have to rent a community garden plot, which costs about $30 each season. (also, I’ve been lazy about starting things from seed). But you’ve inspired me to challenge myself to keep it as low as possible next year. I’m already on the lookout for those cake domes!
Recently I ran across a blog or website where the vegetable gardeners kept a tally of weight and type of produce they harvested and calculated it’s worth. After they subtracted their expenses, it amounted to over $2000! It was quite a bit garden, but still . . . impressive!
I look forward to keeping up with what’s going on with your garden.
Hi Susan. That is an excellent point. I guess I splurged a bit here, maybe feeling a little confident about where I was in the process. I think maybe I should rethink that approach with the velcro tape. I have not shot the video and only bought the tape to show what it was. I didn’t need it, haven’t used it, and only pulled from a big stockpile of existing stuff. I can easily return that purchase. I think in the spirit of saving as much money as possible, the stocking idea makes a lot more sense (assuming my wife has some old pairs around here somewhere.
Thanks for your thoughts on this and I’m seriously going to reconsider my next move.
hey there. what with all of your paper towel pots and such I would think that you would have used nylon stockings to tie your plants up and not have bought that expensive velcro tape. just sayin