How much is your garden worth?

Tim and I did an interesting experiment last night.

Okay, wait.  Who am I kidding?  I was playing on the internets and Tim did all the work.  When I get home from work I am toast.  I want wine, doggies and gardens.  I don't want to do math, or spreadsheets or speak in complete sentences.  And if it's a Monday?  Don't even expect a grunt.  Just keep my glass filled and no one will die.

Tim, on the other hand, has unlimited energy.  Mow the grass when he gets home?  No probs.  Turn over a garden bed?  Sure thing.  Cut a cord of firewood?  Yes ma'am.  Solve the world's financial, energy, food shortage, national security, poverty and homeless issues?  He's got it.

So yesterday when I told him that I've been thinking of adding up the monetary value of the veggies we've been growing, he thought it was a good idea.

So he did a spreadsheet.  After spending about 2 hours on research, he came up with the following:

According to typical grocery store prices, we've grown about $700 worth of veggies through the end of August.

We can assume that if we had priced them as organically grown, the price would go up, as would have  purchasing them at a farmer's market.

What's really striking to us, however, is the fact that we know exactly how they were grown.  What's been put on them (nothing), what's been fed to them (water and natural compost), how many hands have touched them (two.  Though we are not quite sure about squirrels or lizards). 

We have no fears of e. coli.  Or chemical contamination.  Or human-borne pathogens.

We haven't added in the extra water cost these past few months due to the drought in Texas.  I've decided to consider it a wash, because of the peace of mind we've gained from knowing what we are eating.

I should also mention that we have grown all of our plants this year from seeds (well, not the grapes, of course ...)  Oh, and a great big shout out to my sister, Danielle, for all the seeds she bought us this year.  Our successful peppers, onions, patty pan squash, asparagus, tomatoes, carrots, and probably something I am forgetting, are all because of her generous gifts!

Tim's boys gave him eleventy billion fall planting seeds for Father's Day.  We can't wait to plant them (please, dear God in Heaven, allow the temperature to go back to normal in Houston.  And please let it rain.  Amen.)

Good night.  Hug your veggies tonight.

XXOO

Donna