Value of Time

Earlier, I posted about starting a garden, but then I thought, what was the "true" cost of having a garden?

Each tomato plant cost around $4 and the strawberry plants cost around $5 for a set of 3 strawberry plants and I hope to yield enough to cover the cost of each plant. But, I started to think about the cost of my time in terms of tending to the plants, making sure I gave them enough water, picked the fruits when ripe (before the birds or squirrels got to them).

If I were to calculate the time and energy spent times and the yield versus the cost of the same fruit and vegetables at the market, would I actually come out ahead? Probably not. I didn't pick low maintenance plants. These plants needed to be watered daily, pruned and the fruit had to be picked. In any case, it didn't really matter in some ways. There are intangible benefits to growing my own food. I feel some some satisfaction in growing my own food and having fresh fruits and vegetables that I know is pesticide-free. Also, I feel like a little kid. I love watching the whole process. The trees and plants bloom and flower and then I can see tiny buds that eventually turn in fruits or vegetables.

I'm eagerly waiting for the figs to ripen. Can't wait.

Garden

We needed to do something with our backyard. It's pretty bare and we haven't decided what we wanted to do landscaping-wise, so I decided to put in a small garden. Our cherry tree needed a pollinator and so my interest in a with a garden started.

I was always curious about growing our own food, but I always procrastinated. I wondered how much of a commitment it would be to tend to the plants, water them, trim them, and gather the fruits and vegetables. Plus, I had to contend with my black thumb. Also, I wasn't sure when was the best to plant.

Browsing OSH and them Summerwinds Nursery, I decided to take the plunge. The following plants came home with me: brandywine heirloom tomatoes (3), squash, strawberry (6), a couple of blueberry bushes and a lapin cherry tree. I had no idea there were so many varieties of cherry trees and strawberry plants! Let's see how this works out.

So far, I've been watering the plants on a daily basis and I don't think any of the plants have died so far. The tomato plants are starting to bear fruit and I can't wait until they ripen. I was a bit worried about the weather (it was so cold for so long and then suddenly summer appeared), but the plants seem pretty resilient.