Grow Your Own Magazine

nick the grief · #36 (**permalink**) 13-08-2008, 09:33 PM

Well done Mrs D. I just checked the post that kicked it all off (on me blog ... must post on there again Lol) and you are about on target with what it said in the 1940's book !

Mrs Dobby · #37 (**permalink**) 14-08-2008, 08:24 PM

Cool beans! Thanks for that Nick, interesting to see that we're on target!!

Nice to see you back online BTW, hope all is well with you and yours?

Eyren · #38 (**permalink**) 16-08-2008, 05:53 PM

Great thread! I know we've been operating at a serious loss so far, what with having to buy all the tools and not getting great crops owing to being beginners, but it will be interesting to see what next year brings. I'm going to start right now, recording the cost of what I'm buying to grow next year...

Mrs Dobby · #39 (**permalink**) 16-08-2008, 08:59 PM

Hi Eyren!

Lol! We all operate at a loss when setting up, and if you factor in labour, then probably we'd never break even, but as its a hobby, then I dont bother with a labour cost! You'll be surprised how little the costs are for next year, once you've got all the tools n stuff it basically comes down to cost of seeds, seed spuds, sets, fertilizer and muck, plus any rent!

As for being novices, we all were once (I still feel like a novice after 2 years on the plot! lol!), so dont worry bout it, what it means is you can try doing things your own way without any fear of failure!

Hans Mum · #40 (**permalink**) 16-08-2008, 09:05 PM

hi suzanne, if you factored your labour in as gym membership you'd be quids in (£40/50quid a month each?) & its more fun than running on a tread mill in front of a tv

Kayt · #41 (**permalink**) 18-08-2008, 02:24 PM

The fun value is priceless. Even getting the large boxes from the back of Halfords on Friday night had me in giggles. I hope they don't have CCTV there! I did have permission from the manager to help myself but didn't realise how big the boxes were!!

Eyren · #42 (**permalink**) 18-08-2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Mum

hi suzanne, if you factored your labour in as gym membership you'd be quids in (£40/50quid a month each?) & its more fun than running on a tread mill in front of a tv

Exactly - I had an exercise machine a while back and only used it a few times as it was both exhausting and deadly dull. Digging can get boring after a few hours, but at least I have something other than sweat and aching muscles to show for it

(Technically I'm not saving a lot of money by exercising at the allotment, as we have a ridiculously cheap subsidised gym at work - but getting sweaty in my lunch break doesn't appeal either!)

Becca · #43 (**permalink**) 19-08-2008, 01:02 PM

I'm not even saving that money as I'm still a member of that subsidising gym..:

I just don't go.. but it's so cheap I'm kept paying in case I 'might'

(was quite keen a few years back till i injured my knee, then every time I tried going back I hurt something else..

) keep meaning to cancel it as far more fun to run or ride a bike outside or work up a sweat on the plot

problem is, eating all the food I bring home seems to cancel out a fair amount of the digging calories.. :P

nick the grief · #44 (**permalink**) 23-08-2008, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eyren

Exactly - I had an exercise machine a while back and only used it a few times as it was both exhausting and deadly dull. Digging can get boring after a few hours, but at least I have something other than sweat and aching muscles to show for it

(Technically I'm not saving a lot of money by exercising at the allotment, as we have a ridiculously cheap subsidised gym at work - but getting sweaty in my lunch break doesn't appeal either!)

your doing it wrong. I used to go to the gym the same night as a cracking bit of stuff and always used the rowing M/c directly behind her when she was on the treadmill .... guaranteed to make me burst into a sweat

Mrs Dobby · #45 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 04:33 PM

So, a few more weeks of growing and harvesting, and the balance sheet now looks like this..........

Total costs so far this growing year
Rent (for 2 full plots and a half plot) £100
Seeds £30Seed Spuds £20
Compost / Grow Bags £20
Fertilizers etc £20
Muck £10
Lopper (tool from wilkos) £13
Total costs £213

Total Harvests
2 batches overwintered garlic (97 bulbs) =£50
Rasps 25lb =£206 (£8.40 a lb at Tescos!)
Strawbs 12lb =£60 (£5 a lb at Tescos!)
Courgettes x 150 =£75
Rhubarb 21lb = £42
Cucumber 40 = £20
Chillies / peppers = £10
Spuds 90lb = £60 (£0.50 -0.80lb at Tescos)
Onions = £75
Radish =£8
Mange Tout 20lb = £50 (£2.50lb at Tesco)
Broad Beans 15lb = £30 (£2lb at Tesco)
Lettuce x 8 = £5
Broccolli = £20
Cabbage = £20
Caulis = £10
Carrots = £15
Tomatoes 65lb = £80 (£1.22lb at Tescos)
Peas = £20
Runner Beans 20lb = £ 40
French Beans = £15
Mushrooms = £3
Apples = £8
Aubergines = £2
Total Harvest so far 2008 = £924 - a profit now of £711!!

With more toms, more cukes, more courgettes, more brassicas, the grapes, winter brassicas, leeks, apples, pears, autumn rasps, late strawbs, blackberries, peppers, chillies, runner beans, swedes, turnips, carrots, jerusalem fartichokes, pumpkins, squashes, sweetcorn, celery and herbs still remaining to harvest, I have a feeling we may well have an overall harvest equivalent of a lot more yet!

Hope your harvests have been as good!

Wren · #46 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 08:51 PM

I was wondering how you were getting on Mrs D, thanks for the update and looks like you are quids in

sewer rat · #47 (**permalink**) 04-09-2008, 12:40 AM

Here's what I sold in the calendar month of August
Lady Christl potatoes - 151.85kg
Charlotte Potatoes - 80.21kg
Red Duke of York Potatoes - 94.04kg
King Edward Potatoes - 275kg
Peas (in pods) - 75.67kg
Broad Beans - 159.45kg
Cucumbers - 115
Courgettes - 182.35kg
Lettuce - 27
Milan turnips - 46.72kg
Broccoli - 120.51kg
Beetroot - 4kg
Cabbage - 76
Chard - 18 heads
Spinach - 9kg
Kale - 10.72kg

Mrs Dobby · #48 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 09:14 AM

Thats some harvest SR!! Glad to hear things seem to be going well for you, despite the weather this year!

sewer rat · #49 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 09:58 PM

As this thread is titled "Balance Sheet" and therefore is somewhat financially based, anyone notice in the news that fruit and veg have gone up 14.7% this year

This of course is announced just after I drop the price of my broad beans, courgettes, milan turnips, potatoes and peas.

Eyren · #50 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewer rat

As this thread is titled "Balance Sheet" and therefore is somewhat financially based, anyone notice in the news that fruit and veg have gone up 14.7% this year

indeed! Those figures should be a big boost for Garden Organics' new
Dig for Victory campaign!

Our harvest this year has been a lot better than last, now that I'm getting the hang of what grows best where (and keeping the chickens out of the veg patch more effectively!). With a bit more practice and effort, I reckon we can be self-sufficient in everything except maincrop potatoes and greenhouse crops (no space for a proper greenhouse in our tiny garden, and we like to eat far more toms and peppers than we can grow)

Kristen · #51 (**permalink**) 06-09-2008, 12:21 PM

"(no space for a proper greenhouse in our tiny garden, and we like to eat far more toms and peppers than we can grow)"

Just a thought ...

... I tend to produce far too much from my greenhouse, I'm sure others do too. It goes to friends & neighbours etc.

A swap / barter system with a neighbour who is more interested in greenhouse than veg patch might work for you?

Eyren · #52 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristen

A swap / barter system with a neighbour who is more interested in greenhouse than veg patch might work for you?

Sadly none of our neighbours have greenhouses either, as their gardens are even smaller than mine - I live on a modern (mid-80s) housing development, where 20' x 25' is considered a generous-sized garden for a three-bedroomed house

Kristen · #53 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 02:10 PM

Intended to be just enough for the de-rigeur Extension I suppose?

Kayt · #54 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 03:20 PM

Do I have to include the magazines I buy in this balance sheet too, there seem to be a few building up on the coffee table

Kristen · #55 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 06:56 PM

"there seem to be a few building up on the coffee table"

Sounds like they should be in the "Cost of compost" column

Eyren · #56 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristen

Intended to be just enough for the de-rigeur Extension I suppose?

Yep

At least the previous owners of ours just went for in for a small south-facing conservatory, which is very useful in spring for raising plants - though not so good in high summer, since it doesn't have as good ventilation as a proper greenhouse would and gets ridiculously hot.