Balance sheet 2008

[Snadger]

Thanks Snadger and Kristen, have done the Regional Options, but no change as yet, the other one doesnt seem to have that option on my Control Panel : Keyboard Options, I'm running Windows XP!.................

Have you turned the computer off and restarted to set the options? ...I think I had to.
I'm running windows XP also and went to regional options..........set it to English (United Kingdom)...........press customise..........currency tab......change symbol to � sign from a drop down list!

Good luck!

[sewer rat]

I have an accountant to do all that for me !!
I do keep a note of every single sale I make and how much of each type of produce goes into my veg boxes or to the local Farmers Markets though this is more to help me identify what has been a commercially successful crop and what I need to rethink for next season.
I price my veg based on a number of supermarket prices, other local box scheme prices or demand e.g new season veg -especially my tatties, broadies and peas - these are the veg that attract customers to my farm gate sales - once I have them there I sell them other veg they didn't know they wanted !!

[Mrs Dobby]

Thanks Snadger, after being off overnight it seems to have finally fixed itself! Whoo hoo!!!

Anyhows, today we harvested
5lb of raspberries= �20
8 courgettes= �4
a cabbage=�.8
a cucumber=�.8
6 portions of broccolli=�1
12 baby carrots=�1
a cauli=�1
Todays haul = �28.60

So, cumulative thats now.........
Total costs so far this growing year
Rent (for 2 full plots and a half plot) #100
Seeds # 30
Seed Spuds # 20
Compost / Grow Bags # 20
Fertilizers etc # 20
Muck # 10
Total costs #200

Total Harvests
2 batches overwintered garlic (97 bulbs) =50 pounds sterling approx
Rasps 12lb =35 pounds sterling approx
Strawbs 5lb =10 pounds sterling approx
Courgettes x 23 =16 pounds sterling
Rhubarb 20lb = 40 pounds sterling
Cucumber 4 = 3 pounds
Chillies / peppers = 3 pounds
Spuds 40lb = 20 pounds
Onions = 35 pounds
Radish = 5 pounds
Mange Tout 6lb = 12 pounds
Broad Beans 5lb = 5 pounds
Lettuce x 6 = 4 pounds
Broccolli = 6 pounds
Cabbage = 4 pounds
Caulis = 3 pounds
Carrots = 4 pounds

Total Harvest so far 2008 = �280 - a profit now of �80!!

[TinyT]

Not a bad idea. I might just give this a try from October . I think the starting up stage was the priciest but I'm finding seed saving, recycling and offers are bringing the costs down as I go along.

[Mikey]

Mrs D, on your toolbar at the bottom of your page, RH corner do you have a symbol EN. In future if you right click on this you can change the language quickly from one to another if you so wish. This works for XP anyway.

[Mrs Dobby]

Cool! Thanks Mikey, its appeared on there now that I've followed Snadger n Kristens advice, so I can now type �����������������������! Whoo hoo!!!

Alison, I know what you mean re the labour factor, but as its a hobby, something that we enjoy, that destresses us and keeps us fit, then the labour factor doesnt really count, plus of course it saves us gym membership aswell!

[sewer rat]

Hiya Mrs D
You seem to be doing well again this year - only one comment to make though - and it's not a bad one either. The value you are putting on your veg seems too low - if you are going to compare home grown surely you should be using prices that reflect the near enough as to make no difference organic status.
Your cucumber is way too cheap as is your cabbage and cauliflower!!!!

[Two_Sheds]

I can't be doing with all the weighing and working out ~ but I am eating almost for free every day.
I just buy a bit of protein (egg or Feta) to go with my veg.
If you think that I'm not buying a salad, twice a day, then I'm saving �2 a day?

If I didn't grow things like rasps, strawbs, scorzonera, broad beans, then I wouldn't be able to afford to eat them.

[Mikey]

If I didn't grow things like scorzonera, then I wouldn't be able to afford to eat them.

Two sheds, I have been looking at this lately, with a view to growing some next year as a trial. Can you tell me what you use it with, and how it tastes?

Cheers Mikey

[Winged one]

We aren't doing a balance sheet of any sort (I really should but haven't gotten around to it) but I reckon we are probably not in the black yet (between rent and seeds and compost I have spent a good bit this year).

However, new spuds are atrociously expensive this year and we haven't bought any yet. I am feeding myself half my lunch for the past 3 months or so (I do have to buy my pepper, tomatoes and carrots still) but I am getting a nice variety of leaves that I wouldn't buy and that is saving me at least 2 heads of lettuce a week (even if just loooking at 2 plain heads, that's about €4 per week). We would never buy purple sprouting brocolli (although we do buy loads of calabrese) and we got lots of dinners of that.

And quite apart from full dinner's worth of any veg, we are getting small amounts which means less waste, of lots of things too. OK too much cabbage, but little handfuls of mangetout regularly (and they are hard to find unpackaged so I often waste lots), broad beans (which we'd never had before and now love) and a few peas (when we got to the plants before others). And I haven't had to buy an onion or garlic since the middle of last summer - and we go through a LOT of both!!

[piskieinboots]

this is a brill thread Mrs D - thank you.

I did wonder about starting a sheet but didn't get to it. Last night for supper I had spatchcock (not from me) with roast spuds, broadbeans, peas, runner beans and courgettes (all from me )

[Becca]

thinking on the cost of things... My OH suggested the other day that I could sell my new potato surplus.. I was pondering �1 a kilo which seemed good value for totally organic spuds based on a quick recee in tescos.. what do people think..? Also, how soon do i need to get them harvested? is there any time limit..? I'm generally digging up a plant or 2 a week for our use, but I've still got neary 2 dozen plants in the ground which would last me all summer at this rate if they're ok to stay there...

[sewer rat]

Becca
�1/kg for new potatoes, freshly dug and as organic as you can get without being certified is (and please forgive the pun) cheap as chips.
Some current organic retail prices up here are as follows;
New Potatoes - dependent on variety and grade �approx �1.50 to �2.50 / kg
Lettuce - �1.00
Little Gem - �0.90 per twin pack
Rocket - �1.30 for 75g pack
Carrots - �1.10/kg
Cucumber - �1.20
Onion - �2.00/kg
Spinach - up to �5.00 /kg
Chard - as spinach
Turnips - �1.60 / bunch (approx 6 per bunch)
Peas in Pods -�3.50/kg
Broad Beans - as peas
Courgettes - �2.75/kg
I

[Becca]

think I might give that a go then could definately do with the extra cash right now..

[Mrs Dobby]

Thanks for the heads up on prices Rat, tis appreciated!

Anyhows, just thought I'd update this

Total costs so far this growing year

Rent (for 2 full plots and a half plot) �100
Seeds �30
Seed Spuds �20
Compost / Grow Bags �20
Fertilizers etc �20
Muck �10
Total costs �200

Total Harvests

2 batches overwintered garlic (97 bulbs) =50 pounds sterling approx
Rasps 19lb =�152 (�8.40 a lb at Tescos!)
Strawbs 9lb =�45 (�5 a lb at Tescos!)
Courgettes x 40 =�25
Rhubarb 20lb = �40
Cucumber 8 = �6
Chillies / peppers = �4
Spuds 90lb = �60 (�0.50 -0.80lb at Tescos)
Onions = �40
Radish =�5
Mange Tout 10lb = �25 (�2.50lb at Tesco)
Broad Beans 5lb = �10 (�2lb at Tesco)
Lettuce x 8 = �5
Broccolli = �8
Cabbage = �8
Caulis = �6
Carrots = �8
Tomatoes = �2

Total Harvest so far 2008 = �450 - a profit now of �250!!

And the taste of home grown produce? Priceless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!