Garden Update: Time and Money Spent So Far

Image by cafemama via Flickr

In the interest of seeing how economical and efficient my gardening endeavor is this first year, I've been keeping track of everything I spend that is garden-related. I haven't been marking down all the time MDT and I spend working in it, but I can estimate.

I think we've done pretty well, though as I mentioned last post, we've been lucky to have my dad nearby to lend us equipment.

Initial Expenses:
Seeds (cilantro only): $.65
1 pot with 5 watermelon seedlings: $1.99
1 large orange bell pepper seedling: $1.99
1 flat of 6 small bell pepper seedlings: $1.89
2 flats of 6 tomato seedlings (12 total): $3.78
1 large bag of sphagnum peat moss: $2.10
Total: $12.40

Borrowed supplies:
tiller
hoe
garden rake
sledge hammer (for hammering in tomato stakes)
gardening gloves: 2 pair

Found supplies:
old wood for garden border
old wood for tomato stakes
5 bricks

Time spent:
Planning, preparation, and planting time: 3.5 hrs
Feeding, watering, and weeding time (approximately 30 min every other day, since 6/13) = 5.25 hrs
Total (first 3 weeks): 8.75 hrs

I love the time I spend in the garden. It doesn't seem like work to me at all; it's really calming and peaceful. I feel so much calmer now than I did in Boston. MDT says he feels the same way. I never understood why people enjoyed actually working in the garden before. Pretty cool.