Tracking expenses

Last year I did a bad job of keeping track of how much this garden cost me. I tried. I kept a good record at the beginning. But I didn't keep track when I started buying the potting soil and the window box planters. Why? Because they were damn expensive and I don't want to admit to how much I shelled out.

But, I feel a little better about it now. Why? Because I'm pretty sure this year's garden is going to cost very, very little now I have the containers and soil. I don't need (have room for) more. And the hubby asked me to scale back this year so we can actually fit a couple people out there :)

I have a lot of leftover seeds from last year — and I'll probably have more left for next year, too. Lettuce, peas, carrots... Plus, I saved the seeds my nasturtiums made! (And I got free nasturtium seeds from Renee's Garden!!!) I overwintered most of my herbs — so don't have to buy new plants. I will have to buy basil, peppers, and eggplant seedlings, and maybe a few other vegetables. Maybe, and it's a big maybe, I'll try a tomato. I don't generally like tomatoes, except in salsa. So, I'd just have to resign myself to eating a lot of salsa. Oh, shoot. :)

And I want to build a trellis around the sliding glass doors and vines to grow up it. Those won't be edible unless I do it with the nasturtiums. I wanted clematis, but I'll give the nasturtiums a shot at it this year and see how they do.

Shipment news #1

My seeds from Burpee shipped today! Yay!!! Lettuce and Stevia seeds are on their way. They'll ship the plants later when it's warmer. I'm getting so excited.

Stevia plants look so simple, unassuming and even a bit weedy, but they're DAMN TASTY!

I bought a box of Stevia sweetener whilst grocery shopping this weekend. I'll admit, it was an impulse buy and cost $6. Ouch. It's kinda weird... definitely sweet, but it has it's own subtle flavor and greenish color when dissolved. It's nice for adding to my morning oatmeal, though. And I really like it for impromptu lemonade. (squirt of bottled lemon juice + 1 packet Stevia + 12oz water) Haven't tried it in tea yet - I'm a little afraid of how it will affect the taste...

Definetly not practical for cookies though. Not at that price.

I can't wait until I have my own plants! I wonder how different the fresh leaves will be from the processed powder.

Seeds + plant order

I was wandering around Target yesterday and thanked the garden gods that I hadn’t yet placed my online Burpee order – I spotted a kiosk of seeds! There were several that I had been planning on buying, so I grabbed a bunch since they were cheaper than their catalog/online counterparts. There’s probably less in a packet, but I don’t need much for my itty bitty garden anyway! And to make things even better there was also organic seeds. Woohoo!




Here's the plan so far:

From Target

Sean Conway - Organic (ok, ok - so the name caught me because my godfather's name is Sean Conway - but hey, it's organic! How could I resist?)
Garden Bean 1.69
Onion - Evergreen Long White Bunching 1.69
Cucumber – Muncher 1.69
Carrot - Chanteway 1.69
Cilantro 1.69
Chives - Common 1.69
Chives - Garlic 1.69
Nasturtium - peaches + cream 2.19
Nasturtium - tall mixed colors 2.19


Burpee
Snow Pea - Dwarf Gray Sugar .99
Snap Pea - Sugar Sprint 1.89
Squash - Summer - Saffron 1.69
Squash - Winter - Spaghetti .99
Borage 1.69

Trowel .99
Cultivator .79

Total $25.24
Amount saved vs. online Burpee order - 8.50 (Awesome)


Online Burpee Order
Mesclun Sweet Salad Mix 2.95
Culinary Classics Herb Collection 21.95
Stevia, Sweet Leaf 4.95
Strawberry - Festival (Day Neutral) 14.95
Sweet Pepper Collection (6 plants, one of each) 19.95
Eggplant Fairy Tale - 1 order (3 plants) 11.95
Lettuce Gourmet Blend (Looseleaf) 2.95
Free Espoma Plant Food FREE (though I probably won't use it)
- $5 coupon
+$13.95 for shipping
Total $88.60 (More than I had hoped to spend, but the herbs and strawberries are perennials, so I won't have to get more next year.)


Total so far $113.84



Plants I’ll get at the local garden center
Lavender
Parsley
Mint
Chives (if my seeds don’t grow well)
Jalapeno pepper
Tomato
Pansies/Violas/Violets