Personal Farmer
How much good can come from growing your own? PLENTY!

Benefits

  • Saves Money - Up to a 300% cost savings
  • Greenhouse Gas Reduction - Less fossil fuels spent on chemical fertilizers, pesticides, machinery, packaging, and transport of produce
  • Better Nutrition & Health Effects - Organic produce has been proven to yield higher vitamin & nutrient levels

Did you know...

  • As a result, the average American foodstuff travels an estimated 1,500 miles before being consumed
  • A 2002 study from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health estimated that, using our current system, three calories of energy were needed to create one calorie of edible food
  • As much as forty percent of energy used in the food system goes towards the production of artificial fertilizers and pesticides
  • Approximately twenty-three percent of the energy used in our food production system is allocated to processing and packaging food
http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/energy/

Growing vs. Buying

Below is an example of how a much a 10' x 20' garden plot can produce. Along with financial savings and greenhouse gas reductions, other intangible benefits include a more active lifestyle, increased vegetable/ fruit consumption, and an exciting, influential classroom for growing children.
  • Organic produce prices were used, although even with conventionally grown prices averaging 25-30% less, a significant savings still remains
  • Soil amendment costs will severely decrease after first year due to initial soil building requirements, up to 50% less. Other cost saving techniques include composting and leaf collecting, used as a mulch or soil amendment
  • Starter plants, and not seed prices, were assumed. Beginning from seeds can reduce plant costs up to 75%
  • To reduce overproduction during harvesting time, garden plantings can be staggered by a couple of weeks. OR, simple preservation methods such as freezing and canning can be utilized
  • Garden output will vary according to seasonal conditions
Approx.
Approx. Yield Yearly Approximate
Plants Qty. Cost Each Total Per Plant (lbs) Total (lbs) Retail Cost (lbs) Yearly Total
Tomatoes 9 $1.00 $9.00 10 90 $3.99 $359.10
Peppers 10 $1.00 $10.00 1.5 15 $2.99 $44.85
Beans 10 $1.00 $10.00 0.3 3 $3.50 $10.50
Onions 25 $0.40 $10.00 0.9 22.5 $1.69 $38.03
Garlic 12 $0.40 $4.80 0.25 3 $4.99 $14.97
Potatoes 16 $0.40 $6.40 1.5 24 $1.50 $36.00
Cucumbers 4 $1.00 $4.00 10 40 $2.50 $100.00
Yellow Squash 4 $1.00 $4.00 8 32 $2.50 $80.00





229.5
$683.45
Soil Amendments






Hen Manure - 30 lb bag 5 $8.00 $40.00



Worm Castings - 30 lb bag 5 $8.00 $40.00
Total Gardening Expense

Leaf Mulch/ Soil Conditioner 5 $4.00 $20.00
$231.20

Espoma Plant Tone 8lb 1 $8.00 $8.00



Fish/ Seaweed Blend - 1 pint 1 $10.00 $10.00
Total Retail Food Cost






$683.45

Mulch






Leaf Mulch/ Straw 3 $5.00 $15.00
Savings






296%

Misc Expenses

$40.00





Total $231.20




















Variety
Apples
Spinach
Romaine
Carrots
Potatoe Idaho
Potato Sweet
Radish
Broccoli
Celery
Pepper Green
Pepper Red
Pepper Misc
Cucumber
Turnip
Squash Yellow
Zuchini
Eggplant
Asparagus
Chard Swiss
Beans Green
Peas Sugar
Peas Snow