Compost Confidential

A Shrinking Budget - My Quest for the Twenty-five Dollar Victory Garden

Joe Lamp'l — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:28:45 -0400

I admit to being a little slack this week. I had the best intentions to have this latest post and video up before the forth of July holiday. But the closer we got to that date, the less motivated I became. And based on the activity on Twitter and Facebook, I’d say a lot of you were feeling the same way.

This video covers the end of June up to just a couple days ago, so we’re pretty close in real time as to what you see and how things really look today. The exciting news is that as of yesterday, I’ve harvested over 18 ½ pounds of vegetables and the best is yet to come. The cucumbers show no signs of slowing down, the squash are just getting started and the heaviest fruit are still green on the vine. We're talking of course about my tomatoes and they are looking beautiful! With eight healthy plants and all in bud or fruit, I dream of harvesting over 100 pounds out of this little garden with a total expense fixed at around eighteen dollars!

By the way, speaking of expense, I was at $14.55 total but as you’ll see in upcoming episode 13, I purchased some organic fertilizer at a garage sale for fifty cents! I was pretty proud of that purchase since I talked them down from their original asking price of seventy-five cents! I’ve also charged my budget for some Velcro tape that secures my tomato plants to their stakes. I actually already had all I needed of this and didn’t need to buy anymore. But in the spirit of doing this as a first time gardener, they likely would not have this on hand so I’m charging myself just to keeping the playing field level. Sure I could have used the twine I already purchased but I’ve used this tape for years and am very sold on it. I feature it in the next episode as well but here’s a link if you want to see what I’m talking about now.

So I guess with that, I’ll wrap this entry up with a revised summary of my budget and feeling pretty good about where I stand today with total expenses:

Current Expense Count as of July 6, 2009:

Seed starting Mix: 2 bags….$7.00
Twine for bamboo………......$2.27
Two tomato plants………..…$5.28
Organic fertilizer………….....$0.50
Velcro brand plant tape……$3.15

Total……………………….$18.20
Available………......……$ 6.80

With weeks to go in this challenge, I’m hopeful I can pull this off within budget. I’ll keep you posted either way.
JL

First Harvest Meal from the Twenty-five Dollar Victory Garden

Joe Lamp'l — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:29:01 -0400

Once again, this is not a video but I just had to show you my first harvest of note where I actually had a complete meal from the bounty. Everything in the garden is coming on strong now. Even the nasturtiums are blooming on cue. What you see in this bowl is over four pounds of veggies, all harvested in one day. Not bad for a total expense so far of $14.55. And the best part; we’re just getting started.

A new video should be up within a couple of days. Thanks for checking in.
JL

Thought You'd Like to See...

Joe Lamp'l — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:12:14 -0400

This post does not include a video but if you'd like to see them for this series on The Twenty-five Dollar Organic Victory Garden Challenge, click here to view them on YouTube.

I realize that if I only post a blog entry every time I have a new video to show, you're not getting much action in between in real time. So here's a shot of this mornings surprise harvest of 'green finger' cucumbers, compliments of seeds sent to me by my virtual friend on Twitter, Theresa Loe. These cucumbers are really tasty and I love the size. This is the second harvest from only about two plants. I also love that fact that they don't take up a lot of space in the garden. They're mostly 'hanging out along the front of my bamboo fence.

In other harvesting news, some of my squash will be ready for harvest tomorrow. Initially I was concerned that they were not getting pollinated because I hadn't seen any bees out there. So I hand-pollinated all I could. But today I saw honey bees in my garden and I was really excited about that.

Some of the pole beans, Chinese cabbage, chard and lettuce will come in tonight for dinner so now that it is officially well into summer, all the vegetables my family and I eat for the rest of the season must come from the garden. The tomato plants are doing well but I am a few weeks away yet from harvesting any of them.

My plans for the next video are to address the very few pests problems I'd had. Actually, I wouldn't even call them problems. I had a few whitefly and one cucumber beetle. But I feel like I need to addrsess what do do for pest control on a budget so I'm thinking that should make it into episode 12, which I'll edit and upload later this week.

That's all for now. The budget is still holding at $14.55 in total expenses. Now I'm wondering if I can keep it here for the rest of the season. How cool would that be to finish out the season for under $15?!?

If you'd like to see all the videos in this series, The Twenty-five Dollar Organic Victory Garden Challenge, they can be viewed on my channel at YouTube.

Keeping the Deer at Bay When Joe's Away - My Quest for the Twenty-five Dollar Victory Garden

Joe Lamp'l — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:32:21 -0400

(To watch this video in better High Definition, click here to view it on Vimeo).

So I survived nearly week away, without my nightly ritual of spreading homemade deer repellent around the garden perimeter. My plan to deter the deer in my absence was one I concocted in a few minutes time, but with no idea as to its potential effectiveness. Yet with no other options, I had to take a chance and hope for the best.

As you’ll see in the video, I placed these “deer repellent traps” for lack of a better term evenly around the garden perimeter by securing them to the bamboo fence with twine. The tops have remained securely in place and I’ve managed to avoid any evidence of deer or other critters munching on my garden since then.

In the next episode I plan on addressing other pests control, such as how I’m dealing with whitefly and cucumber beetles that have started to show up in my garden. With only a little over ten dollars in the budget, home remedies are still at the top of the list for controls.

And now that it is officially summer, all the veggies my family and I eat for the rest of the season, must come from my garden. This week, we started harvesting cucumbers, along with lettuce, chard and Chinese cabbage. Basil is a no-brainer and I use that every day.

So here’s a rundown of where we stand as of June 26, 2009:

Current Expense Count (still the same):

Seed starting Mix: 2 bags….$7.00
Twine for bamboo………....$2.27
Two tomato plants…………$5.28

Total……………………….$14.55
Available…………......……$10.45

Thanks for keeping up with my progress and especially for your comments on this blog and when you post them on YouTube.