Allotments 4 All

I'm going to try harder than ever this year to spend as little as possible on my allotment and garden. We are likely to have less money coming in so want less to go out and I'm an avid recycler (and freecycler) anyway so it should be fun. I'm going to try to keep a record of everything I spend and see what it adds up to at the end of the year. No doubt I'll forget or give up at some point but anyone else fancy joining in? Maybe we can compare how we're doing every now and again.
Two days into the year and I haven't spent a penny yet. ;D

Blown it already....  :-[

Sometimes you need to spend to save.

E.g. spend £0 and you may get £0 but spend £1 and you may get £10 in produce.

Sounds interesting.......but the only reason I haven't spent anything is because I'm working nights at the moment! I'm going to have to pay out for some manure sooner or later, lots required....plots to sort......but hopefully I shouldn't need to spend much more.....in theory! ;D I am trying to keep better records, which shouldn't be too difficult with the 'new' half plot we are sorting over the winter and OH & son's clearance of the very overgrown one.

It would be interesting to keep a tally on what we spend to get them up to a productive level....nothing so far except labour (and a bit of savlon for the bramble scratches)!

My main expense is compost for seed sowing so I'm on the lookout for bargains if anyone has seen any.
My first spend this year will probably be on seed potatoes and onion sets.
I'm not counting money already spent so am hoping I won't have to spend too much on seeds this year- must get into seed-swapping!

Ah yes, seed potatoes.....hoping to go to the Ryton Potato day later this month for the ones I can't get locally/cheaply, do I have to count the few I ordered from Tuckers last year but haven't been delivered yet?! ;D

Agree with the seed swapping....oh yes! ;D

I've just written a cheque for £74, which is a year's rental for two allotments, total of 25 pole (plus a locker & affiliation to NSALG) - sounds like a bargain so far.

Sat 24th Jan for Members Deb... want a car share again? To keep down the petrol costs.

Quote from: saddad on January 02, 2009, 18:00:12
Sat 24th Jan for Members Deb... want a car share again? To keep down the petrol costs.

Okey dokey! ;D I will remember to wear my thermals this time after last years freezing conditions!!

Plot rent....again, paid it last year, so do I have to count it in this years 'accounts'!!?! :-\

Just kidding yourself Deb if you don't as it will come up again in October and it will cost more!!  ;D

I have spent £70 on seeds so far for this year, plus the seeds from opened packets from last year.  I also spent £40 of my B&Q vouchers on 3 cloches.  I still have about another £20 of seeds to get yet......

An article in January edition of GYO magazine reckons if the EU get their way and ban some farming pesticides then a 5kg bag of spuds that cost £2 today could cost as much as £5.94 y December 2009 :o :o

Quote from: saddad on January 02, 2009, 18:04:40
Just kidding yourself Deb if you don't as it will come up again in October and it will cost more!!  ;D

That is true, I'd better include last years figure then!
;D

Oh yes, forgot about plot rent- due this month, waiting to see how much it has gone up his year.

I think my biggest expenditures will be on manure, potting compost and grow bags for the greenhouse toms...even if I use the cheapies that will still not be cheap!

My rent, due in September is only £6.

Thanks to the swaps, which are on their way again, I will not need to buy any seeds this year.

My only expense will be spuds as I don't grow maincrop onions due to white rot and japanese onions, garlic and shallots were all brought last year in a sale and are already in.

Coldframes thanks to the lovely Purple Sprouting - so free.

Manure from neighbouring farm, so free.

Extra manure for compost heap thanks to the guinea pigs and hamsters.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I am a cheap date!!

Good Value, possibly... cheap, Never!  ;D

I grow in my garden plottie but I've never DARED put a cost on what I spend, cos I know the answer but don't want the bald figures.....buying prime produce at Birmingham Market wins hands-down.

So far I've got to recoup £60 next year on horse manure, spent during this winter, for starters...

So.....it gets me in the fresh air & keeps me fit? Errr....me job does that, actually :-[

Feeling of satisfaction? When my carrots have fly, my spinach bolts after the first two true leaves, my fennel remains anorexically thin and my tomatoes get blighted.......not a lot. But just enough to keep me keen to try again next year.

Oh, Mother Nature is such a Tease 8) ;D

Quote from: caroline7758 on January 02, 2009, 17:48:28
My main expense is compost for seed sowing so I'm on the lookout for bargains if anyone has seen any....

I have not tried it but if you have the ingredients you can easily make your own seed compost from either pure leaf mould or equal parts loam and leaf mould according to my book from Gardening Organic. 

G x

what a interesting ideal! I'm game altho my rent is paid in sept and the seed order was paid for in oct and can't remember what else I'v bought, so as these things happen every year will count them at the end
nothing so far but it is only the 2nd lol
marg

I make my own seed/potting mix from 3 part sifted topsoil, 3 part sifted garden compost and 1 part sharp sand. Good enough for me. No shriveling, no flies, no expense apart from some sand. I use about 3-4000 litres of it each year with most of it ending up dug in the plot.

As for overall costs;
Rent < £60.00
Seeds <> £120.00
Sand I usually win but say £10.00
Manure free but petrol for collection <> £10.00

So I need to not buy £4.00 of veg every week to balance the books.