High cost of living the green good life

So far we have managed to spend a lot of money.

This was meant to be a step into self-sufficiency.

Actually not just a step but a great big leap into it.

So I’m embarrassed to disclaim the full amount of monies we have spent thus far.

Shall I explain how far “thus far,” is?

We have three raised beds, the wood cost us a bit, we then filled it with soil and compost, two tons of it to be precise and then the greenhouse. We saved a bit on that and when I say saved, I mean we bought a cheaper plastic one.

Right, so then we had to buy 20 pots for the tomatoes as well as all the grow bags needed.

We’re growing three different types of toms this year, as last, we harvested about three tons of them and it still wasn’t enough for the growing child who would pluck them green saying “more mummy more!”

We won’t be caught out this year. After all of that, we have forked out for the seeds, the growing trays, the cloches, the manure, the wheelbarrow, the gloves, the spades, the oh dear I am boring myself.

So now I feel like I should disclose the full amount.

Are you sitting down? Ok, here goes. No, I can’t.

I’m sorry I don’t have time, I’m too busy filling out the application for our second mortgage to fund this project and I tell you what, we better get it, otherwise back go the seeds, back go the wood, back go the soil and back go, actually, lucky them, some plants.

Yes we’ve got things growing. Huge potato plants that will see us right the way through to the New Year.

On our dinner table at Christmas we will be serving our own new potatoes, how smug.

Courgettes, grilled, fried, grated and thrown into pasta with some cream cheese, gorgeous.

Broad beans, steamed and mixed with a feta cheese salad, amazing. Spinach beet, in salads as baby leaves, wilted and served with grilled salmon and pesto, wonderful.

So now it’s not about the money, it’s about the fact that we, the child and us, can see every day, the growth of our own plants and hope that soon we will be tucking into our own vegetables.

Albeit funded by the second mortgage.