THE HARVEST LEDGER

A garden can give a lot.
Know what goes in.

See the costs. Follow the food you actually use. Give savings—and your time—an honest place in the picture.

01 · Things that last

Initial cash purchase versus cost spread over useful life. Enter your attributable share, not someone else’s entire tool.

Purchase $Useful yearsWhole years

Residual value

Value when replaced $

Purchase $Useful yearsWhole years

Residual value

Value when replaced $

02 · Every season’s costs

Include seeds/starts, growing media, soil tests, amendments, irrigation water, energy, pest controls, repairs, hired work (garden mode), fuel, storage, preservation, rented space and other attributable costs. Never count the same item twice.

Annual $

03 · The food you actually use

Gross harvest · lb / yearYour estimate or measured harvest—not a predicted yield.

Field / handling loss %Usable food not eaten %Gifts have value, but are not your grocery savings.

Eaten harvest replacing a purchase %Extra consumption is not automatically avoided spending.

Comparable grocery $ / lbAnnual spend on those foods $Caps the savings claim.

04 · Your time & the long view

Unpaid hours / yearValue of your hour $

Years to exploreWhole years, up to 20.

Where the method comes from

These are inspectable arithmetic models, not production estimates. CropCost separates yields, prices, expenses and allocated overhead. Our household tool additionally distinguishes eaten food from purchases actually displaced.

University of Minnesota · CropCost ↗Read the assumptions & limitations →

Food has value beyond a grocery receipt. Enjoyment, learning, gifting and fresh flavor are valid reasons to grow. We do not convert those experiences—or hypothetical health benefits—into fabricated cash savings.

A garden can give a lot.Know what goes in.

A garden can give a lot.
Know what goes in.