Some of you who read this blog know that I occasionally go on these, 10euro a week grocery challenges. Now, keep in mind that there are some months when I need to stock up and spend my full grocery allowance per month which is $400 USD a month or at today’s exchange rate in Europe 307€. I have often been asked the question, “how can you eat so well on so little money each week?”
This year, I’ve decided that I will weigh all of the tomatoes that are growing in my little garden. So far, early in the tomato picking season, I have picked:
598 grams or 1lb. 3oz. It’s a start!
July 26th, 2010: New TOTAL
2 kilos 898 grams or 6 lbs 3 oz. Making gazpacho today!
July 31st, 2010: New TOTAL (so far)
5 kilos 598 grams or 12lbs. 3 oz.
August 3rd, 2010: New TOTAL (so far)
9 kilos 253 grams or 20lbs. 3oz
August 7th 2010: New Total
16kilos 624 grams or 36lbs 12.5 oz
I’ve planted 4 varieties this year:
Roma
Muchamiel
3 cantos
cherry
Last week I got a really good price on apples so I bought 20 kilos or 44 lbs. I made apple pie filling which will be used both for pie and turnovers, apple sauce, both chunky & smooth and some with and without spices. I canned 49 jars in all and it should last us the year.
The price I paid was 0,65 euro cents per kilo or 83¢ USA cents per kilo or 37¢ per lb. I do keep a price book to register all the best prices, so I generally know when to stock up.
Here is the photo of my work:
Canned Apples
Here is the progress on my tomatoes & peppers:
Like I don’t have enough to do! Well, the garden and canning and now sausage making are the activities I do to:
Here are some photos:
Man! I have tons of tomatoes on my 24 tomato plants! It looks like this year will be fantastic for canning tomatoes and for making gazpacho.
here is the status on the other plants:
zucchini- we have eaten about 6 of them so far.
onions- wonderful! and I keep replanting them as I use them.
cucumber- one so far that will end up in my salad tonight.
peppers- lots of them forming and thankfully a good many jalapenos.
lettuce- I have mostly eaten it all and I should have re-planted more often. I planted some about 2 weeks ago and I try to plant new seeds every couple of days.
I’m very encouraged by my little efforts with my garden. Again, I only have a small patch of land in the back yard, but I’m determined
I had a wonderful time seeing both Ron & Bobbie and their 8 children and also Rebekah & Dave and their new little guy, Caleb.
Here are some photos of the trip: Double click for a larger view of the photo. Also, please leave your comments!
Here are some photos of my little patch of garden in our backyard. We are eating plenty of Swiss Chard, fava beans, lettuce, onions and celery. This is what I do to relax and with it comes the extra benefit of saving some money on groceries.
Fava beans
Madrid
79°
