The $64 Tomato: How One Man Almost Misplaced His Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Disaster within the Quest for the Excellent Backyard

Invoice Alexander had no concept that his easy dream of getting a vegetable backyard and small orchard in his yard would lead him into life-and-death battles with groundhogs, webworms, weeds, and climate; midnight expeditions within the useless of winter to dig up contemporary thyme; and skirmishes with neighbors who feed the vermin (i.e., deer). To not point out the holidays that needed to be deliberate across the harvest, the close to electrocution of the tree man, the restrictions of his personal middle-aged physique, and the pity of his spouse and youngsters. When Alexander runs (only for enjoyable!) a costbenefit evaluation, including up every little thing from the reside animal entice to the Velcro tomato wraps after which amortizing it over the lifetime of his backyard, it comes as fairly a shock to be taught that it value him a staggering $64 to develop every one in every of his beloved Brandywine tomatoes. However as any gardener will inform you, you’ll be able to’t put a value on the unparalleled pleasures of offering contemporary meals for your loved ones.