{
  "slug": "garden-yield",
  "title": "Vegetable Garden Yield & Savings Calculator",
  "heading": "Garden Yield Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/garden-yield",
  "summary": "Pounds of produce per bed and what you save versus grocery prices.",
  "description": "Estimate seasonal yield from bed area and typical per-square-foot production, then value it at grocery prices minus what you spent on soil, seed, and water.",
  "formula": "Yield = area × lb/sq ft; net = yield × grocery price − input cost.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=garden-yield",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "area",
      "label": "Growing area",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 100,
      "unit": "sq ft",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "yieldRate",
      "label": "Yield rate",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1.2,
      "unit": "lb/sq ft",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "price",
      "label": "Grocery price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3.4,
      "unit": "$/lb",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "inputs",
      "label": "Season input cost",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 180,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "hours",
      "label": "Hours worked this season",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 40,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "lbs",
      "label": "Season yield (lb)",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "value",
      "label": "Grocery-equivalent value",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "net",
      "label": "Net savings",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "perHour",
      "label": "Value per hour worked",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "perSqFt",
      "label": "Net per square foot",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Growing area: 100 sq ft",
      "Yield rate: 1.2 lb/sq ft",
      "Grocery price: 3.4 $/lb",
      "Season input cost: 180 $",
      "Hours worked this season: 40"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Season yield (lb): 120",
      "Grocery-equivalent value: $408",
      "Net savings: $228",
      "Value per hour worked: $5.70",
      "Net per square foot: $2.28"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter growing area (sq ft).",
      "Enter yield rate (lb/sq ft).",
      "Enter grocery price ($/lb).",
      "Enter season input cost ($).",
      "Enter hours worked this season.",
      "Read your season yield (lb) on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "area": 60,
        "yieldRate": 0.72,
        "price": 2.04,
        "inputs": 110,
        "hours": 25
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "area": 100,
        "yieldRate": 1.2,
        "price": 3.4,
        "inputs": 180,
        "hours": 40
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "area": 160,
        "yieldRate": 1.92,
        "price": 5.44,
        "inputs": 290,
        "hours": 65
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What yield rate is realistic?",
      "a": "Intensively planted raised beds average 0.5–2 lb per square foot per season depending on crop. Tomatoes and squash sit at the high end; root crops lower."
    },
    {
      "q": "Why does year one look bad?",
      "a": "Beds, soil, and irrigation are one-time costs amortized over many seasons. Re-run it with only consumables to see the ongoing picture."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Vegetable Garden Yield & Savings Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/garden-yield)"
}