My mom always said, “the most expensive vegetable you’ll ever eat is the one you grow.” No joke. This year I turned my entire backyard into a garden. I planted nearly every vegetable Walter Anderson had to offer. Most of them gave me nothing. A did get a few green beans, some tomatoes, and zucchini.

When I ran the math, those tomatoes penciled out to about $213 a pound—before tax. And, naturally, they ripened just as I was leaving for two weeks. The neighbors ate well.

It wasn’t a total bust. There were small flashes of joy. But next year I think I’ll just save my wallet and my nails and head over to the farmer’s market.

As money mistakes go, I’ve made far worse. And my faults have a way of lingering in the background, smirking at me with a little, “you should’ve known better.”

They sting, but they also plant seeds. Over time, regret fades, and what remains is the quieter gain – the wisdom that comes not from success, but from trial, error, and humility. When we stop measuring in dollars and yields, we find something steadier—the peace that comes from knowing even our costliest lessons have shaped us.

Here’s to the money lessons that manage to bear fruit!

Plan well,

Barbara