JJBagoose said:
My .02 cents on how to score this Smackdown:
Y = Total Yield lbs (of each type of Pepper Grown)
C =complexity factor (1 for each type of pepper or species)
TC = Total Operation Cost dollars
Smackdown Score = Sum(Y*C) / TC
You would have to tweak C to find an appropriate scale for the complexity.
GHAAAA! Head hurts
Actually have been mulling this over the weekend (when not dedicating time to the soon to be Mrs. Aji Chombo):
1. Seeds will be included in the cost if you purchased them, but only if you purchased them after the entry date (1 Dec 2009). If not we'd have to do an even more complex depreciation/increase formula for the cost of the seeds (if you bought them in 2005, for example), and unless we have a trained economist or statistitian in our ranks, that will just lead to more headaches.
2. Following a similar (but less mathematically challengin) vein to JJBagoose, the smackdown won't just be about who grows things the cheapest (otherwise anyone can take some seeds given to them in the forum, toss them out into a compost heap, and let nature do it's thang and Bingo! instant winner), but on a combination of the similar (dang it! ya got to them before me...) factors: Costs, creativity (of use of materials for growing), complexity (types being grown) and productivity (how much in weight). Makes it a bit more fair on everyone and allows more people to take part. As to which currency to use for this, it was a bit of a crapshoot, really. The suggestion of the Euro was considered...until I though of the small fact that if Greece falls in the next few months, the Euro goes down the toilet and it skewes everything. Same thing if we go with the Dollar and the Pound, which stand to benefit significantly if the Greeks can't pay their debts (I simply cannot believe I've had to learn economics for this smackdown!)
Therefore, like true Captains of Industry (tries to write this while not laughing), the currency to be used shall be the Swiss Franc, as fixed to today (February 15th) prices (and here's hoping the swiss don't go bankrupt in the next 6 months). It was either that or the Mexican Peso (in honor of the fact that this is a chilli/chile smackdown). Actually, after some more thought, this would just drag on endlessly from currency to currency... simply state the day you made a purchase and the equivalent in Euros, Dollars and Pound Sterling so that voters have a general idea of how much you spent. Yes, this will after all, also be put to a vote.
3. Be honest. If you use your hot water heater to provide heat for germinating your seeds, then it's just a part of your regular heating bill and should not be included. But if you have started using your bedside lamp to provide lighting for your plants 8 hours a day more than what you'd normally use said light, then add the cost of electricity to this. And so on and so forth
I hope this covers most of everything. If anyone has any other things to add, let me know.