Beating the August Heat: Prepping the Fall & Winter Greenhouse

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August in Alabama is notoriously hot, but if you want a thriving fall and winter harvest, right now is exactly when you need to start getting your hands dirty. Having a greenhouse is a huge advantage for extending the growing season, so I am rolling up my sleeves this weekend to get the fall crop preparation underway. Here is a look at what is going into the dirt this weekend, what is on the schedule for later this fall, and the long game for spring. 🌱 What I’m Planting This Weekend The planting window is perfectly timed right now, so these are the priority seeds going into the setup: Baby Broccoli: I just picked up these seeds, and they are going straight into the dirt! The window for broccoli closes by mid-August, and it is well-suited for direct seeding into the soil rather than using transplants. Spinach: The window also closes by mid-August. Because spinach has shallow roots, these seeds are going straight into the vertical stackable planters. Leaf Lettuce: Perfect for plantin...
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πŸ“… Day 3: What Actually Counts as a Business Deduction?

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πŸ“… Day 3: What Actually Counts as a Business Deduction?

“Can I write this off?”
As a CPA, I hear this question all the time — and honestly, it’s a good one. Business deductions aren’t just about saving money on taxes; they’re also about understanding what counts as an ordinary and necessary expense in your field.

Here’s a simple breakdown to help make sense of it:

✅ The IRS Rule (in plain English)

To be deductible, an expense must be:

  • Ordinary: Common in your industry
  • Necessary: Helpful and appropriate for your business

It doesn’t have to be essential — just reasonable.

πŸ’Ό Commonly Deductible Business Expenses

  • Office Supplies & Software: Pens, printers, QuickBooks, Canva Pro
  • Marketing Costs: Website hosting, email tools, social media ads
  • Business Meals: 50% deductible when dining with clients or for business travel
  • Professional Development: Courses, certifications, books related to your work
  • Phone & Internet: Pro-rated for business use
  • Mileage or Vehicle Use: For client meetings, supply runs, etc.

⚠️ Expenses That Might Be Deductible (If Properly Documented)

  • Home Office: Only if used exclusively and regularly for business
  • Travel: Flights, hotels, meals — but only if the trip is primarily for business
  • Clothing: Not deductible unless it's a uniform or branded workwear
  • Gifts: Limited to $25 per recipient per year

✍️ Pro Tip from a CPA (that’s me!)

When in doubt, write a quick note on the receipt or in your bookkeeping system:

“Lunch with design client to review draft logo”
That kind of detail turns a vague expense into a well-supported deduction.

Tomorrow’s post dives deeper into LLC vs. S-Corp vs. Sole Proprietor — one of the biggest areas where smart structure = serious tax savings. See you for Day 4!

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