Is it economically viable to make strawberry jam?

Total cost of strawberry jam:

This batch:

Strawberry plants: $16,
Labor: free
Sugar: 15 pounds, $3.00 per 5 pounds = $9
Jars (came with rings and lids): $9/12 – 24 used =$18
Pectin: 2 packs, $3.50 each = $7.00

So, total cost was $50 for 24 jars = $2 per jar

But, for future batches, the strawberries will be paid off, although the jars will still cost a lot. So, the cost for those batches will be something like (0+9+18+7=$34/24 = $1.42 per jar). The cost of the pectin can be brought down significantly by buying in bulk; but the cost of the lids cannot. The jars can often be purchased for cheaper, at garage sales or other sources, though sometimes not. Certainly my family has a few jars lying around, as does Kelsie’s Grandmother. But mostly, these are quarts – not the cute jam jars; a quart is a lot of jelly. But, it is not quite so many peaches, or cherries, or pickles: those are not quite so daunting at all. I could see eventually, the cost coming down to something like $.50-$.75 per jar, which is much lower than we are spending now, and assumes that the jar cost is entirely absorbed (either the jars were free, or the jars, once purchased, are reused so no additional cost is incurred in their use). The jar cost remains a general overhead problem. On the other hand, the savings if we eat the jam ourselves and reuse the jars is substantial: ditto the use of the jars in lieu of an otherwise expensive gift. If we have the time, we can save a lot of money canning our own foods. And, we can make them the way we want: which is a huge plus as well. I don’t think it’s a false economy, and its pretty fun: and it resonates with the values I have of being self-sufficient and economically viable.

Oh: and the jams delicious.