A list of organic musts

[eastkygal]

I live off grid and about 4 hours away from the closest health food store. We have a few small ones within 45 minutes, but they have limited non-refrigerated food stuffs that are too expensive. So, we are going to visit my sister in Louisville soon, and will have the opportunity to go to Whole Foods. I'm not sure if a cooler will fit for meats and produce in our van (DH is going for an art fair where he shows his work). So, considering I have very limited options for organic foods (conventional grocery store type offerings) and no organic meats (other than game). What would you put on your list? I'd love to include some specialty foods not found in a typical grocery. We have no sprouted breads or flours available to us right now, so I'm going bread free (other than cornbread) right now.... Ideas? Oh, it is a 4 hour trip with 2 little ones, so make that 5. Food has got to keep at least that long if we can't fit the cooler.

[dogmom327]

Normally I'd say animal products (milk, eggs, cheese, meat) followed by the veggies that are high on the pesticide scale (i.e. dirty dozen). But it sounds like you're in a unique situation. Any chance you could find people around you (maybe via Craig's List) who raise grass-fed beef, pastured chickens (for meat and eggs), etc.? I can't afford this stuff at the grocery store, but through word of mouth and Craig's List, I've been able to source them. Of course none of them are certified organic but are raised organically and that's good enough

ETA: Another option...depending how much space you have, could you raise a lot of your own food? Maybe buy a calf and turn it out on your property (beef in 12-18 months), raise some chickens so you can have organic or almost organic eggs and meat? Grow a large garden?

I'm totally jealous...living off grid must be wonderful!

[cristeen]

Of the dried goods, the biggest organic "must" to me is corn. Popcorn, cornmeal, etc. If you can't find organic locally, I would stock up on that, particularly if you're using cornbread as a substitute for bread.

But I would also probably look into buying wheat berries to start sprouting and making my own bread.

[eastkygal]

Originally Posted by dogmom327

ETA: Another option...depending how much space you have, could you raise a lot of your own food? Maybe buy a calf and turn it out on your property (beef in 12-18 months), raise some chickens so you can have organic or almost organic eggs and meat? Grow a large garden?

I'm totally jealous...living off grid must be wonderful!

We moved here too late to put a garden in this year. We definitely plan to have a big garden this year. We are hoping for chickens for eggs too. We'll have to ask the man who owns our land before we put any farm animals on it, but he already okayed the garden. I'm looking forward to spring and summer for the first time in my life (can't stand heat usually... I'm a fall gal.) So, now, I'm making due with what is available to me locally, and doing the best I can.

I don't have my own hand mill yet to make flour. I'll be looking into getting one as soon as we can afford it.

So, basically I'm looking for dry goods, staples, and anything else that will keep for 5 hours unrefrigerated. I don't have a deep freeze either, so I'm limited on stocking up on meats. It's near to impossible to find organic meats here. I'm using all natural antibiotic free beef and chicken right now. We are stocked on rabbit too from my brother's hunts.