Rise in cost of food - Page 4

[mountainsun]

I bought them from a local nursery. They were pretty well established plants and on sale for only $16.99 each when we bought them! I actually got a yield of about 1 pint of blueberries from two plants in the first season.

I was a little afraid of them because I thought it would be hard to get the soil to the right ph, but a little peat moss and some other soil additive (I forget now what we added) and they thrived.

Thanks for the info Sounds like you got a GREAT price.

[Aura_Kitten]

food has gone up hugely in price here too... while block grants for food stamps and the food bank have been getting cut.





Also something like "food not lawns" is a great idea but what about the hundreds of thousands of us apartment dwellers who have no access to our own lawn - ?? I used to have a lovely, small, container veggie and herb garden but was threatened with eviction and told I had to get rid of it. We do what we can. I was following the Hillbilly Housewife emergency diet plan and still spending way too much money even on such a bare-bones diet... but unfortunately it looks like my dd has developed food allergies, so, we've had to go back to a very strict, very natural / organic, ** read in, "expensive" ** diet.



Blah.

[UUMom]

AK--- when I lived in the city, I had some pots on the proch (and oyu have to have a porch, or landlord who will let you have some outside space for them). I have a friend in NYC who shares container -caring on the roof of her building with some other renters.

Some cities have public gardening areas (if you can get to them).

It's not always doable.

[celestialdreamer]

Originally Posted by Aura_Kitten

food has gone up hugely in price here too... while block grants for food stamps and the food bank have been getting cut.





Also something like "food not lawns" is a great idea but what about the hundreds of thousands of us apartment dwellers who have no access to our own lawn - ?? I used to have a lovely, small, container veggie and herb garden but was threatened with eviction and told I had to get rid of it. We do what we can. I was following the Hillbilly Housewife emergency diet plan and still spending way too much money even on such a bare-bones diet... but unfortunately it looks like my dd has developed food allergies, so, we've had to go back to a very strict, very natural / organic, ** read in, "expensive" ** diet.



Blah.

Can you find a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) to join? We've been members of one for 3 years now and not only save money but we are much healthier because of all the produce we are eating. Since I can't grow my own either that is my next best choice- buying direct from the local farmer. Also items from the bulk bin are really helpful for me too, we deal with allergies also. We are dairy, soy, and gluten free, dd can't have any nuts and ds is allergic to bananas, citrus, papaya and RICE. Really buying meat, eggs and veggies direct from the farmer is the only choice I have unless I am going to feed my kids things that make them sick. I just can't afford grocery store prices.

FWIW, I didn't find the Hillbilly Housewife's emergency menu to be cheap in my area at all. I actually added it up and it would be close to $90 here and I know I can get healthier items for cheaper. I fill in the gaps from the local stuff I'm getting with extra eggs and bulk goods (canned tomatoes, canned fruit, oils) from Costco and things from the bulk bins at my local health food store. We eat very simply and meal plan extensively so nothing is wasted.

Really though, even doing all these things to save us money isn't adding up to be enough right now like I said before. I've had no choice but to take money from other areas to pay for the increase.

[crittersmom]

I've been wondering if the prices were high elsewhere.I knew that the cost of living would be higher in HI but yikes! I am paying 5.29 at the Commissary and 6.29 at the regular grocery store for Organic milk.And its a half gallon.Its cheaper to buy the eggs that have been flown in from Arizona than it is to buy them from here even though there are chickens running wild all over the island.
DH has been telling me that I need to budget better since I am spending over 700 for our family of 6.I've been thinking we were doing well considering I am still buying diapers since the CD thing doesn't work as well here.

[Shantimama]

I have been watching prices rise too. It is scary becasue the income isn't rising at the same rate! On the other hand, I have been hearing for years that we aren't paying the true cost for our food - maybe reality is catching up with us, I don't know. If prices for many foods have been artificially low, then at some point something has to change.

[UUMom]

Originally Posted by Shantimama

I have been watching prices rise too. It is scary becasue the income isn't rising at the same rate! On the other hand, I have been hearing for years that we aren't paying the true cost for our food - maybe reality is catching up with us, I don't know. If prices for many foods have been artificially low, then at some point something has to change.

Yes. I've been thinking the same thing.

[Usually Curious]

In some ways it's worth paying more. If family farmers are able to actually make a living, rather than going in the hole every year - it IS worth it.

It's NOT worth it if the mega-corps like Monsanto are making huge profits off of us, yk?

[kittywitty]

Originally Posted by Usually Curious

In some ways it's worth paying more. If family farmers are able to actually make a living, rather than going in the hole every year - it IS worth it.

It's NOT worth it if the mega-corps like Monsanto are making huge profits off of us, yk?

Exactly! Stuff from local or organic farms are staying the same. The mostly imported stuff is what seems to be going up.

[AmyB]

It's the middle of winter right now, and things like grapes and green peppers don't grow in the middle of winter.

One way to tame food costs is to eat with the seasons. In the winter you can make a lot of delicious food with beets, turnips, carrots, cabbage, parsnips, celery root, onions, kale, chard, winter squash, apples, dried fruits grains, legumes, nuts, and if you aren't a vegan, dairy, eggs, and meat.

one big advantage of eating with the seasons-- when those green peppers and grapes are in season again they are going to taste so good!

--AmyB

[Mama Dragon]

Originally Posted by crittersmom

I've been wondering if the prices were high elsewhere.I knew that the cost of living would be higher in HI but yikes! I am paying 5.29 at the Commissary and 6.29 at the regular grocery store for Organic milk.And its a half gallon.Its cheaper to buy the eggs that have been flown in from Arizona than it is to buy them from here even though there are chickens running wild all over the island.
DH has been telling me that I need to budget better since I am spending over 700 for our family of 6.I've been thinking we were doing well considering I am still buying diapers since the CD thing doesn't work as well here.

Tell your DH we spend over $800 (usually over 1000) and don't buy much organic for the 6 of us. And that is JUST FOOD. our diapers come to another $70 a month, plus other household stuff.