Article by Monica Tomasi
Really! Have you been to the market lately? If you are concerned about your health and wellness and question what you put into your body, then you might find yourself just walking the perimeter of the grocery mart with an occasional duck into the ethnic and health food section. Okay, another option is to shop at the local health food store and shell out more than 0 and walk out with a bag of food. “We’ve gotta take the power back!” says Rage Against the Machine. There’s 2 ways in which you can do this, first I will briefly talk about many ways to economize at the grocery store shopping organically and next I’ll talk about more self-sufficiant methods. Right now lets talk about some ways to cut down the grocery bill and still eat nourishing organic food by taking these steps.
Save at the Grocery Mart:
Discounted Stores and Sale Items
Have you ever heard of the book, “Where’s Waldo?” Its almost a game to locate certain generic organic brans scattered among the General Mills and Nabisco products in the middle of the store. Store brand organic products are generally on sale and may be substantially inexpensive then what you might find in the organic portion of the grocery mart. Additionally, some grocery stores have discounted bins and plenty of times I’ve discovered little organic treasures hidden within. You can also try a local discount store for marked down grocery items and search within for organic foods. Keep in mind to always check the expiration date simply because you don’t want to end up with a ton of spaghetti sauce that’s only good for a month.
Visit Organic Websites
Try checking out organic website of companies that you enjoy and look for coupons. You might be interested to know that there are many organic and natural companies that have printable coupons entirely on their websites, while many have mailing lists. You can open a free email account dedicated to obtaining these special offers if you are concerned about jamming up your personal email account. Check this out.
Buy Whole and Natural Foods
I favor this method over most, because boxed and canned food is generally not very nourishing and can be loaded with sodium and toxins. Another note about canned food is that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, on the record is concerned regarding the chemical BPA, which is found in cans used in food storage. BPA can have negative effects on fetuses, infants and children. This chemical is found in the urine of 93% of Americans tested and is also known to cause cancer in lab rats! So better yet, cook more, make a list when you shop and stick to it! Here is a list of companies that don’t have BPA’s in some or all of their canned products: Eden Organic, Vital Choice, Wild Planet, Native Forest and Native Factor. Canned corn, canned beans, canned fish, canned poultry and canned beef at Trader Joe’s are all packaged in BPA free cans.
A buddy of mine once told me that she sent a letter to a well-known organic company requesting that they alter their packaging material and later they made the shift. Your letters can make a significant difference, let your voice be heard.
Self-Sufficiant Strategies:
Support Local Farmers Markets
Having worked in an organic store personally in California, perishables such as veggies and fresh fruit commonly do not have a very high mark-up, however they can journey 1000′s of miles just to get to you. Wouldn’t it feel so great to sink your teeth into a local fresh strawberry knowing that it was chosen when it was ripe, fully completed in its life-cycle and jam-packed full of vitamins and minerals. Also, remember that when you support your local farmer you are sticking it to companies like Monsanto. Learn how to store your food, eat in season and preserve the rest. One simple step that you can take to synchronize your eating with seasons and availability is to make a list of food available in your region and note the normal harvest months for each. Check out this cool website if you would like to have a list of local farms in your community http://www.localharvest.org
Join a CSA
Community-Supported Agriculture’s (CSA’s) began sprouting up about 20 years ago and can offer anything from farm-fresh eggs, fruits and veggies, honey, meat, homemade bread, cheese, flowers and other farm products. How exciting it would be to join a CSA and every week receive a big box of produce from a farmer down the road, bursting with flavor and nutrition. There is a synergism between seasons, farmer and CSA member and it offers many advantages such as:
You get to enjoy ultra-fresh and healthy food packed full of flavor, minerals and vitamins.You can have the opportunity to try unique fruits and vegetables and learn new ways to cook them.You can create a relationship with farmers and other like-minded individuals and understand more about how food is grown.You will sync up in harmony, eating with the seasons. There are many reasons why buying in season is usually the smartest decision. Produce purchased in season is typically local and local means fresh. Also, it is generally less expensive compared to produce that has traveled from far away. Join a CSA today!Join a Garden Co-op, Crop-share & Grow Your Food
“The land is our bank. Making deposits is a high priority.”
Do you remember what a victory garden is? Nearly 20 million Americans during World War II, as part of the war effort, households grew their own fruits and veggies. They planted gardens in backyards, empty lots and even city rooftops and pooled their resources and formed cooperatives. I recently picked out a garden plot at my daughter school and I know its premature planning on my part because currently its the dead of winter, but I’m really looking forward to making new friends and perhaps there will be some crop-sharing too. There are many benefits to joining a Local Garden Co-op. These include sharing insight and knowledge, fresh yummy garden delights, sharing seeds and the lending of tools.
Garden shops and seed companies say that there has not been such an interest in growing food at home since the rampant inflation of the 1970s. George C. Ball Jr., owner of the W. Atlee Burpee Company, said that sales of seeds and edible plants are up by 40 percent over last year in 2010. You can save at any where from 30-60% by just by growing your own food and growing your own food is rewarding in many ways. You can even cut out that gym membership because tending a garden is physical work too.
About the Author
By the way, do you want to learn more about organic foods and off-grid living? http://www.liveoff-grid.com/ is an adventure into the hearts and minds of those who are carving a path of their own. Join us as we work and play on our farm and network with people who are doing amazine things on their homesteads.
More About Monica Tomasi
I have always shared a deep interest about the environment; recognizing the beauty that nature holds. What strikes my fascination is how quiet and outside of my thoughts that I become when I go for a walk or work with herbs inside my home. My passions include practicing herbal medicine – specifically Ayurveda, cooking, gardening, making things beautiful and expanding my intellect about natural living; this all continues to stir a feeling of wonder and contentment within my being. By allowing nature into ones life, it brings a sense of inner calm and joy. I hope that you will enjoy my articles and posts and I thank you for your readership.
Check out this site http://www.herbclass.com/?hop=dammianna, if you are interested in an 8 week home study course. It is intended for people who want to learn how to use herbs and spices to add bigger and bolder, flavor, freshness and flair to their dishes.
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