the high cost of food

With the cost of living rising, and really there being no end in sight, I got to wondering if it is possible to be frugal while still being environmentally conscious. As little as six months ago everyone was talking about what they were doing to save the environment and how we had to take action. Now all I seem to hear is how expensive it is to live and how the price of everything is going up. With the cost of living continually rising and there really being no end in sight, I wonder if it is possible to be environmentally sensitive while still being kind to your bank balance.

For me, it depends on the situation and how you look at it. I figure for today I am just going to focus on how food. Later I will talk about the other stuff (housing, shopping, etc)

In general, my food choices tend to cost more. Almost everything I buy is local, organic and/or fair trade. This food does tend to cost more. I buy local organic milk in glass bottles and my eggs are local, organic and SPCA certified. When I compare the price of something as simple as a dozen eggs I pay $4.98, whereas the factory farmed eggs come in at $2.41. It is the same sort of thing for milk, $2.89 per litre versus $3.38 for 4 litres, $2.61 for 2 litres and $1.55 for a single litre. As much as possible I buy my fruits and veggies from local farmers, usually this is cheaper, if only because what I am buying is in season and when you buy a ton of it (usually for canning, freezing, or some other form of preservation) the farmer tends to take a little pity on you and gives you a bit of a discount. But even without the discount it still tends to be cheaper.

Before anyone starts to think that all I eat is good for you, healthy types of foods, I will confess to a potato chip/popcorn addiction. Again before anyone starts to say, "well popcorn isn't that bad." Popcorn is only edible with butter and salt, without said butter and salt...it is packing material that is biodegradable. While the popcorn might be organic (usually it is not), the potato chips do not even come close to healthy. It is an addiction, what can I say.

I also tend not to eat out very much anymore, in fact if I am eating out it is usually because of a celebration, and it is usually work related. Before I started on my eating local/organic mode, I usually ate out at least twice a week. Now it is down to once maybe twice per month, and that includes the work celebrations.

When you look at my whole food budget, it is relatively the same (eating out is expensive). However if I am compared to a person who buys the factory farmed eggs and milk and does not care where their produce comes from, I probably spend more. However I also choose to look at my food purchases (again with the exception of junk food) as an investment in my personal overall health and the health of my community.

I have yet to meet (or read) the dietitian or nutritionist that does not sing the benefits of fresh food for both the body and the mind. Truthfully I just feel better when I eat healthier. As for how this benefits my community, I figure happy farmers (read farmers with repeat customers) means that they will continue to farm, which in turn contributes to the rich diversity of the community. Finally on a selfish notes, when my local farmers continue to farm, I will continue to get fresh fruits and veggies even after we can no longer afford to ship our food from far far away.

Ultimately, it is a matter of choice, and right now I am very fortunate that I am able to make these kinds of choices (I have a decent paying job that is relatively secure). Everytime I buy something I decide who I wish to support, the local farmer, or the big factory farm. For now I am going with the farmer.

Adventures with the CSA

This year I joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). I wanted to make sure that I was supporting the local economy, that I was getting the freshest local food available, and I was expanding my produce horizons.

I have not lived on a farm and really most of my exposure to plants is limited to say the least. The CSA I am a part of sends out an e-mail list of available produce on Monday, by Wednesday I choose what I would like and then on Saturday I pick up my produce. My first trip to the farm involved me driving around this very small farming community desperately trying to figure out which farm I was supposed to pick up my order. Now before anyone starts to wonder why I just did not look at the address. The farms did not seem to have addresses, and when they did, the numbers were either partially or completely obscured by some sort of plants. Finally I found the one I was looking for and after a few wrong steps made my way to the fridge where my produce was waiting for me. When I go home and unpacked my bounty, there were a few things that I did not recognize. I quickly figured out what the majority of it was, but I was still left with what look like green onions on steroids. After checking my order, and the Internet I found my garlic. Who knew out of the ground garlic looks like it does (other than my farmer friends).

I must say I am looking forward to this weeks' selection and am really glad I have started this. Whoo hoo, and bring on the fruits and veggies.

Happy Birthday Canada

Happy Birthday Canada. Today our country turns 141 and everywhere there were celebrations. In my community there was a parade and general festivities including parties in the park and later tonight, fireworks.

Today is also the day of the new Carbon Tax here in BC. Basically it will cost you an extra 2.5 cents per litre. The news has been reporting that we in BC are fed up and opposed to the tax. To listen to the news or read a newspaper, gas prices are first and foremost on everyone's mind. The opposition party is demonstrating against the tax, and people are crying 'unfair' (actually they are using much stronger language).

Let me just say that in general I am not opposed to the tax. I know that this is an unpopular stand. Don't get me wrong, this along with the increase in food prices, and everything else, is quite frankly, killing my budget and I am being forced to make changes. Some of the changes I was planning to make, others I wasn't, but financially I have no choice but to make some changes. When I talk to other people, financial considerations are a big part of their decision when making positive changes for the environment. One of the women in my book club has recently started hanging her clothes to dry, rather than using the dryer after I pointed out to her not only the environmental benefits, but also the financial benefits. I made similar arguments to another woman when I found out that she left her cell phone charger plugged in, whether she was charging her cell or not. In both cases, it was the financial benefits that prompted and has thus sustained the change. It seems that while we may wish to do things for the environment, if there is a financial incentive to making the change, either the change will happen, or it will happen quicker. Basically, it is my hope that this tax will spur people to conserving, if not for the environment, then for their pocketbooks.